|
Do you know people who say
they believe in Jesus or that their beliefs are Christian? I’m sure we
all meet people who say these things, but do their lives really reflect
a holy walk in the Lord Jesus. Are their actions done in love or hate?
Are their words full of faith or doubt? Do they respect or show love to
one another?
Let’s read what the Lord says
about this particular situation in (1 John 1:5 – 2: 1-11) "This is the
message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him
there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet
walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we
walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one
another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. If
we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in
us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us
our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not
sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our
lives. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.
But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our
defense Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for
our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole
world. We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands.
The man who says, "I know Him," but does not do what He commands is a
liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys His word, God’s
love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him:
Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did. Dear friends, I am
not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since
the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. Yet I am
writing you a new command; its truth is seen in Him and you, because the
darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. Anyone who
claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the
darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is
nothing in Him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in
the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he
is going, because the darkness has blinded him."
So, if a person claims they
believe in Jesus or say their beliefs are Christian, we should know by
their actions. Are their actions reflecting the actions of Jesus Christ?
Do they use God’s name in vain? Do they speak filthy language? Do they
murmur or gossip about others? Do they treat others with respect? Do
they do the will of God? God says "whoever claims to live in Him must
walk as Jesus did". If they don’t walk in love or obey His Word they are
in darkness. They are not walking the walk, they are just talking the
talk. They’re just trying to wear a label saying "Christian."
It’s no wonder why so many
people in the world are calling Christians hypocrites. They see more of
the Christian labels than the real disciples of Jesus. What can
Christians do or say about these labels?
First, we can spread the
gospel to those who are the labels and to those who don’t know about
Christianity.
Second, lift the label
Christians up in prayer to the Father. Let’s pray that their hearts may
be open to see, hear, and know the truth about Jesus and how to live to
according to His Word.
Third, our lives as the body
of Christ should reflect the light of God. We should be the living
examples of Jesus to believers and to unbelievers. The entire world
shall know us by our fruit.
Therefore, let us evaluate
our own walk with the Lord. I hope that your life reflects more of the
righteous fruit of the Word of God than one that’s of a label. Remember
that labels don’t stick around forever, they will be removed when the
fire gets hot. |
