This post is going to step on your toes… and MINE.
Are we good examples of what it is to be Christians? To be Christ-like? Are we showing newly saved Christians how to be CHRISTIANS?
Most of time, if we are honest with ourselves, the answer is going to be a BIG FAT “NO”.
Do I fail God daily? Yes. Do I mean to? No. Do I WANT to? Absolutely no.
Christ DIED to save me. The son of God, came to Earth to become a man, to be tempted as all men are and he still lived a PERFECT life… and then sacrificed himself for me.
That is TREMENDOUS! What a gift!!! What an incredible, undeserved, AMAZING gift!!!
I was reading in Titus the other day and I came across some scriptures that truly moved me! Titus 2:5-7 “5 Not by works of righteousness which WE have done, but according to HIS MERCY he saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. 6 Which he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our saviour. 7 That being justified by HIS GRACE , we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
So our imperfection was made perfect by Christs sacrifice. Not because we are a good person, not because we are kind to others, not because we are giving… and definitely not because we are deserving… but because of Christs MERCY!!!
So back to my original point. Are we good examples of Christians? Even though we all fall and come short of God’s glory… there is still hope for us to become good examples of Christ-like Christians… because the Bible tells us EXACTLY what to do!
Titus 1:15-2:8 tells us exactly how we, as the Church are to behave, how we are to treat other Christians, how we are to teach our youth, how we are to behave as the Church. One example that I particularly liked was “2:3- The aged women likewise that they be in behavior as becommeth holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; they they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children…” Don’t even get me started on women tearing other women down, but isn’t this EXACTLY how elder members of the church are to be an example of being Christ-like to the younger women?
The Bible also gives us instructions AGAIN in 1st Peter chapter 3.
The Bible tells us EXACTLY how to behave. Tells us exactly how we are to act. Exactly how God wants us as Christians to act.
So the next time a “Sinner” who sins differently than you comes into your church… Embrace them. Show them love as Christ would. Teach them how to be a Christian, not only though your words, but through your actions as well. TELL THEM what their sins are, and make sure that they understand that the price of sin is DEATH. Calling sin out as sin isn’t being judgmental. You aren’t condemning the person to hell, you are telling them what the Bible calls SIN. Jesus told the adulterous woman “Go forth and sin no more”… So why do we get hung up on pointing out our sins and the sins of those we love. Tell them, and then love them while they change, and HELP them to become more Christ-like. You just might become more Christ-like yourself in the process.
Peace, Love,Hugs, and Happy Birthday America,
❤ Holly Lynn
lifeashollylynn 