A couple days ago, I was reading an email devotional* when one line nearly exploded in my mind: “Now, the people of the world don’t have spiritual discernment.” It’s not because they are inferior in any way, but simply because their spirits haven’t yet come alive to Christ and as a result, they can’t see His Kingdom or understand it. This means that their sole glimpse into the person of Jesus is through us – not what we say, mind you, but how we live. This had honestly never dawned on me before.
If this is true, then it makes sense that the transformation of our lives is about far more than just our personal fulfillment. It’s about the release of God’s glory in tangible ways for the world to touch and see. This is why a whole new battle starts up when we become Christians. Satan certainly doesn’t want any of us saved for eternity and will do his darndest to prevent it, but what he really doesn’t want is for us to fully understand and inhabit the gospel. Because when we do, people will see in us the answer to their deepest cravings – an immovable, unchangeable place of acceptance and rest; not the mirages of the world’s promises that keep them striving for something that will evaporate the moment they arrive. They will want it – this peace we have – and we will share Him. That is a wildfire our enemy can’t afford.
So let’s continue to draw close to Jesus and be changed into His likeness, not by trying harder but by resting in His complete work that made us whole, and become a fire lighting up His heart and Kingdom for people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to see… and believe.
*Joseph Prince’s July 10th Daily Grace Inspiration
where waves grow sweet 
It is true that people of the world don’t have spiritual discernment because as I Corinthians 2:14 tells us, “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness , because they are discerned only through the Spirit.” This is why we are not to judge those outside the Faith but to hold out the Word of Life with love.
Thank you Kara for sharing your wonderful thoughts.
Love. Eleanor
By: Eleanor Barley on July 13, 2018
at 1:20 pm
Thank you so much for that verse! It is exactly true and so helpful to understand. Xoxo
By: karanoel on July 13, 2018
at 2:45 pm
Word, Kara!
By: mitchteemley on July 20, 2018
at 3:33 pm
Thanks Mitch! Right after I posted this, I read your post on fame vs flame. “But fame doesn’t matter. What matters is flame. What matters is that my film (or this blog post, or what I said to that homeless guy I drove to the shelter last week) ignites a spark of truth, of healing, of transformation.” So good!
By: karanoel on July 21, 2018
at 7:52 am