The Cooling Stream

Christians should be different!

No matter what they look like on the outside, within them there should be a beauty that reveals God’s love and work in their lives.

In their inner being, Christians delight in God's law. (Romans 7:22)

In their Spirit-controlled mind, Christians enjoy life and peace. (Romans 8:6)

At the ripe time, Christians will produce the fruit of the Spirit, a beautiful array of qualities such as love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness. (Galatians 5:22)

Christians delight in the Scriptures. And the Holy Spirit works in their heart to make them look good on the inside.

Christian beauty comes from the inside.

Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You. (John 17:1)

1. Jesus' death is according to God's plan of salvation.

2. Jesus has glorified His Father with His life.

3. Jesus is asking God His Father to glorify Him in His death.

4. Jesus desires to glorify God His Father with His death.

5. The apostle Paul in Philippians 1: 21 said, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

6. Christian should seek to glorify Jesus Christ with his life and death.

I received the following story through an e-mail. I want to pass it on....

Several years ago, a preacher from out-of-state accepted a call to a church in Houston, Texas.

Some weeks after he arrived, he had an occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change. As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, "You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it." Then he thought, "Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount? Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a 'gift from God' and keep quiet."

When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, and then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, "Here, you gave me too much change."

The driver, with a smile, replied, "Aren't you the new preacher in town?"

"Yes" he replied.

"Well, I have been thinking a lot lately about going somewhere to worship. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I'll see you at church on Sunday."

When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, "Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter."

Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read. This is a really scary example of how much people watch us as Christians, and will put us to the test! Always be on guard and remember You carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself "Christian."

Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.