I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be a Christian. I’ve felt convicted by God over the past month concerning a few personal matters, and I have been graciously humbled. That’s the thing…we’ll always be humbled whether we choose to be or not, and I’m rather thankful for that. I’m thankful that I’m able to recognize these convictions, and that I’m bothered by them. I’m thankful that I have a desire to change the things in my life that are not pleasing to God.

I recently ran across the following quote on one of the many social networking sites.

“To my non-Christian friends: if all I saw of Christianity were Christian Facebook comments, I’d hate Christianity too.”-Russell Moore

It was actually on Facebook that I read this, and it made me think about how I represent Christianity. It made me think about my non-Christian friends, and I began to wonder whether I present Christianity in a way that is a turn-on or a turn-off for them. I began to ask myself whether or not I give my non-Christian friends a reason to want to even have anything to do with Christianity. Is there something different about me? Is there something that they can visibly see that I have and they don’t? Yes, it’s easy for the many of us that call ourselves “Christians” to do just that…acknowledge a relationship with Christ. It’s easy to Tweet or post a Bible verse or a quote about our love for Jesus on Facebook. I do it. There really isn’t anything wrong with it, and it can even sometimes be beneficial or encouraging to others that read it.

My problem though is this. In Acts 11:26 it tells us, “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” After I read this a few times, I thought about what this was really saying. The disciples were not the ones identifying themselves as Christians. Their neighbors identified them as Christians because of the way they lived their lives and the way they loved people. Jesus tells them, “By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).

I am challenged to draw nearer to Jesus allowing Him to make the change in me from the inside out. Allowing His goodness to be reflected to the world through my actions…because I’m pretty sure Jesus and His disciples didn’t use Facebook or Twitter to do that.

For the past four months I have been living in Italy in a house full of seven girls. SEVEN. Let me note that back home in Nashville I live alone. People often ask me with great confusion why I would ever want to live by myself. Well…I live alone because I enjoy being alone. So needless to say, this has been quite an adjustment for me. 

Now don’t get me wrong, I have truly been blessed with the 6 most wonderful roommates, and I am quite sure that I have made some life long friends. However, when I tell you that not one of us are alike, I mean not ONE of us are alike. The Macci Girls, which we like to call ourselves (we live on Via Dei Macci), are not only representing seven different states but also seven very different personalities, goals, dreams, religious and political views…you name it (they will all agree with me on that). To prove my point, we even drastically differ in size, ranging from 5’11” (that’s me) to 4’11” (the beautiful, incredibly talented Michelle). 

We all joke that we have become abnormally close given the short amount of time we have known each other, but I can honestly say that I trust these girls and love these girls as much as my friends that I have known my entire life. I always say that there is no better friendship than the friendships that allow you to sit comfortably in silence with no obligation to say a word. No awkwardness. And the friendships that allow you to argue, disagree, and then agree to disagree. I have that with each of these girls.

Our house is very loud and never sleeps. My room is between the kitchen and the front door. I hear everything. I hear all of the conversations in the kitchen. I hear every footstep from upstairs. And I hear the girls trickling in from a night out, often 1, 2, 4, and yes, sometimes even 6 A.M. 

I express all of this because my patience runs thin. Very thin sometimes, as does everyone else’s in the house. There are times when I would like to yell at everyone to shut up. And tonight is one of those nights. So as the house emptied and silenced, I sat down to read my Bible and do my devotion. I prayed that God would provide me with the words and devotion I needed at the moment, and He never falls short. Not even with something as small and insignificant as this. The devotion was titled Bless Your Enemies, and by no means would I come close to considering any of these girls my enemies. Tonight I was just simply reminded that “love will break down ALL your difficulties.” My new prayer is that He will reduce me to Love. His Love.

“Say often, ‘God bless…,’ of any whom you find in disharmony with you, or whom you desire to help. Say it, willing that showers of blessings and joy and success may fall upon them.

Leave to Me the necessary correcting or training; you must only desire joy and blessing for them. At present your prayers are that they should be taught and corrected.

Oh! if My children would leave My work to Me and occupy themselves with the task I give them. Love, love, love. Love will break down all your difficulties. Love will build up all your success. God the destroyer of evil, God the creator of good-is Love. To Love one another is to use God in your life. To use God in your life is to bring into manifestation all harmony, beauty, joy, and happiness.” -God Calling

God Calling, Russell, A.J., p. 126