LIVING AS FOLLOWERS OF JESUS (part-18)

AS A CHRISTIAN, WHAT SHOULD OTHERS SEE IN ME?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and
admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms,
hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
(Colossians 3:16)

MEDITATION:
Have you ever thought about the kind of an attitude a Christian should
have? Believers should be known as individuals filled with joy, who have
a desire to encourage others and correct them in wisdom and love (without
being condescending) whenever they begin to stray from God’s principles.
    “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way
       you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure
       you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the
       speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention
       to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother,
       ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there
       is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank
       out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the
       speck from your brother’s eye.”
       (Matthew 7:1-5)

Christians should also not be anxious about anything,
but through prayer make our requests known to God.
    Do not be anxious about anything, but in
    every situation, by prayer and petition, with
    thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
    (Philippians 4:6)

When we experience our greatest problems, we have One we can go to.
We can pour out our heart to Him with the assurance that He will not
desert us in our time of need. He will provide us with answers to the
things that are troubling us, or give us what we need for coping with
what overwhelms us. But the key is – we need to go to Him first and
not as a last resort.

Christians are to fill their minds with the things that are good. What
are the ‘things that are good’? A good question and the answer can be
found in God’s Word.
    Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever
    is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is
    lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or
    praiseworthy—think about such things.
    (Philippians 4:8)

These are the things we are to think about;
and when we do, we know God will be with us.
    Whatever you have learned or received or
    heard from me, or seen in me—put it into
    practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
    (Philippians 4:9)
Whenever we fail to think about these things,
we leave the door open to anxiety and worry.

Christians should live positively and not negatively. We need
to think about the great things God has done for us. Too often
we get bogged down with the negative things the world throws
at us.

We should be focused on the things that will cause us to rejoice.
It doesn’t mean we are blind to the negative things in the world,
but we have decided to focus our attention more on the positivity
of the goodness of God.

ACTION:
Questions to consider:
    – Do others recognize me as a Christian based on my
       attitude, my perspectives, and the way I live my life?
    – What changes should I make to improve my image as a Christian?
    – What changes should I make to improve my enjoyment of life?
    – What changes should I make to become more pleasing to God?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promises. Help me
to hide Your Word in my heart so that I can be a witness to
others by the way I live. I know that when Your Word is
foremost in my mind, I will discover a new enjoyment of
living out my time here on earth. You know the things that
trouble me the most and I ask You to teach me what I need
to know so I can cope with them. In faith I give it all over
to You and I worship You, knowing Your love will not fail.
Lord, I praise You for who You are and for all the wonderful
blessings You have given me.”

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