Have you ever thought about how wonderful it may have been to live on earth when Jesus Christ was born? Well, I have, and sometimes I think about that a little more as we celebrate our Savior's birthday as we have been doing recently. Remember too, this is this season of Christmastide. The season may be over for the commercial aspect, but for Christians, we are still in the season of Christmastide.

Soon after celebrating our Savior's birthday and our older daughter's birthday, Sue and I have our anniversary. Several years ago included on a cassette tape that Sue gave to me for our anniversary was this song, "Seeing Jesus In You." Apparently, the song writer had had similar thoughts to mine, but then gained another perspective. Listen again to the beginning of that song.

"I used to think how wonderful to have been here on earth when Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born of human birth. Oh but nothing could exceed the view of seeing Jesus born in you. I'll never long for yesterday again."

You and I are not Jesus, but we are to imitate the qualities of Jesus in our lives. Do people see Jesus in you, in your countenance, your conduct, and your conversation?

Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus, "Follow God's example in everything you do just as a much loved child imitates his father. Be full of love for others, following the example of Christ who loved you and gave Himself to God as a sacrifice to take away your sins. And God was pleased, for Christ's love for you was like a sweet perfume to Him." Ephesians 5:1,2. L.B.

Do people see Jesus in your countenance?

I. Countenance

The song writer said, "I see Jesus in your eyes and it makes me love you." What do people see as they look into your eyes?

Countenance refers to the expressions of the face, possibly showing favor and approval. Sometimes Christians seem to radiate and glow with Christ's presence in them. We might think of the twinkle in a person's eyes. I hope you have been blessed with caring, concerned eyes looking into yours, especially when you needed such reassurance.

Our countenance may also express our genuine love, even when we might like to spend more time with someone, but have other demands also. While you and I may be busy about our Father's business, like Jesus, we must take time to show we care. For me that is sometimes put to the test with my family.

A friend of mine, Pastor John Palmer was quoted a Des Moines Register article saying, "My resolution is to live so close to God that everyone with whom I come into contact, beginning with my wife and children, will feel God's love, joy, and peace through me." Such a resolution speaks about our countenance and leads to the next question.

Do people see Jesus in your conduct?

II. Conduct

The song writer continued, "I see Jesus in your touch and I know He cares." What do people see in our conduct?

In his book, "The Discipline and Culture of the Spiritual Life", A. E. Whitman tells a parable in which a man comes to a museum in his dreams. The man enters the museum and the first thing that he sees is some rusty old armor. Then his attention is distracted by the unusual collection in the next cabinet.

This attention grabbing display includes: a little bird's feather, a piece of human hair, a coin, some baby clothes, a hammer and nails, a sponge, some thorn branches, and a wine cup. When the man sees 30 pieces of silver, he understands what he is seeing. As he stands reverently holding the wine goblet in his hands, he whispers to the museum attendant, "Have you got a towel and a basin too?" "No," the attendant shakes his head. "Not on display. You see, they're in constant use here."

I share that one powerful example of conduct from the life of Jesus. He was born to live a Godly life, to demonstrate a life of service, to teach us how to follow Him and then to give His life as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Are the towel and basin, the conduct of serving others for Christ in constant use in your life?

Do people see Jesus in your conversation?

III. Conversation

In the last part of the chorus the song writer said, "I hear Jesus in your voice and it makes me listen and I trust you with my love because you're His. I see Him in you."

What about our conversation? Paul wrote, "Stop being mean, bad-tempered and angry. Quarreling, harsh word, and dislike of others should have no place in your lives." These words were written to Christians. Such conduct and conversation would certainly not depict Jesus in you or me.

Paul did not stop there, however. "Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ." To really allow Jesus to be seen in us involves more than avoiding harsh words. It includes loving, caring, thoughtful, uplifting words.

Our conversation also speaks of our tone of voice, the inflection in our voice, the love that we communicate by the manner in which we speak. Do people hear Jesus in the way we speak and the word we speak that cause them to want to listen to us?

Conclusion

"I used to think how wonderful to meet Him in the air. Then how great the mansion He's preparing over there. But now I've come to understand the Father's perfect Master plan. The place He long to build is right in you."

We were not born to live when Jesus was born in Bethlehem 2000 years ago. But each of us have the opportunity to have Jesus born in us, if that birth has not yet taken place. If Jesus is in you and I as we begin the New Year, will we so resolve to live that others see Jesus in us, in our countenance, in our conduct, and in our conversation? If we do, this could be a fantastic year ahead for us. I long to have people see Jesus in me.

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