AND WHATEVER YOU DO OR SAY, DO IT AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LORD JESUS, GIVING THANKS THROUGH HIM TO GOD THE FATHER
(Colossians 3:17).

For a long time, I thought to be a representative of the Lord Jesus meant that I had to copy the Deeds of the Lord Jesus, mimic the Attitude of the Lord Jesus, and duplicate the Nature of the Lord Jesus. I through that in order to be like Jesus, I had to leave my Self behind and come up with a brand new Self, all by myself.  But, it did not work for me. The more I tried to be like Jesus, the more I realized that I was not like Him…because I was not Him. I could fool many people, but I could not fool my Self. While I could get my deeds to change on the outside, I could not get my heart to change, on the inside.

THOSE WHO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE SINFUL NATURE HAVE THEIR MINDS SET ON WHAT THAT NATURE DESIRES
(Romans 8:5).

If your heart still believes you have been defeated, on the inside, you cannot be a good representative of the Lord Jesus, no matter how much you are copying Him, on the outside. Your deeds represent your heart.  If your heart still believes that you have been deprived, on the inside, you will not be a good representative for Jesus, regardless of how much you are mimicking Him, on the outside. Your nature represents your heart.  If your heart still believes that you are guilty and defiled, on the inside, you will not be a good representative for Jesus, no matter how much you are duplicating Him, on the outside. Your attitude represents your heart.

BUT THOSE WHO LIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPIRIT HAVE THEIR MINDS SET ON WHAT THE SPIRIT DESIRES
(Romans 8:5).

I bless you to stop hiding from your own Self. Instead, find your Self; then, offer YOUR broken Self with its oppressing beliefs and unstable emotions to the Lord Jesus, just the way it is. He will take what you offer Him, and exchange it for HIS complete SELF. Thus, He will become a representative of HIMSELF in you and through you.

And when your family sees you, they will not see your attitude, but the Attitude of Jesus.  When your friends observe you, they will not witness your own nature, but the Nature of Jesus.  When your enemies encounter you, they will not see your heart, but the Heart of Jesus.

Present you Self to Jesus, just the way you are, and ask Him to be His SELF in you, in exchange. This calls for complete HONESTY—being fair and truthful about your beliefs, your feelings, your nature, your attitude, your desires, and your will.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me to understand that the Christian Life is not a method by which I have decided to live, but a Person living His Life in me and through me. Bring me to the place where I will offer my Self to You, Lord Jesus, in exchange for YOUR SELF in me, so You may become a Representative of YOUR SELF through me.