This is the Jesus I know...

This is the Jesus I know... The Jesus I know isn’t confined to the pages of Scripture or the walls of a church. No, I meet my friend Jesus in prayer, in worship, and sometimes in the faces of ordinary people who love just like He does. I remember one of the darkest moments of my life—standing before Laurel, before we were married, after my lies had broken her trust. She held a chain of jewelry that symbolized our fractured relationship in her hand and said through tears, “I have every reason to hate you, but for some stupid reason, I still love you.” That sentence cut through my shame. It was undeserved love—raw and costly—and I recognized immediately where it came from. It came from Jesus. That was Him. Jesus’ love sounds just like that—unearned, unrelenting, and full of grace. Later in my life, I saw Jesus again on Hollywood Boulevard. A college team from our church met a homeless man known as Bandana Jimmy. Walls of pain surrounded Jimmy, but through patient care and simple friendship, those walls began to fall. One student named Emily held Jimmy in her arms as he wept over his mother’s death. And in that quiet act of mercy, I thought again, that’s Him. That’s Jesus. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35, NIV) So every time I see love that forgives, as Laurel did—or compassion that listens, like Emily did—or grace that simply holds someone close—I see Jesus. Because that’s Him. Lord Jesus, open my eyes to see You in the faces of those around me today. Let me recognize You in acts of mercy, in words of forgiveness, and in a simple kindness that can heal a broken heart. Help me to be Your reflection in someone else’s story today. In Jesus’ name, amen. Never forget, my friend, you are a miracle. Your friend, Grant Fishbook