People Are Watching You

If you are a born–again believer people are watching you.  Jesus said of His followers in Mathew 5:14, “You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”  In verse 16 it says, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  Paul said in 2 Corinthians 13:5 “Test yourself to see if you are in the faith, examine yourselves!  Or do you not recognize this about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you – unless indeed you fail the test.”

What is your walk of faith like?  If people saw your actions, heard your speech, saw where you hang out, knew the movies you watched, the books you read, the music you listen to most of the time, how you dress and what your work habits are could most people know that you are a believer in Jesus without you telling them?  We live in a society where compromise is the norm.  Even many of our churches have turned into user-friendly churches.  We think of all kinds of ways to amuse and entertain the non-believer to get them into the church, but neglect the feeding of the believer, using sermons that tickle people’s ears but do nothing to help them grow.  

At one time there were many preachers that were called “Fire and Brimstone” preachers but in most churches the “Fire and Brimstone” preachers are considered outdated and boring replaced by the feel good sermons that just lull people to sleep.  It seems like numbers are more important than growth and maturity.  I have walked out of churches feeling basically inspired but without any conviction over my own condition.  If the Word that is preached does nothing but make us feel good and inspire us, then to me it is like putting a bandage on an open wound without applying the medicine it will take to heal the wound.

In 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 it says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  We seem to get the training and teaching but there is not much reproof or correction and without these things we will lose the balance we need to live a godly life.  Is it possible that we think we can usher souls into heaven without the help of the Lord and his Holy Spirit?  

It seems that there isn’t much conviction in the lives of many believers or at least in many that claim that they are.  Many seem to neglect the Word and prayer and spend very little time with the Lord through the week. Without the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and acting on the conviction we receive, you will never be changed.  God is still in the business of transforming lives but if we neglect the truth and just seek to be entertained we will never benefit by the transforming power of God and our lives will demonstrate it.  God didn’t ordain the church to become worldly or user-friendly He wanted the church to be set apart.  It seems that the church is so much like the world that in some ways it is hard to see the difference.

And what is the church?  It is the body of Christ, not just a building.  Like I said earlier, we are the light of the world.  Do people see a person that has been set apart for Christ when they see you or are you so much like the world that you have to tell people you are a Christian?  If you are not growing or transforming into God’s image and likeness then do what you need to do to remedy the situation.  If you need to change where you are worshiping so that you can be fed from the river of life, do it.  If you need to spend more time with the Lord and His Word, do it.  Whatever you need to do to grow, take action now.  Don’t allow yourself to get to the point where you are so complacent that you just go with the flow.  Return to your first love and do the things that will benefit your relationship with him.

You will be the one that stands before the Lord someday to give an account of your behavior.  If you have to repent and seek forgiveness, do it, and get that light shining bright again so those around you will be able to tell that you’re a child of God without you telling them.  Something to think about, God bless you and have a great day.