One thing that has really been bothering me lately is
that almost everyone and their brother listed their religious beliefs as “Christian.”
God calls us not to judge, but…really? When I think of a few of this people
that claim to be believers, I think of the time they pressed women to sleep
with them, or all the drunk pictures they posted over the weekend, or how they
can’t carry on a conversation without using vulgar language. Christ calls us to
stay pure and act like proper children. I’m not saying it’s easy to do.
Thankfully, I have Christ-like people in my life who have taken a vast interest
in my love life. Every time I go out on dates they always ask me if I was pure….not
just sexually but in all areas; making sure I strayed from anything unpleasing
to God. It’s an awkward conversation but I thank God for their concern. If they
didn’t keep me accountable and set a godly example for me, I might have fallen
into sin long ago.
My faith – at some point – had to become my own. I made
decisions not based on my parents’ or friends’ happiness or pleasing them – but
because I wanted to please God and serve Him. The New Living Translation of
today’s passage and the verses that follow says, “Imitate God, therefore, in
everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with
love, following the example of Christ…Let there be no sexual immorality,
impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.”
Why are these instructions so hard to keep? Why are there
millions of Christians masquerading as child of light – when they are actually
acting in darkness? “So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but
go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth” (1 John
1:6). And…action! If you went on a
blind date tonight, how would your date be able to tell if you were a Christ? How
do you imitate Christ with your actions – whether you’re in a relationship or
not?
Prayer: Thank you
for calling me your child. Help me to live to please you and not myself or my
parent – no matter how good their intentions towards me. I ask for help to
imitate you in everything I do and say. Amen.
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