Who Has Made a Difference in Your Life?

Today, during my morning devotional time, a dear friend from the past came to mind. I then spent some time reminiscing about the season in which our lives and ministries paralleled one another, allowing us times of great fellowship. Sadly, it has been nearly forty years since we last spoke. But no one has ever exhibited the character of Christ to me more than this man. Let me tell you a bit about him.

His name was Fr. Benedict Suing. During the years when our paths paralleled, I was serving as the senior pastor of the Moab Christian Center in Moab, Utah. Benedict was serving as the parish priest of St. Pius X Catholic Church in the same town. I first met Benedict when he attended a meeting of the Moab Ministerial Association. From that first meeting, I desired to know more about this humble Catholic priest and deliberately made time to be with him one-on-one.

I was not the only Moab pastor who felt this way. The pastor of the local Southern Baptist Church was also disarmed by the fruit of the Spirit that radiated from this man. His life was an enigma to Pastor Don, who pulled me aside one day and whispered in my ear, “I believe that Benedict is truly born again!” This was something very foreign to his staunch Baptist upbringing.

Personally, I could never get enough of this man’s company. The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23) that saturated his life made me think this is what it must have felt like to be in the presence of Jesus when He walked on this earth. For what is the fruit of the Spirit if not the very character qualities of our Lord Jesus Christ, available to all who are filled with His Holy Spirit?

Perhaps there has been someone in your life who has left an indelible impression—someone whose company you could not get enough of, someone who left you longing for another face-to-face visit. Think about it. Then take time to thank God again for that person’s influence on your spiritual journey. How did they make Jesus more real to you?

Perhaps you have been that person to another. Frankly, as those who have been born again and filled with the Holy Spirit, ought this not to be the testimony of us all? Do others feel the presence of Jesus when in your company? Has the fragrance of Jesus emanated from your life in a way that draws others to Him? I hope so.

I harbor a deep desire in my heart—a desire that will not be fulfilled until I am at last walking the streets of heaven. I pray that on that day I will hear these words from an acquaintance on earth: “Through you, I touched Jesus,” just as I touched Jesus through my relationship with Fr. Benedict.