July 30

He is Here

Jesus left that place and went to the region of Tyre. Not wanting anyone to know He was there, He entered a house, but was unable to escape their notice. — Mark 7:24 BSB

Christ’s fame had spread too far for Him to travel anywhere without being recognized. There must have been something in His appearance that distinguished Him from other people, revealing Him to those around. Surely, there was a rare sweetness in His face, an outpouring of the great love in His heart. There was no visible halo on His head, as some artists depict Him, but there was a glow of grace that made His presence known to sad and needy souls.

The truth is, Christ can never be hidden. Wherever He is in the world, He will soon be recognized. You can hide a flower so that no one sees it, but its fragrance will reveal its presence. Likewise, the sweetness of Christ’s life and love always reveals Him when He is near. When He enters a human heart, He cannot be hidden, because His Spirit will begin to shine through all the person’s words, actions, and life. When He enters a home, His presence will soon be noticed because the atmosphere will change—worldliness, bitterness, and sin will give way to prayer, praise, love, gentleness, and holiness. When He comes into a community, His presence will not be hidden. We see this in missionary work—whole regions are transformed, as even cannibal islands are changed into God-fearing, peace-loving communities. Christ will always make His presence known.

The same is true of genuine discipleship. A Christian cannot be hidden. If the love of Christ is in their heart, it will soon be evident in their attitude, behavior, the way they honor God, and how they treat others. When a person can hide their faith, it’s a sign they don’t have much faith to hide. True faith shines like light and breathes out fragrance.