Travel with me down memory lane.  Do you remember as a child looking through a display case made of glass, seeing many things that you wanted but had no means of purchasing it? Things like fish, grater cake, drops, toys, sweets and the list could go on. As children we made the promise to ourselves that when we grew up the prizes in the glass cases would be ours.  Much to our surprise, even as adults we are faced with the dilemma of looking through display cases.   Sure, the prizes have changed:  cars, clothing, accessories, houses, relationships, life partners and so on.  Yet we find ourselves sometimes grazing from the outside looking in wondering what it would be like to possess what we see.

The real question is though, what are others seeing when they look at us?  We are God’s display/glass case.  Everyday others look at us: our behavior, our speech, our attitude, our work ethic and our general conduct.  Are others looking at us with longing eyes wanting the Jesus they see living in us or do they turn away from the glass case sorely disappointed at what is on show?

Ephesians 2: 10 tells us that “we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”.  As God’s handiwork we are part of God’s creative process, no less than the birds, the mountains, the sky, the universe.  What’s even more we are co-creators with God as the Spirit of Jesus lives in us and we have the power and authority given us to transform the world in His name. 

Unlike the prizes of the world that are lifeless, hollow, false and empty, trapped in satan’s glasscase , we as God’s masterpiece are given the opportunity to make the created world reflect God’s goodness, mercy, grace and peace.  God’s power that lives in us enables in Jesus’ name to create visions,  open the eyes of the blind, loose the ears of the deaf, straighten the legs of the lame and to set the captives free.   God empowers us to show mercy and to live justly, to trample down the chains of injustice, poverty and marginalization.  Are we  doing these things or are we content just to look pretty in the glass case of church, never going out into the byways and hedges finding the lost, lonely and hungry who need the Lord and give them physical and spiritual sustenance?

Rise up people of God we are co-heirs with Jesus who is the Light of the world.  Let us reflect Jesus’ light shining through us so that others may see and glorify our Father in heaven.  Let us in His name challenge the principalities, the powers of darkness, the rulers of darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places by showing the world God’s mighty work operating in us.  Never forgot as 2 Corinthians 4:7 reveals to us, this is not our doing, to prevent us from getting conceited: “ But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us”.

So as we step out today, let us remember that everywhere we go we are God’s display glass case, so that others will meet Jesus that lives in us and be transformed.  That way we will bring the kingdom of God near to all and change our world.

PRAYER

Father, thank you for using me in your kingdom.  I am eternally grateful that you have transformed my life from darkness to light.  May I never forget that I am the only Bible that some people will ever read and so display your glory and not showcasing myself.  Forgive me where I have failed and messed up.  Redeem me so that I display your glory.  In no other name but Jesus Christ.  Amen.