If
someone where to look at your life, what would they see? If I asked your
neighbors what sports team you cheer for, would they know? Would they tell me
you go on vacation every summer? Would they tell me you have a love for
animals? Do they think you are patriotic because there is a flag hanging from
your porch? Would they tell me they think you attend church somewhere because
you always leave your home dressed up on Sunday mornings? Would they be able to
tell me that you have invited them to go with you? As Christians, Jesus is to
be everything to us, but are we living like he is? If Jesus is truly everything
to us, shouldn’t it be reflected in our actions? How does the world know Jesus
is everything to us? How do they know he is the Savior of the world (1
John 4:14)? How do they know he is
our prophet, priest and king?
They
should see a difference in us. They should see a difference because we put the Lord
in his rightful place-First. Luke 14:26; Acts 3:23 We are not told that it is difficult
to be a disciple of the Lord’s, if we do not put him first; we are told it is not
possible. We cannot be his disciple if we do not put him first. If we put
the Lord in his rightful place can we go and do things that he has commanded us
not to? Can we gossip if what we say is true? Can we lie when we would just
rather go fishing than to work? Can we cheat on our taxes? Can we steal
supplies from our workplace? Can we discuss how funny that new sitcom is that
pushes the homosexual agenda? Can we use our social media pages to vent about
our boss, friends, or family? Can we wear shorts, bikinis or strapless dresses
that leave little to the imagination and expect the world to see a difference
in us? You get the idea. If we have him in his rightful place it will show in all
aspects of our lives. We won’t dress like the world. We won’t watch what the
world says is okay. We won’t talk as the world does because we are different.
We are called out (Romans 12:2).
Does being different, putting the Lord first and denying ourselves mean we
cannot live without any modern conveniences or luxuries (Luke 14:26)?
Absolutely not! Of course if we have these blessings we should certainly be thankful
for them and utilize them. Luke 14:26 teaches simply, that we cannot love
anything else more than the Lord, be it the world, family members or material
possessions.
Our
neighbors will know Jesus is everything to us when they see us repent and ask
for forgiveness when we make mistakes. Being children of God doesn’t mean we
are perfect people. Finally, they will know Jesus is everything to us when they
see an ever-present hope and joy in us. As children of God, we don’t have to
worry about the future (Matthew 6:34)
and we know there is a place in heaven reserved for us (1
Peter 1:4). Why should we not be
the happiest people on earth? Why should we not want everyone to experience the
joy and peace we feel?
If
our neighbors truly see Jesus being everything to us, rather than us just
professing so, they might take more interest in this message we’re trying to
share with them. Don’t underestimate the power of your influence. We will never
reach lost souls who see nothing different about our lives compared to theirs.