Walking Billboard

5-1-2009

Let’s face it; Christ is a tough act to follow. The man was sinless, yet we as believers in Christ are called to strive for sanctification (to be Christ like). I pray daily that I will look, act, feel, say, and do all things in a Christ-like manner, yet I fall short. We all do.

As we start the second part of Ephesians, Paul really starts to focus on how much of an honor it is to be a Christian. I don’t know if we really understand what Paul is saying here, but think about it for a second, it really is an honor. Ephesians 4:1-3 says, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” I love the part that says, “Live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

When we claim to be a Christian, actions should follow. We are all sinners, and we all have faults, but we still need to understand what an honor it is that Christ died on the cross for those sins and faults. As a believer, learn to embrace everyone. You aren’t going to like everything about everyone, and chances are you aren’t going to like everyone, but we are called to love. I believe we are brainwashed as kids to look for the bad in people. Try the opposite approach. It’s easy to look at someone and find faults, but as a believer we are called to find the good. Christ made each and every one of us in his image. We all possess some Christ-like features. Find those features in every one, and if you can, tell them!

We have a select baseball organization for kids, so we naturally meet a lot of great people. My wife and I were commenting about how nice one of the moms is. She is so kind and sincere that it makes you want to be nicer! After my wife and I were bragging about her to each other, I felt the need to tell her how kind she is. I believe I responded to one of her text messages by saying, “you are so kind you make Christ proud.” Her response was something along the lines of, “you just made my day… I’m starting to tear up!” I felt bad that I hadn’t told her that before. I just assumed people tell her how nice she is all of the time. Everyone I know feels the same way about her, but I learned through this situation to tell people about their Christ like qualities. You never know the impact you can have on someone’s life by simply finding the good in them, and telling them how much you appreciate it!

Application:
1. Read Ephesians 4:1-13
2. Point out the Christ-like qualities in people you know.