When people look at you, do they see a reflection of Jesus? As Christians, we are the representatives and ambassadors of Jesus to this world. It is our job to show Jesus to the world. Unfortunately, we are often as the scribes and Pharisees that Jesus spoke about, "So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach." (Matthew 23:3) Too often we fail to live what we preach.
"There once was an atheist (we will call him ###) who was interested in becoming a Christian. The pastor of the nearby church, upon hearing that ### was interested in Christianity, invited him to dinner. During dinner, the pastor talked to ### about God, religion, and Christianity. ### listened respectfully, liking what he heard. The pastor invited ### to church the next day, and ### accepted. The next day, ### went to church. The pastor talked about God's love and how we should love our enemies. ### listened to the sermon, amazed. He had never heard a pastor preach like this. He decided then and there to become a Christian. After the sermon, the church members stood and began to talk with each-other. ### remained seated, listening. ### couldn't believe what ### was hearing. They were gossiping with and about each-other and making snide remarks about the pastor, etc. ### rose, disappointed, and walked out of the church, an atheist."
Now, the story you have just read is fiction. But the story of Gandhi is not. Gandhi once said, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” How many times have we failed to adequately represent Christ?
Let's try to live more like Christ. Let's put our words into action and live what we preach. We need to preach not just with our words, but with our actions as well. Amen?
God Bless You All!
"There once was an atheist (we will call him ###) who was interested in becoming a Christian. The pastor of the nearby church, upon hearing that ### was interested in Christianity, invited him to dinner. During dinner, the pastor talked to ### about God, religion, and Christianity. ### listened respectfully, liking what he heard. The pastor invited ### to church the next day, and ### accepted. The next day, ### went to church. The pastor talked about God's love and how we should love our enemies. ### listened to the sermon, amazed. He had never heard a pastor preach like this. He decided then and there to become a Christian. After the sermon, the church members stood and began to talk with each-other. ### remained seated, listening. ### couldn't believe what ### was hearing. They were gossiping with and about each-other and making snide remarks about the pastor, etc. ### rose, disappointed, and walked out of the church, an atheist."
Now, the story you have just read is fiction. But the story of Gandhi is not. Gandhi once said, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” How many times have we failed to adequately represent Christ?
Let's try to live more like Christ. Let's put our words into action and live what we preach. We need to preach not just with our words, but with our actions as well. Amen?
God Bless You All!
