The more I know, the more I realize I don’t know. Not in a self-condemning way, it’s an understanding and acceptance. There will always be more to learn and ideally, apply to life in general. Prior to becoming a parent, I thought I knew a few things about children. Until I held that baby in my arms, I knew nothing about parenting in real time.

I accepted and embraced forgiveness through the finished work of Jesus. My life began. I was an infant and like any infant, I had to crawl before I could walk or run. Literal and figurative baby steps. Learning bit by bit, little by little. I took in spiritual nutrients, I was given some guidance from those further along into their spiritual lives and I learned as I went.

Jesus was born as an infant and grew into a man. He felt hunger, and pain, fatigue, joy and all of the experiences of being human. Yet without sin. Jesus is the blueprint for us. He showed us how we, too, should live. But more than that, he both showed us how to live and told us.

Jesus told around 40 parables. The number is somewhat debated, yet the point I am making is how much he loves us. Living as a man, taking on my sin and the sins of every person who ever lived or will live is beyond my comprehension. And then he gave us more. He showed us how to live a sinless life, he gave us what we did not deserve and took it further. He told us in story form, making it relatable and not beyond our grasp.

The caveat is that if I attempt to live like Jesus, to reflect his character, I need more than myself. I can grasp other things and go nowhere. I can grasp and grip people and things that look nothing like Jesus, and neither will I. When I grasp and hold tight to His Truth and rely on the strength He gives, this is where His love can shine through me. His grace will be recognized. His Truth, combined with love and grace, will be reflected in my life. Only then will my life be a show and tell, a reflection of Jesus.

As you live out this day, how will you show and tell others about what Jesus has done in your life? What steps will you take to be the show and tell and reflection of our Risen Savior?

Further reading: 

Matthew 13 

Parable of the sower

Parable of the weeds

Parable of the seed and leaven

Parable of the hidden treasure 

Reading the Gospels will further your understanding as the Holy Spirit speaks to you and the unique season you are in.

 Seek and you will find!