II Corinthians 3:2-3 "Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are] manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart."
Unsaved people watch those who profess to be Christians. They watch for their mistakes...they watch for their sins. They listen to their words. An unsaved man is looking for a reason not to be a Christian. he thinks he can even satisfy God if he can find fault in one of God's children. He thinks he can justify himself of his constant rejection of Jesus Christ and his continued living in sin. So the unsaved watch the saved.
You may not be conscious of that but someone is always watching you. You are the ONLY Christian SOMEONE knows. What a humbling thought...to be the ONLY Christian that SOMEONE knows. That statement got my attention immediately. To think that I may be the only child of God someone knows!! Not only that thought...but you are the BEST Christian that SOMEONE knows. And you may not even have what some would consider a godly life...but you are still the BEST Christian that SOMEONE knows. Is there enough of God in your life to show someone that you are different and that you have something that someone would like to have for themselves? We are the only hope of SOMEONE ever missing Hell and gaining Heaven and coming out of darkness into light.
How is your testimony for the Lord? Is it one that if someone were reading your life that they would see enough to want to be like Jesus and have Him in their life? We must pray DAILY that the Lord help us to be what He would have us to be so when someone reads our life each day that they would see and hear Christ in us!!
15 comments:
We just had this very conversation with our kids tonight!! How bout that?
~Kristi
Amen!!! sis. Julie what a great post I have had people come up to me in the store and ask what church I go to.... I want to be that light to someone.
I love you and your family
so very much.
marsheila
sis. kristi...isn't that interesting.
sis. marsheila....We've had that happen to us more than once. God always uses those times to reassure me and make me thank Him for the change that has taken place in my life. Without a change...I'd look and be just like everyone else. We love y'all too!!
What a great post that humbles your heart and gives you food for thought. I am so happy I am able to post on here. I haven't been able to for almost a week. I don't know why. But anyhow great post!
Ginger
ginger...I'm so sorry you haven't been able to post any comments. I faced the same problem last night with a few blogs I was trying to comment on. I'm glad the problem is fixed for you now.
Good post Mrs Julie. I think I even agree with EVERYTHING on this one. HAHA.
katy-anne....LOL!! You're so funny!!
I agree with you. When we got saved our lives stopped being our own, we now live for God. Lost people even though they mock us, they know we have something they do not. And so yes they will watch us with a very negative eye. And call you down for everything THEY think is not ok for a Christian to do.
Good post, very good.
sis. theresa....Yes they sure do.
that is a very sobering thought,
I knew it was true...but I needed to be reminded... sometimes I show anger when I should not... because I never know when a non-Christian is watching to see my reaction to something
Thank you Julie for this reminder to be the kind of Christian that would make someone want to have what I have.
sis. mimi....you are very welcome. We should all be reminded that others are watching us closely.
I did reply to this...blogger must be messing up...again this is a very traget and right on post...
Deby
I preached on the other side of this coin yesterday: too often we look at the failures of Christians and stumble because of it - ie. put our eyes on imperfect man and falter in our walk with the Lord because of our discouragement at their sins, etc.
Since the beginning of summer, I have seen several men that came out of the Recovery program in the Mission fall back into what they came out of - you see their progress, and then see them seemingly throw it all away again. Just last week this happened to one staff member as well. Oh, that is sooo hard to take - it really started to discourage me (and scare me, because I am continually reminded how I can falter too).
But yesterday morning, the Lord impressed John 21 on me. Two aspects of that passage came to mind:
1) Our failures are not the end. The Lord can still use us when we repent and get our sin right - just as He used Peter and restored him to the ministry.
2) Our primary goal should be to personally follow Christ - get our eyes on Him, not on our fellow believers. Yes, follow other believers' faith and right walks with the Lord - but when they do wrong, make that choice to follow Christ ourselves anyway.
John 21:20-22 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
Jesus told Peter to come follow Him again - and Peter said "But what about this guy over here?" Jesus basically said, Let him worry about his walk with Me - You come and follow Me.
bro. jerry..thank you so much for sharing this with us. It's good to see you back. Thank you for your comment.
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