Saturday, May 13, 2017

Are We Sending Out Mixed Messages? Are We Misrepresenting Christ? We Are Christ's Brand; We Represent And Reflect Christ…Everyday…Everywhere…Before Everyone!

You know as Christians we can often send out mixed messages of Who we represent. We are His walking billboards. “That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord…” First, ‘walk’ is present tense, letting us know that this is to be done on a continual basis! Day in and day out we are to walk out this lifestyle of Christ-like Discipleship. This requires quite a bit of daily discipline.  Secondly, our lives and conduct are to be lived out in such a manner that it is worthy of the Lord Jesus Christ! The word “worthy” is defined as “deserving or good enough; deserving effort or attention or respect.” Can we honestly say that’s descriptive of our lives and conduct on a daily basis? Are we giving Him what He deserves? Is what we’re giving Him good enough? Is what we’re giving Him reflective of effort, attention and respect? Every day? In public and private? In church, at home, at work, at school, at the laundry, at the mall?

The Bible goes on to read, “…fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things…” The word ‘fully’ is defined as ‘completely, entirely’.  Do we live our daily lives and conduct in such a way that Christ is fully pleased with it and us? And not just our Sunday-Go-To-Meeting ‘Form of Godliness’, but when we’re in traffic and get cut off, is He still pleased with our words, actions and thoughts? Is He pleased with us completely…entirely…and in ALL things? Are we pleasing to Him in how we handle conflict, crisis, disagreements, anger, bad news, disappointments, let downs, betrayal? Are we still pleasing to Him when someone else gets the pat on the back; the word of encouragement; the support? Are we pleasing to Him when we’re overlooked; under-estimated; passed over; ignored or rejected? When we’re pleasing to Him in ALL things, that means the success and the failure; the promotion and the demotion; the marriage and the divorce; financial increase and financial decrease; when the doctor’s report is favorable and when it’s unfavorable; when someone else gets the house while we’re still trying to pay for the studio; when they drive the car out the dealership while we’re scrapping to get coins to go on a Metro card; when we can keep the utilities on and when they’re cut off? Are we pleasing to Him in our daily lives, no matter the mood, feeling or experience? Or are we well over-due for an attitude adjustment that’s more in line with His characteristics?

Truth is, the world has so much to offer, and so much of it is appealing and attracting, but do we present Christ in such a manner that they want Him too? Do we live in such a manner and walk and live in such a way that people want the Savior we serve? As His waiters and waitresses do we serve Him up well? Do we make Him appealing and attracting? Does the very scent of salvation flow through their nostrils, or does our attitude give off a disgusting stench instead? Can they smell the very scent of Christ on us? Are we attracting or detracting? Is our Christian Conduct, Character, Lives and Lifestyles Drawing People Nearer to Christ or Drawing Them Further Away? Let’s be honest, some people will not receive Christ, not because of Him but because of His Christians.

“I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” (Mohandas Gandhi)

Is this descriptive of us? Have we so warped our walk with God that people aren’t following Him, not because of Him, but because of us? Believe it or not, but how we live, how we act, how we speak, how we dress, how we behave, matters. We Represent and Reflect Christ…Everyday…Everywhere…Before Everyone!

In essence, we are Christ’s Brand! A “brand” is defined as, ‘a type of product manufactured by a company under a particular name; an identifying mark.’ We function under the name of Christ and our conduct and lifestyles are the identifying mark of Who He is. We are Christ’s Brand! We are in His Image and Likeness; We are Called by His Name; We are Christians; We are Believers; We are Sons and Daughters of the Most High God; We are Ambassadors and Personal Representatives of Christ…Therefore, How Do You Think We Should Live? How Should We Act? How Should We Behave? How Should We Speak? How Should We Dress?

1 Corinthians 6:16-20, “…Or didn’t you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don’t you see that you can’t live however you please; SQUANDERING WHAT GOD PAID SUCH A HIGH PRICE FOR? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body.” (AMPC)

Our conduct, lives and lifestyles should produce manifested evidence of being strengthened with all power! Now, does that mean we don’t experience weak moments? Absolutely not, we’re still frail and faulty flesh. However, we should never walk around day-to-day with a defeated disposition, anxious attitude, and miserable mindset! We are strengthened in the might of His Glory, therefore, let’s sound, act, live and look like it! Furthermore, we can go to the gym all we want, however, the exercise we need to make sure is a part of our daily regime is to exercise 'endurance and patience, perseverance and forbearance'! Like it or not, we are not exempt from the trials of life because we belong to Christ! John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]” (AMPC) And in light of that text, we’re not to be easily intimidated by trials, tribulations, struggles, suffering, stress, situations or circumstances! For James 1:2-4 declares, “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” (MSG)

God loved us so much to sacrifice His Son, and His Son loved us so much that He was a Willing Sacrificial Offering, for no man took His life, He laid it down on His own, Just for Us! So We Should Walk and Conduct, Our Lives and Lifestyles in a Manner that is Worthy of the Price He Paid for us! He Paid With His Life; We Honor His Life With Our Lifestyle! The Father delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of Light and Love. Now is the time that we reflect and represent that in our daily lives.

We can never earn what Jesus sacrificed for us. But we can live each day of our life in light of it. This means we live to please only the One who gave His life for us. Galatians 1:10, “Now am I trying to win the favor of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond servant of Christ (the Messiah).” (AMPC) We are to live in such a manner that we Please Him in All Things Everyday! We are not here to please people, no matter who they are, or think they are. We are here to please Him! Romans 11:36, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. [For all things originate with Him and come from Him; all things live through Him, and all things center in and tend to consummate and to end in Him.] To Him be glory forever! Amen (so be it).” (AMPC) It’s All About Him, Not Us, Not Them…Just to Please Him!

No cross should be too heavy for you to bear for Him. No demand He makes could possibly be too much. No sacrifice you make for Him can be too great. Not after what He sacrificed for you. Not after what He paid because of what it cost. Your life wasn't paid for at a discount price, no half off, no buy one get one free, no deals, no coupons. But Full Price Life and Death Was the Debt He Didn’t Owe…But Paid In Full! Therefore, Jesus deserves better from us than a discount discipleship! You don't have to visit a grave to remember what you owe Him - He's not there anyway. But each new day, in your heart, visit that cross where the Son of God loved you and gave Himself for you. And then, with a heart full of love and gratitude, live that day to please Him.

Blessings
J.P. Olson

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