Worthy Of Promotion

While working on a couple of things online Thursday night, while browsing a few social media newsfeeds, I come across a notification from a networking site for business, informing me of my brothers status update, which was of a job promotion! 

Not surprised, but unexpected, I thought I had missed something. So I texted him.

I knew changes were in the works, for the past 6 or 8 months, with his responsibilities and everything, but our conversations had been about the job, so when I saw the title...

At any rate, he replies with the title being official since January 1; he was just finally getting around to updating his professional online profile. Offering my congratulations, he replies with what I thought I remembered being the game plan... "it's the same thing I've been doing for 6 months or so, but now it's official."

Fast forward a few hours to Friday morning. I'm thinking about the post I had written before running off to work. In particular, thinking about the balance between Christians verbally giving witness to the work of Christ in their life and that of allowing the change in our heart speak to how we live differently from the world. It wasn't but a second or two that the connection was made.

As the church engages community this last Saturday of January, how many have been turned off to the Gospel because they were quick to verbalize their faith, but then consistently live life contradictory to what people perceive as Christian?

Keep in mind, I'm not perfect, nor do I act it... sadly, I have my days where someone might question my profession of faith. So, I'm not saying one should be the perfect Christian before sharing their testimony... for surely, I am not.

But consider these two scenarios.

I've listened to you tell me that you are a Christian for the past year (or much longer), and I yet you still... (whatever seems a clear conflict of behavior and one's faith). I'm not gonna call one thing out, but you've seen something in someone and had this question. How did the conversation go? Did they justify their behavior? 

Conversely...

I've noticed a change in your life over the past few months and I can tell their is clearly something different in how you live your life. We haven't talked about it, but I see it. 

This is the difference between the one who holds the title and people wonder why they have it versus people that do the work and aren't surprised when the title comes.

Thus, as we impact and converse with those around us, let us not be known Christian in name only. But strive to live a life that glorifies God; that by the outflow of our heart, they will know those who are His.

The title is simply a word and a word is worthless if not built on a strong foundation.

For in any arena or event of life, one gets the title because of their performance, not in hopes of it. Fortunately God doesn't work like this, when we accept His gift of salvation... there is an element of grace in it all, yet at the same time, the expectation is present... did we fulfill the duties of the position we've held. 

Pray this #communitySaturday that God would help us live this life He has called us; for surely we are not perfect; yet we are called to reflect Christ to a lost and dying world. May their be a consistency about our lives. Pray our words and our deeds would both point to Christ in all that we say and do. Pray God help us in our conversations, for indeed I've struggled to express the balance of a living and active faith just in this post... how much more with those unfamiliar with Christianity or Biblical principles. Yet everyone has an expectation of how a Christian should live.

Saved by grace.
Sanctified by the Word
Justified by faith in Christ alone.
Imperfect people reflecting a perfect Savior.
Christianity is indeed a process, a balancing act and an irony.
The Sovereignty of God... to use the foolish things to confound the wise
Through His infinite wisdom, unending grace and abundant love.
For His glory and the cause of Jesus Christ.

 - PNC

---