Going Through the Motions

Is Jesus truly in your heart, or is it just acting? A better question might be would those close to you say you’re a true believer?

No matter how hard you try, you might be able to convince acquaintances you’re a true believer and you walk the walk, but those closest know you best. They know whether you’re putting on a show for outsiders and for your church friends.

God also knows whether you’re living for him or to impress others.
__________________________

To believe in something, and not to live it, is dishonest. – Mahatma Gandhi
__________________________

There are a couple of ways to tell how true a believer you really are.

1. How do you treat your family members when your church friends aren’t watching? My dad wasn’t a church goer, he was a politician. He was a state representative in the State of Idaho for years. When he was around strangers, he was all smiles. In a restaurant, he wouldn’t even return a steak if it wasn’t cooked to his liking. Yet when the waitress left the table, all he did was complain. And at home, behind closed doors, he was both verbally and, at times, physically abusive.
2. Another way to tell if you’re walk is on track is by the television programs and movies your watch, and by the books you read. There’s no doubt that 50 Shades of Grey only became a million selling book because Christians were also reading it.
3. Want to know if you’re walk with God is on target? How do you act at work? A friend and I were talking about this at lunch Friday. She knows a guy who is a born-again Christian, yet he owns a strip club. When she questions that, he just tells her that’s his job and has nothing to do with being a Christian. What? Of course it does. The same holds true for lawyers, doctors, and everyone else. Your faith shouldn’t be set aside when it’s inconvenient for you.

These are just three examples of how you might be showing that you’re not truly walking in the spirit. The only way you can is to give your life totally to Jesus Christ. Stop having him save your seat in church when you leave.

James 1:26-27 states, Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. You must walk in the way of God, not in the way of the world, even when others aren’t watching.

No matter where you are or what you do, you are to set an example for others. The only way to bring others to Jesus is to show what He is about. That means changing how we behave toward others when it can’t be seen. The more people see you behave like a true believer, the more you’ll be able to get others to believe also.

If you or someone you know are in need of prayer this week, please let us know. We’d be more than happy to pray for you.
And if this post moved you in some way, please feel free to share it.