A quick thought for today…

“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”   Philippians 1:20

Do we have this same attitude towards Christ?  Paul is writing from prison, not concerned as much with if he lives or dies, but whether or not he has the courage to exalt Christ.  Are we living for Christ today or is He somewhere down on our list of things to think about if we get the time and meet our other “needs”?

Step Up and Act Like a Christian!

“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips then walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle.  That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”

This quote, or something like it, is from the beginning of “What if I Stumble” by DC Talk and it is entirely true!  One of the biggest things that turns people away from Christianity is us, so-called Christians.  If we tell people to love one another and then turn around and slander, gossip, cheat, curse, and in other ways act like everyone else on the planet, what do we expect people to think of us and of our God?

If we truly want to win people for Christ we have to be different!  We have to show them that we have been changed by the Holy Spirit.  Otherwise we are just another religion, with another set of rules and beliefs.  Honestly, there are enough religions in this world.  What people need is a relationship with Christ that is going to change their life.  If they can’t see that it has changed us, how are they ever going to believe that it will change them?

The next time you are thinking about following the ways of the world stop and think if what you are doing is glorifying God.  There is a lot more at stake then trying to fit in with the crowd…