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
