Alleluia from head to foot

Something cool happened last week. My colleague mentioned something that surprised me, which got me thinking about how the world views Christians. If you have been on my blog for 5 minutes you would know what an animal lover I am. I had walked in from lunch excitedly telling her that I finally got the feral cat I feed here on campus to trust me. So she said to me, “you know, you have really influenced me to see animals in a better light. I never thought much of them other than being ‘just an animal’. But I feel for them now. Yesterday I saw an injured bird and for the first time my heart really broke for an animal, I was so sad. I view them differently now.”

I was surprised, because it has never been my intention to get her to change her mind and heart about animals! Cool! Basically, my genuine love, enthusiasm and passion for animals was the only thing that got her to see a different viewpoint.
Looking back, what I did not do was lecture her, force her to see things differently (“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world…” John 3:17) or speak badly of others who do not like animals (“Love your enemies…” Luke 6:27)

I won her over without even trying! I looked at Scripture on how we can apply the same behaviour as children of God for His Son:

I am always expressing my genuine love for animals, either in what I say or in recues/help
-“Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours” 1 Cor 3:21
-“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” John 15:13
-“above all things have fervent love for one another” 1 Peter 4:8
-“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:18
-“But the fruit of the Spirit is love” Gal 5:22
-“present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” Romans 12:1

I am constantly singing their praises of cuteness and wonder
-“proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9
-“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth” Ps 34:1
-“I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You” Hebrews 2:12
-“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses…” Acts 1:8

My joy and enthusiasm just exude naturally when I talk about, or are around, them
-“the fruit of the Spirit is.. joy, peace…” Gal 5:22
-“Rejoice in the Lord always.” Phil 4:4
-“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:22
-“The light of the righteous rejoices” Proverbs 13:9

 People have said when I’m around animals, my face shines
-“They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed” Ps 34:5
-“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden” Matt 5:14
-“Gentiles will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising”  Isaiah 60:3
-“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
-“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” Ephesians 5:8

The world is dark – people need to see how excited Jesus makes us so that they can’t help but be attracted to what is making us so happy! This is just a drop in the ocean of getting people to realise Christ’s love for them. But if all we do and say glorifies God, who can resist Him!