Several times over the last few months I wrote about living like Jesus and preaching with your life. Well I cannot help but to think that God is laying on my heart to say more about this.
The world isn't reading the Bible; they're reading Christians like us.
This has been going through my head and heart now for several weeks. This really has got me thinking about the need to stop playing church and start being the church.
We can all talk about being a Christian, how we go to church; go to Sunday school or a Bible Study. Doing all that revolves around a place, a building, or others to do things.
James 2
Faith and Deeds
14What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
What are you actually doing to show our faith buy deeds? Do you need to make a big production to get things going? If so, who are you then serving? Are you willing to do this for God and not for show?
How many times have you watched a football game where a player makes a routine play and then begins to celebrate what they accomplished? Especially when their team is losing! Come on; act like you have done this before. Nobody cares about your dance and how good you look. You are a part of a team.
The world isn't reading the Bible; they're reading Christians like us.
It is the same as being a Christian. Nobody wants to hear that you go to church every time the doors open. Get out there act like a Christian. Volunteer at the homeless shelter, not because someone said to, but go because God is leading you.
How many times have you driven past that assisted living facility and thought, “I wonder if they have volunteers there?” The next time you drive by, stop, and ask them if there are any opportunities to become a helper.
How about that motorist that you just passed along the side of the road. Did they have a flat? Come on pull over, help them out.
Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
We all know this scripture about Jesus sent here to serve and not be served, right? What makes us any different? If Jesus came to serve, then we absolutely need to serve!
We all have a vision on how we would love to see things turn out in our lives and in our environment. How do you get there? Raising children you want to see them grow up and become productive adults. Don’t we teach them first to crawl, then walk, and then run?
It’s the same with attaining your vision, start on your knees! Every day we need to start on our knees, ask God to show us how to use our faith, be prepared to listen, and take action.
Don’t be a Christian when it’s convenient for you. Make Christianity a life style.
The world isn't reading the Bible; they're reading Christians like us.
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