DAY 18
Day Eighteen: WHAT KIND OF LIFE ARE YOU LIVING?
Luke 17:1 (NIV)
Luke 17:1 “Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come.’”
To be a testimony to the world, Christians need to live what they profess. The nineteenth-century preacher Alexander Maclaren once said, “The world takes its notion of God most from those who say they belong to God’s family. They read us a great deal more than they read the Bible. They see us; but they only hear about Jesus Christ.” Sound biblical doctrine is inadequate by itself to influence the world toward Christ’s gospel, even though it is an important foundation.
Christians today could learn much from the early Christians. The manner in which they lived their lives were righteous and such a rebuke to the immoral, pagan societies around them. Unbelievers in those cultures found it extremely difficult to find fault with Christians, because the more they observed them, the more they saw believers living out the high moral standards the church professed.
Christians in those days were obedient to Peter’s instruction: “For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people” (I Peter 2:15 NIV). They also heeded Paul’s advice to Titus: “In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us” (Titus 2:7-8 NIV).
Jesus commanded His original disciples and us, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds, and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 NIV). Of course, Jesus had in mind living a righteous life that was genuine and came from a foundation of living according to the Word.
These verses ought to remind us, therefore, that what we believe and how we live, must go hand in hand. We are taught in I Corinthians 13 what the love of Christ looks like. If we want to have any credibility and exemplify who Christ is, we must reach out to those around us with His unconditional love. It is crucial that our actions speak as loudly as our words!
Heavenly Father, help us to maintain a scriptural balance between doctrine and our lifestyle. We pray that You will show us where things are out of balance in our life and help us to be a better example to those around us. May our words bring light and encouragement, and we ask that our life be a beacon of hope that radiates Your love clearly to those around us.
Prayer Points:
Personal: Our light will shine brightly to those around us.
Community: Deliverance, freedom and Inner healing for God’s people - our inner healing ministry.
