When we consider what it means to magnify Christ, we might think about making Him appear larger in our own sight.
But what does it truly mean to magnify Christ in the eyes of others?
Paul, the Apostle, gives us a powerful example of this concept in his letter to the Ephesians.
In Ephesians 3, Paul speaks of the dimensions of Christ, which are immeasurable, as vast and extensive as the universe itself. However, in the eyes of the Roman soldiers who guarded him in prison, Christ was virtually nonexistent. Paul himself was a prisoner, held captive by the Romans who had conquered the Jews, including Jesus. Yet, Paul took this opportunity to magnify Christ before his captors, making Him great in their eyes, and as a result, some of them eventually turned to Christ.
This example shows us that we too can and should magnify Christ in our daily lives. We may encounter people who look down on Christ, ridicule Him, and take His name in vain. In these situations, it is our responsibility to let others see Christ in a magnified and enlarged way, rather than small and insignificant.
In our own homes, we may encounter family members who do not believe in Christ. In these situations, it is important for us to magnify Christ before our family and friends, by living a life that reflects His greatness and by showing them the love and grace of Christ through our actions.
Even in situations where we have little or no liberty to speak about Christ, we can still magnify Him. For example, a teacher may not be able to preach the gospel to their students, but they can still magnify Christ in the classroom by living a life that reflects His character and principles.
Paul himself knew that Christ would be magnified in him, whether through life or through death. He knew that no matter what he faced, whether it was the opportunity to go on living or martyrdom, he would always seek to magnify Christ. This was not just a doctrine for Paul, but a genuine experience of Christ.
In verse 19 of Ephesians 3, Paul mentions the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. When we allow the bountiful supply of the Spirit to work in us, it will change our daily living, and we will be burdened to magnify Christ always and with all boldness. Through our magnifying of Christ, others will see His greatness and His unlimitedness. To magnify Christ in such a way is truly to live Him.
When we allow the bountiful supply of the Spirit to work in us, we will be burdened to magnify Christ always, and through this, others will see His greatness and His unlimitedness.
To magnify Christ is truly to live Him.
