WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN

We have all had mother, father or husband or wife who when we came in at the end of the day ask us the question, Where have you been? There have been times when we didn't want anyone to know where we had been and other times when we thought, what a dumb question. I have been where I am every day work school etc. Or maybe we felt none of your business. Stay out of my space. There is a place we can go and be alone and when we return no one need ask where we have been. Moses went to the top of mount Sinai and when he returned he shined. Paul while on the road to Damascus fell blinded but when his sight returned no one needed to ask what had happened or where he had been. We all have influence on the people we come in contact with everyday. Ardyce always says "when you meet don't feel bad if they don't act properly toward you, you never know what is going on in their lives. I suppose that is true to some degree we all have worn our feelings on our mouth or sleeves but should that be the way it should be. Maybe! I know when I spend quality time with Christ in the prayer study and meditation, I always come away knowing my day and my life will never be the same. I know when troubles confront me I don't have to buckle beneath the strain because he will hold me up and see me through them. He has said I will be with you and I will send you a comforter to be with you. "And they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus". I think of Ardyce and A.J. when I think of comforters. They are always looking for a new comforter for the bed. The comforter serves several purposes. The comforter protects the rest of the bed, it makes the bed much prettier and when you lay down to rest in gives you warmth and cushion. Although the comforter Christ has sent is not visible to all, his presents provide all those qualities to and can be seen on our faces.. "And they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." A Christian should be a striking likeness of Jesus Christ. We have read the story of Christ life, beautifully and eloquently written, but the best book of Christ is His living biography, written out in the words and actions of His people. If we were what we profess to be, and what we should be, we should be pictures of Christ; yea, such striking likenesses of Him, that the world would not have to hold us up by the hour together, and say, "Well, it seems somewhat of a likeness;" but they would, when they once beheld us, exclaim, "He has been with Jesus; he has been taught of Him; he is like Him; he has caught the very idea of the holy Man of Nazareth, and he works it out in his life and every-day actions." A Christian should be like Christ in his boldness. Never blush to own your religion; your profession will never disgrace you: take care you never disgrace that. Be like Jesus, very valiant for your God. Imitate Him in your loving spirit; think kindly, speak kindly, and do kindly, that men may say of you, "He has been with Jesus." Imitate Jesus in His holiness. Was He zealous for His Master? So be you; ever go about doing good. Let not time be wasted: it is too precious. Was He self-denying, never looking to His own interest? Be the same. Was He devout? Be you fervent in your prayers. Had He deference to His Father's will? So submit yourselves to Him. Was He patient? So learn to endure. And best of all, as the highest portraiture of Jesus, try to forgive your enemies, as He did; and let those sublime words of your Master, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do," always ring in your ears. Forgive, as you hope to be forgiven. Heap coals of fire on the head of your foe by your kindness to him. Good for evil, recollect, is godlike. Be godlike, then; and in all ways and by all means, so live that all may say of you, "He has been with Jesus."

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