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Reflecting the Light

    I talk a lot about the importance of staying connected in Jesus community/church because it is the only way we grow into the maturity of Christ. Without being involved with others in His community, we are unable to gain more perspective of Christ than what we can see with our own eyes. He has placed a different perspective and piece of Himself into all of us who know Him, so that when we come together we can reflect the full image of Jesus.

    None of us can do it on our own. We were never meant to walk out our walk of faith with no support. Instead, we help each other to grow into His image. One of the ways we do this is by speaking truth into each other's lives. When we do so, we can correct, encourage, and aid our brothers and sisters into being more in His likeness. We can only achieve that when we speak the truth in love. We are designed to live a lifestyle of love for our family in Christ and only when that is fulfilled can we speak into other's lives.

    I encourage you to get connected into a church if you are not already. If you are, dig in deep. Focus on the parts of Jesus everyone has to offer and how that fits together into the body of Christ. The key is to always make Him the main focus and issue, for He is the head of the body. Then, love each other into His image with His mission in mind! Allow yourself to go through the "growing pains" of being corrected by those in Christ who love you and see what you cannot. This way you can be molded into His glorious image.

Ephesians 4:15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ (ESV)

Ephesians 1:22-23 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. (NIV)

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. (NIV)

Romans 12:5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (NIV)

2 Corinthians 3:18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord--who is the Spirit--makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. (NLT)

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