GETTING REAL: How do you live for Christ?

Christians, we must live and love in the Lord Jesus Christ.  We must stop making the Lord look like His children do not think or have any common sense.  We must be aware that the world is watching us, looking at our works in Christ Jesus.  It doesn't matter whether you are Baptist, Calvinist, Arminian, Methodist and so on, if you're a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, your conversation (conduct) is being watched.

I write this due to a conversation I had with my wife and a family friend on an arising issue with a Christian neighbor of ours.  This particular Christian neighbor, she has four children (who they believe are supposed to be Christians), who regularly play outside in our neighborhood park everyday. Her children, ranging from ages 4 to 17, are outside many times unsupervised.  (If you remember from one of my former post, one of her children was the one who said they would swing on my military neighbor). Anyways, the Christian neighbor's younger son was seen by my military neighbor, peeing on the playground. My military friend approached the boy about it and his younger sister (4yrs old), began screaming at my friend "not to touch her brother!"!!  So J (that's what I'll call him) and his wife went to speak with the O (that's what I'll call my Christian neighbor).  Mind you, J and his wife are not Christians.  When they went to speak with O, they could not find her. This was also during a time when her children were out playing at the park.  

 

Now on O's front door is a sign consisting of a portion of this scripture text: And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:15)

 

Are you thinking, "ahhh no big deal, it's just a sign?"  She can post whatever she wants.  Yes, but later that day when J and his wife spoke with my friend, they made a point to say "and do you know what O has the nerve to have on her door..."   It matters, it is a big deal.  It is written:

Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth [his] conversation [aright] will I shew the salvation of God.  (Psalms 50:23)

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16)

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; (Ephesians 4:22)

 

Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; (Philippians 1:27)

 

For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:  (Philippians 3:20)

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)

 

Who [is] a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. (James 3:13)

 

Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. (1 Peter 3:16)

 

The key word is conversation!  How we live as a Christian is so important.  Our conduct is important in all that we do for the Lord Jesus Christ.  The world watches to see how we live as Christians

Hebrew: derekh – which indicates the way, the course one travels
Greek (one of the Greek transliterations): anastrophē - manner of life, conduct, behaviour, deportment

Conversation is a matter of how we behave and live.  Sometimes we may think it means just what we say.  Instead the word reflects to what we do.  Many times the best way to show the Lord Jesus Christ is with you, is to use your common sense or show you think!!!!  You don't show your serve the Lord Jesus Christ by not changing your oil in the car and then praying God keeps your car as the oil light comes on.  No, take care of your car, put some oil in it.  Do some of the natural common sense things.  Remember, from the situation I explained to you, J and his wife were disgusted because of the lack of care O has been showing her children. And guess what, if she tries and talked to them about Christ, she will be unheard because of her conduct.

 

Now, J and his wife's next door Christian neighbors have been considered Christians.  Why? Their neighbor's examples show in their conduct.  When J was in Iraq and his left wife was alone with her young child, her neighbors cut her grass for her, shoveled her driveway, and checked on her repeatedly to see if she was safe, until J returned.  They did something commonly known as being courteous.  Wow!!!  Now do you think they will get at least a listen if they were to tell J about Jesus Christ?  Of course, because of their living speaks Christ all over it.  May we model our living after Christ's conduct as well.

Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. (Romans 12:17-18)

For what glory [is it], if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it], ye take it patiently, this [is] acceptable with God.  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously:  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.  For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. (1 Peter 2:20-25)