Fresh Air

As I sit here writing, I am very much enjoying finally being able to open the windows and let some fresh air into our home. I live on the eastern seaboard of the United States where we normally have very mild winters and enjoy warm weather off and on throughout the winter months. This year surprised us with some of the worst winter weather our part of the country has ever seen, so the windows in our home have been closed for months. It wasn't that I didn't want to open the windows, it was just that the conditions outside weren't right for me to open them. I didn't want the cold to invade our home, so I left them closed until the weather outside changed. I can't tell you how refreshing it is to have them open and have fresh air inside again!
 
Whether we realize it or not, the people around us react much the same way to the "weather" around them in determining if and when they will open the windows of their hearts  to Christ. You need only watch the evening news or read an news article or two online to know that the world we live in is often in a "wintry weather" state with very harsh conditions. If we want our neighbors, coworkers, family and others to open the windows of their hearts to God, they need to experience the fresh air of Christ's love and grace when they are around us.

As believers we are to represent Christ in the earth. In Matthew 5 Jesus taught a lesson we call the "Beatitudes". He spoke to those who followed Him about the blessings associated with displaying certain Christ-like qualities to others such as mercy, peacemaking, meekness and being pure of heart. He then goes on to say that as believers we  are salt and light of the earth. The responsibility to draw others to Christ does not fall on the Holy Spirit alone, but in truth it is Him working through us in our everyday lives at our everyday places like our homes, jobs, and places we do business to draw others to the cross. I am filled with a great desire to be fresh air to my family, friends, and a lost and dying world around me. I long to see the windows of the hearts around me open so that the fragrance of God's Spirit can fill the rooms of their hearts and change their lives forever.

May our heart's cry be that our lives blow with the winds of love, grace and mercy that followed our Savior when He walked the earth. Let our lives and walk with God declare to those around us that winter does not last forever and that there is hope for a better life. May we be the fresh air the world is waiting for!

All for Him,

Debbie Beck