What Does Your Behavior Say?

What exactly is our job as a Christian? Our goal is to move towards being Christ-like. If we honestly believe in Jesus Christ, we will want to change how we deal with people and how we behave. 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. But there’s more to it than that.

We should also want to share our God with others. The best way to do that is with our actions. Sometimes the way we behave can be a turn off to non-believers. Do you show others you believe in Jesus Christ, a loving Savior, or are your actions showing a different type of god?

1. Do you make a point of accusing others of sinning? Your daughter is not invited for dinner if she brings that man she’s shacking up with. Would you even consider asking a friend who is homosexual to join you at church? If this sounds familiar, then your God might be a finger pointer. As a Christian, you should not judge others. That is God’s job. Your job is to love and help others get to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, whether they are a nun or a person about to go to jail.
2. How often do you get angry when you have to wait in line? When you get to the front, do you
   mention to the clerk they should have more open registers? Or maybe your waitress is a bit slow, so you leave less of a tip. The sourpuss look upon your face tells others you believe in an angry God. If you honestly believe in Jesus, you should be filled with joy. There will be days when you get upset, but the majority of the time should be spent knowing the full blessings you’ve received from your Lord. And waiting in line is the perfect opportunity to show the people behind you that you have a patient God.
3. Or perhaps everything goes wrong in your life. The glass is not only half-empty, but there’s lipstick on the rim. Do you really believe anyone wants to know the complaining God you believe in? You should take a step back and realize that God loves you and gave his Son to die for your sins. No matter what you’re going through, there’s a good chance someone out there is worse off.

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He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.” – C.S. Lewis
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4. Do you play the blame game? You’re in debt because of your spouse. You lost your job, again, because of your boss. It’s your two ex-wives who are to blame for the divorces. If this is you, then you worship a fault-finding God. It has never dawned on you that the person in the mirror is the one who has caused all your problems. Christians need to stop pointing fingers at others and realize we are just as much, if not more so, to blame for our circumstances. Why would anyone want to follow a God with believers who refuse to take responsibility for their own actions?
5. Do you feel you are better than non-believers because of your faith? They will all go to hell while you will most certainly be sitting in Heaven. Only certain type of faith-based books and music are considered Christian in your mind. If so, you believe in an Egotistical God. You need to realize God meets people in different places. He uses others to reach non-believers through gospel music as well as rock music.
6. Do you only hang with certain people? Maybe you make of point of only being seen with the popular people in your church. Your minister might be invited to dinner, but the woman who vacuums the floor would not. You only go to certain events, those that show you are one of the “cool” people. If so, you believe in a Clickish God. You need to stop worrying about what others think of you. No one is less important in the eyes of God just because of who they hang with. And sometimes those popular people are just as phony as you are.

Did you see yourself in any of these believers? If not, search yourself a bit deeper. Most of us show one of these gods from time to time.

We must remember that our God is loving and kind. He is slow to anger but quick to give reassurance. If we show others this side of our Lord and Savior then others will surely want to get to know Him as well.

If you or someone you know is in need of prayer this week, please leave a comment. 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.

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