By John Kyle, Special to the Message
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LBM) — You can’t help but see it. You try looking away, but you quickly look back. For whatever rhyme or reason, you can’t take your eyes off ______ (fill in the blank).
What makes something or someone noticeable?
Are you noticeable? If not, why not?
I’m not talking about drawing attention to yourself. There is too much of that occurring in today’s grab-a-selfie culture. I’m referring to something about you that stands out. Something that identifies you — as you! Something that those who know you would immediately recognize that it’s you. Something that even those who do not know you would notice about you.
Your mind might default to things like your hair, smile, laugh, voice, or a talent that sets you apart from others. There’s certainly nothing wrong with any of those things, but there’s a distinct difference between being noticed and being noticeable.
JESUS SAID TO BE THIS.
When Jesus delivered what many call the “Sermon on the Mount,” He told those seated on the hillside they were the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:13, 14).
What do those materially different things have in common? They are noticeable. Indeed, they are noticeable when they are present and when they are not.
He goes on to say we’re to “let our light shine in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
In other words, Jesus said live in such a way as to be noticeable — not in a way that makes us look good. Not in a way that draws attention to us so we can post it on our social feeds. But so that God looks good – so that you draw attention to Him.
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!
The New Testament has many admonitions to be noticeable:
— Jesus said everyone will know we belong to Him if we love one another. The way we talk to and treat each other is to be noticeable (John 13:34-35).
— After Jesus returned
to Heaven and sent His helper, the Holy Spirit, people noticed – see Acts 4:13. The change Jesus made in their lives was noticeable!
— Paul told the believers in Rome that they needed to bear fruit for God (Romans 7:4). What’s fruit? Noticeable! What’s the lack of fruit? Noticeable!
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Being noticed makes us look good. It’s generated by our efforts and often, our vanity and pride.
Being noticeable makes God look good. It’s a result of our growing relationship with Him.
Peter reminds us that we’re to conduct ourselves in such a way that even those without Jesus can’t help but notice the way we live our lives (1 Peter 2:12).
If we’re honest, as Christ-followers, we’re often noticed for behaviors and language that reflect poorly upon the One we claim to love and follow. Ask almost any server who regularly waits on churchgoers after Sunday services. They dread the Sunday lunch crowd because we’re often rude, demanding and, dare we say it, cheap. We’ll sometimes compartmentalize our faith to a specific time and place where we talk and act differently, but outside of those times, we’re often poor representatives of Jesus to those we encounter.
James, the half-brother of Jesus, said this kind of inconsistency is unacceptable (James 3:10).
Being noticed is an act of the flesh, but being noticeable is the work of the Spirit.
A NOTICEABLE CHALLENGE.
What would our world, our nation, our cities, and even your home look like if we were noticeable?
This week, ask God to help you be the salt and light He’s left you here to be. If you’ll let Him have His way, you’ll be noticeable, “Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky” (Philippians 2:15).
John Kyle is the recently retired director of communications for Louisiana Baptists.
