Encounters

Especially at this time of year, when large numbers of people occupy the streets and stores, there are many opportunities to encounter people from all types, nature, and walks of life. How they are regarded and treated in these encounters has everything to do with awareness or knowledge of them. First of all, when they are even noticed beyond all the reasons to be distracted by the mission of the moment, their very presence alone may elicit a greeting or an appropriate response of some kind. If they function in a role or position, they may be asked for help or deferred to for direction. A recognized famous person may yield an adjustment of behavior from a normal one to one with a fixated gaze. For someone with some level of familiarity – a friend, family member, or coworker, there may be an opportunity for a more extended chat. The higher the level of knowledge and honor there is for someone, the more an encounter with them will affect the status of the soul, its mood, and attitude. Where this knowledge is unfavorable, however, it may also yield an adverse effect.

In the busyness and congestion of these remaining weeks of holiday celebrations, as there is no lack of responses to encounters of all kinds, there is an opportunity to be continually affected by the One who has promised never to leave us. With endless reasons to be favorably or adversely influenced by all other surrounding circumstances, there is an ever-present effect of joy, peace, and hope in Him that will guard the heart from all other effects. When the reality of His presence is acknowledged in the middle of the commotion, praise of His status, ability, fame, and relationship can completely transform. In this fixation will not only be a change of perspective but also a change of purpose. Those who acknowledge and honor the wonder of His presence become carriers and sharers of that same glory. Who we’ve been with will be obvious in the effect we begin to make on each one we encounter during this time. Rather than letting the world dictate the spirit and atmosphere of these coming days, there is an impact to be made by those most familiar with Him as they are kept from the distractions with eyes fixated on His face.

Notes

Everything about how someone is treated has to do with knowledge:

• Of their presence
• Of them– their ability, personality, nature, position

Depending on who they are, your knowledge of them with directly impact you:

• Day/outlook/attitude

Reality – His continual presence/encounter opportunity

Matthew 28:20 (NLT) 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Knowing reverses roles

John 4:10 (NLT) 10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

Show what you know

John 14:6-12 (NLT) 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do. 12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.

Don’t have to be affected by the world, but become affectors of the world in love.

1 Corinthians 2:8-12 (NLT) 8 But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. 9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

Can tell who you’ve been with by what you are producing.

Acts 4:13 (NLT) 13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.

With our encounters – knowing of Him that provides a way for others.

1 Peter 2:9 (TLB) 9 But you are not like that, for you have been chosen by God himself—you are priests of the King, you are holy and pure, you are God’s very own—all this so that you may show to others how God called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.