Who Does God And Man Say That You Are When They Observe You
Ephesians 5:1-10 Amplified Bible (AMP)
1THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]. 2And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance. 3But immorality (sexual vice) and all impurity [ of lustful, rich, wasteful living] or greediness must not even be named among you, as is fitting and proper among saints (God's consecrated people).4Let there be no filthiness (obscenity, indecency) nor foolish and sinful (silly and corrupt) talk, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting or becoming; but instead voice your thankfulness [to God]. 5For be sure of this: that no person practicing sexual vice or impurity in thought or in life, or one who is covetous [who has lustful desire for the property of others and is greedy for gain]--for he [in effect] is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.6Let no one delude and deceive you with empty excuses and groundless arguments [for these sins], for through these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of rebellion and disobedience. 7So do not associate or be sharers with them. 8For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [lead the lives of those native-born to the Light]. 9For the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Light or the Spirit [consists] in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life. 10And try to learn [in your experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [let your lives be constant proofs of what is most acceptable to Him].
The case of Trayvon Martin has brought up again the subject a profiling; in this case the subject is racial profiling. To make matters worse the comments from some citizens have been about this young man’s attire, and that he looked like a thug so he should die like a thug. Unfortunately judging people by how they appear and what they may have on is very common place; it is something that many of us in the Christian community often do and we are the worst offenders of this type of injustice. If a skirt is not down to someone’s ankles, or it fits a little too snug or if a man does not have on a shirt and tie, they often can be looked at as not called or less Godly or holy sometimes label not a Christian because of it. But in truth we never look at how they act. In more cases than not, it is not the Christian that doesn’t look sanctified that is the problem, it is the one that has all of the external things correct and has the lingo down pat, they can be the nastiest, meanest, corrupt, judgmental people who call themselves Christians.
Just as Jesus asked his disciples who do men say I am, and then He asked who do you say I am, we should understand the nature of who we are, just as Christ did when He posed that question. The message of Christ should be written all over us. We should carry ourselves in the way we act and treat others as imitators of Christ. When I was growing up, my Grandmother and my mother, would teach us to pray for those who wronged us and treated us poorly, not attempt to do them in, or go around articulating bad proclamations over their lives and speaking ill of them. Unfortunately this has become what Christianity often resembles instead of the word of God, and the ways of Christ. We have fallen into a place where we say some of the right things, but the rest of the way we are living, treating people and speaking about people does not resemble God and if we asked people who do men say we are they would respond as many do with the word, hypocrite, confusing, or even not sure who we serve. It is said that people cannot profile us because they see us coming out of church, saying how great service was and how much we received from it, because we are acting worse than those who do not profess Christ in our everyday lives, we are acting anything but what God has command. We are still engaging in gossip, corrupt communication and living, we are harsh, unyielding and unforgiving and the love of God is surely not evident in our lives or the way we respond and treat people. We think the worst and deflect all of our negative thoughts and attitudes on those who abide around us. Seeing all of this who could men say that we are, and what does God say of us?
I want to be profiled as a holy roller, deep, a Jesus freak and one who is sold out to God in my living, loving, giving and especially in my attitude and treatment of others. I want when people see me and even when I have left this earth to connect my life with Christ, to be able to say she lived a life pleasing to God and not to man; she did as her Heavenly Father commanded. I often think that when we think in terms of our behavior we think of what we think is acceptable, rather than what God says is acceptable in His sight, but that is now how God sees it and that is not how most individuals especially those who have not found Christ see it. Our life in its entirety should be a reflection of God’s love, peace, joy, compassion and what is the heart of God which is to see all come into repentance and for us to love Him and our neighbors as ourselves. Who is it that people see and say that you are, but more importantly who does God see and say that you are?
No comments:
Post a Comment