Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business
and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.
Then people who are not Christians will respect the way you
live, and you will not need to depend on others.”
(I Thessalonians 4:11-12)

Thoughts… In Paul’s day, some of the believers were so convinced that Jesus was going to come back at any moment that they simply quit life and waited. They quit showing up to work, they quit earning a living, they quit taking care of stuff around the house. Why bother? Jesus was coming back. So they just waited. And they became a burden for everybody else. Others had to do their work. Others had to provide food for them. Others had to take care of the things they were supposed to do.

We have words for people like that: Irresponsible, irritating, lazy. And they are terrible witnesses for Christ. I haven’t seen too many people in our day who have quit life and are just sitting around waiting for Jesus to return to rescue them from the daily chores of life. But I have seen a fair number of people who are terrible witnesses for Jesus. Not so much because they don’t give an adequate verbal witness—they talk a good game. They just don’t play it.

Their lives don’t match their language. Seekers can’t see Jesus because their lifestyle gets in the way of their language, their work ethic clouds their witness, their nosiness and noisiness is incongruent with their beliefs. They cut corners, do sloppy work, show up late, gossip—working as unto the Lord is not something that describes them. Sinners can’t see the purity, reverence, industriousness and excellence of their Christian faith simply because those Christ-like values are consistently missing from their actions.

Your life is a sermon. The question is, what is it preaching? Paul is saying that your life—your behavior, attitudes, words and world-view—at all times must generate respect for your Lord. People are watching you, and whatever they see in your life day in and day out paints a picture of your Jesus.

Hope you are painting a masterpiece!

Prayer… Lord, help me today to so live that when people look at me, they will see you, and be attracted.

One More Thing… “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.” —St. Francis of Assisi

“As it is written: ‘God’s name is blasphemed among
the Gentiles because of you.’”
(Romans 2:24)

Food For Thought… A family-values senator is found out to have kept the company of female “escorts.” A high profile evangelical leader is exposed for visiting a male prostitute. The divorce rate among church-goers is nearly the same rate as non church-goers. Believers are said to blend in ethically with just about everyone else in the workplace.

And we wonder why non-Christians tag us as hypocrites and despise our God!

It is so easy to get caught up in the culture wars and the Christian political movement and every other cause that bashes the evil practices and mindset of this world. To be sure, there is nothing necessarily wrong with being outspoken about your spiritual values. However, we would do God and the Good News we represent a big favor if we would clean up our act first.

Jesus had some pretty pointed things to say about that:

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.” (Matthew 7:1-5)

How about this: First try living what you say you believe, then you can talk! Make sure your beliefs match your behavior. Don’t just talk mindlessly parrot, “what would Jesus do”—do it! Live it from the core of who you are.

We may not win the whole world for Christ, but we’d be a lot more effective than we are now. And perhaps we’d convince a few folks that this Good News is a pretty good deal.

Prayer… Father, help me to so live my life that others will see that the Christian faith is a can’t miss opportunity. May I always reflect your image well in this world. Cleanse, fill and empower me to be the living proof of your love for this lost world.

One more thing… “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.” — St. Francis of Assisi