Living a Lie or Living the Life

Happy Sunday. Can I claim to be a Christian and act like the rest of the world? Let me rephrase that. Can I be a Christian and act like the rest of the world?

Now, anyone can claim to be a Christian. It does not mean that they are. Have you ever been confused by the behavior of someone who claimed to be a Christian? What does Jesus say about that?

Listen to his words from Matthew chapter 7. Jesus said, "Every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit." A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Thus you will know them by their fruits. Jesus goes on and he said, "Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my father in heaven." Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rains fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall because it had been built and founded on rock.

And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was its fall. Here it seems pretty clear, doesn't it? Listen once again to Matthew 7:24.

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. Here we see that because of our salvation, because of our belief, because of our connection to Christ, we will act a certain way. Our belief will make us behave in line with our faith different from the rest of this world. In the book of Colossians, we're told about our old nature and our new nature.

Listen to these words. For you have stripped off your old sinful nature and its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature and be renewed as you learn to know your creator and become like him. Jesus put it this way in John 14:15.

If you love me, you will keep my commandments. You'll act a certain way. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. Can you imagine what this world would be like if everyone did this?

In my life, I have seen the power of changed lives. I've seen thieves become givers and liars become truth tellers and haters become lovers and the fallen become faithful. And I love it. And it's powerful.

Sadly, I've also seen people who claim to be a Christian confuse me with their actions. It's my prayer that I never confuse you. It's my prayer that I never confuse my wife or my children or my grandchildren or my neighbors. It's my prayer that my salvation behaves.

It's my prayer that your salvation behaves as well. People are watching and our salvation, our acts, our Christian lives should never confuse. In the book of 1 Peter chapter 2, we find Peter encouraging believers who had been persecuted and scattered all over the world. He said this, "Dear friends, I warn you as temporary residents and foreigners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.

Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of wrongdoing, they will see your honorable behavior and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. I love how Peter worded that. Keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.

There is a war going on and we must every day put on that armor of God and live lives that are worthy of our calling. Remember what Jesus said. You will know them by their fruits. Pray with me.

Father, let our light shine, not for us, but for you. If we wonder sometimes about the things we do, help us to make sure they're in line with you. Help us with our words and our thoughts and our deeds. And Father, let us live Christlike lives.

It does matter how we act. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. God bless.

Have a wonderful week ahead.