Look at these kids – they’ve got Popsicle Face! That telltale ring on the lips and around the mouth that you can see from 20 yards away. [Okay, technically they are frozen fruit bars, but Frozen Fruit Bar Face is a little long.] These kids have no self-consciousness about it. Though we parents and ELC teachers will insist on wiping it away when snack time is done, most kids would wear that Popsicle Face around all day.
I’ve been thinking that is how I should wear my faith, my joy in Christ, like a Popsicle Face. Stay with me on this.
In Matthew 5:15-16 Jesus says: “Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” So my faith in the Lord and the things I do for the joy of that faith belong out for all to plainly see — not to bring attention to me but to God. Plain to see like the Popsicle Face on a child. That’s how I want it to be with my faith. I want it to show like a bright red Popsicle Face.
The reality is that I often wipe off or hide my Popsicle Face of faith in public. I get confused and I start to think that showing it means something like wearing a T-shirt with a 3 foot cross on it in neon yellow and shouting at everyone I come across, “Do you know Jesus? He saved us and He’s really great!” I focus on me and what I want to do with my time and how I don’t want to spend it with people who want to make fun of me or criticize me for being a Christ-follower – I just don’t want to deal with that.
The thing is, wearing my Popsicle Face for all to see doesn’t mean that. It means living my faith and treating other people as Jesus would. It could mean sitting with a grieving friend who just needs you to be there in silent support. It could mean offering a popsicle to your next door neighbor on a scorching day and eagerly listening to them even though you know it’s going to be at least an hour of stories that you already heard ten times. It could mean answering a co-worker who asks you how you can be so nice to people all the time by smiling and saying, “I believe in Jesus and sharing His love. I’d be glad to tell you about that anytime.”
Yeah, I want to wear my faith like a Popsicle Face. So I’m going to pray:
Lord Jesus,
Give me faith that guides me to live my life following Your example. Let my actions show my faith to others so they will see You as easily as they see a bright red Popsicle Face on a child. Amen.