I am a Christian. I profess it. I post it. I claim it. As a result, someone should not have to ask me whether or not I go to church. Are you following me? My attitudes, which are displayed in my actions and words, should not so match that of my culture, the world, that someone would wonder whether or not I go to church. For those who are not saved, they tend to not use the word saved. Since they are not sure exactly what the term really means, the lost don't tend to wonder or ask people whether or not they are saved. The more typical, comfortable, accepted question is do you go to church (this issue brings about a post for another day). For those who spend any amount of time with me, there should be no question in their mind about where I spend my Sundays, Wednesdays, and any other day I get the chance.
Galations 5:22-26 (NASB) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (I blew that one yesterday); against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
Matthew 7:20 (NASB) So then, you will know them by their fruits.
It is not enough for us to say to ourselves we are good, or we are saved, or we are right. Jesus Christ in us, by the Holy Spirit, should be reflected in our walk and our talk. We should not be motivated by greed. We should not store up our treasures on earth. We should not hate because of color. We should not shun the poor because of pride.
We Christians should, first of all, know and understand Scripture so we know what we are supposed to do and be obedient to. We are not born with some inherent knowledge of how to be Godly. First, pray for Luke 24:45 for yourself and others - Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. We have to read it to know it and understand it to live it. We should not and cannot do any of that by our own power!
Being a Christian is knowing the Word, living in obedience to its Living Word, being led by the Spirit, trying to prayerfully know God's will for your life. These are all layers and layers which get deeper and richer as you come to know your Savior. Today is a day I need Him to save me...save me from this world...from others...from myself.
I sincerely hope the people around me do not wonder if I go to church, if I am a Christian, if I am in the Word. Lord, let me reflect love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I want to glorify You. I want my witness to bring people to You and not away from You. Everything else is in the wash!
Hey Heather, I recently had a very similar word from God....
ReplyDeleteWhen grapes are being crushed at the vineyards to make wine, there is a very strong and wonderful smell that fills the whole atmosphere. God said that it's the same for us. There are times when we go through a crushing phase so that He can get rid of everything in us that is not of Him. When this happens we put off a fragrance of Christ that lasts. When I heard that, one of my first thoughts was that I don't want to put off a smell that is repulsive to people... actually starting writing, "instead, I want my fragrance of You to get stronger and stronger and stronger and be a fragrance of love and joy and peace and kindness and patience and goodness and faithfulness and gentleness and self-control and to last all year round and just get stronger as time passes." And then it hit me that I wrote the Fruits of the Spirits - I was just amazed that I started out talking about fruit getting crushed and He led me right to His word with the perfect example!!
So, I'm praying I am crushed only by God's hands! Anything He allows will glorify Him and I want to spread His fragrance wherever I go!! I want people to feel (smell) His presence before I even walk in the room and when I leave, I pray His fragrance remains! Like you said, I don't want people around me to wonder... let us be the fruits of the Spirit in all situations!
Thanks Heather for this blog!! Really enjoying reading it!! (still need to catch up on some I missed over the holidays though!) Love ya