Are you a Christian?

A friend of ours shared this true story! One day as he was driving to work, he found a scooter and a man knocked down on the side of the road. The vehicles were steadily moving along, and he had a split second to make a decision. The man was in his sixties and had trouble getting up even though he was not severely hurt. So, he stopped the car and got down. He helped the fallen man up, gave him water, and offered to take him to some doctor. The man thanked him and said that he was alright and that he can manage by himself. As our friend turned to leave, the man called him and asked him a question, "Are you a Christian?" Our friend was shocked by that question, knowing how people relate 'good works' with being a Christian. From that day, whenever our friend had a hard choice to make, that question challenged him - are you being a Christian?

I was much challenged by it too! Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."I do not know if we sincerely understand the implications of being a Christian. Some understand it to mean that our outward life has to 'appear' holy while the inward parts can be filled with filthy thoughts and actions. I do not subscribe to that idea. While we can successfully fool the people around us, we can never fool God! The Bible teaches us to be honest and transparent. That means what is in our heart should spill over into our everyday lives, and that should bring glory to God; every action, every emotion, and every word! And that is the real challenge. We gossip freely and harbor un-forgiveness and hatred in our hearts. We refuse to stand up for what is right and plead the cause of the innocent and the downtrodden. When we say 'yes,' we do not mean it, and our 'no' is also not truly a 'no.' How, then can God be glorified in and through our lives?

My friend, this is the real challenge facing us today. While it is easy to point fingers at outside forces as enemies God, the real enemy that dishonors the God of the Bible is actually within us! May God help us.

Categories: Weekly DevotionalsAuthor: Hephzibah StephenDate: 4th June 2019 Share: newsletterDisplay date: 5th June 2019

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