A Representative of Christ
Colossians 3:17 (NLT) And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Wow, you may want to read that again! These are very powerful words. Do you realize that you are a representative of Jesus Christ? Not only is the Lord watching everything you do, but the world is watching as well. Those things that you feel are unimportant, may be the very thing that either leads them to Jesus or completely turns them off to the idea of Christianity. Let's face it, many people are not serving God today because of what they've seen in church or how they were treated by those who profess to be Christians. I'll be honest with you... some of the meanest people I've ever met were very bold about their Christian beliefs and they left a path of wounded warriors and those who now reject Christ simply by their words and their actions.
I'm not saying that any of you are that way, but what I do desire from this devotion is to make each of us... yes me included...a little more in tune to how our actions and words are being perceived and what we need to change to better reflect the love and nature of Christ.
One thing I've been trying to work on is just being more sensitive to the Holy Spirit by slowing down and actually seeing and hearing people. I can get in such a rush at times that I become focused on the task at hand and forget about the souls I'm coming in contact with that desperately need Jesus. Just taking time to share His love with that cashier or the person who's in line next to me. Seeing and hearing the cry of their heart. If we'll make ourselves available to the Spirit, He will draw them to us, but we must be searching for those opportunities.
In the past, I had an issue with gossip. It was easy for me to get caught up with the chatter that went on at work about certain people. The Lord convicted me as He began revealing His love for them. I had no right to mock His creation and I certainly was not being a good example of Christian character.
There's so many areas we could all improve upon. We also need to be asking God to reveal those things that we have become so accustomed to, that we don't even realize is hindering our effectiveness and stunting our growth.
Begin to ask yourself that old saying "What would Jesus do?" If He wouldn't do it, then it's certainly not something we should be participating in.
Ephesians 4:20-24 (NKJV) But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Psalm 15:1-3 (NLT) Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends.
James 1:20-27 (NLT) Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the Word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
