We could list many things Jesus makes a difference in: finances, vocation, plans for the future, etc. I want to point out the difference Jesus makes in us.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things are passed away, behold the new has come.” (ESV) When a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ, he or she is just not the same person anymore. I don’t often use the term conversion, but that’s what happens. Saving knowledge of Christ changes our mind, heart and spirit from what they were into something… new. Look up the third chapter of Colossians. Verses 1-17 are about this new self. Verse 2 says to “set your mind on things that are above…” When we change from old self to new self, other people will be able to see a difference. It might not be Christian people, either. It could be that old friends notice the difference in attitude, action and speech.

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…” -Philippians 2:5

Philippians 2 goes on to give Christ’s example of humility; how he humbled himself by coming down to earth as a human being, and was obedient to the point of death. We’re to think that way – of others as more important than self. We are taught to conform to the image of Christ. Becoming more Christlike changes a person from what was into, well, someone more like Christ. Remember that they were called Christians first at Antioch. Not called that by themselves, but by outsiders who noticed the resemblance to Christ. We can’t always answer the question “What would Jesus do?,” but he left us enough examples to put us in the right frame of mind. If we approach each decision we make with humility, seek to honor God, and see ourselves as servants of our fellow man, we have a better chance of doing what Jesus would do than if we think it’s all about us. Each television and magazine ad you read encourages you to do what makes you happy; buy a nicer car, go further into debt, get the things in life you DESERVE. Probably not what Jesus would do. When he walked the earth, Jesus was not looking for his “Best Life Now.” That was a temptation Satan offered him in the wilderness. Jesus sought to honor God by doing His will.

I think perhaps the “undercover witness” thing from the 80’s is over. If you deal fairly with people, use language that is polite and clean, run your business honorably, then the world will notice without being told that there is something different about you. Whether it’s handing out food and medicine to neglected children in a foreign land or simply not lying on your income taxes, when we come to Christ we become changed people. The Bible also describes us as having passed “from death unto life.” That’s a big change.