2 Corinthians 13:5-6 (ESV)
5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the
faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus
Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 6 I hope you will
find out that we have not failed the test
I read an interesting story by Leslie B. Flynn in her
book Dare to Care Like Jesus.
A Christian baroness, living in the highlands of Nairobi,
Kenya, told of a young national who was employed as her houseboy. After three
months he asked the baroness to give him a letter of reference to a friendly
sheik some miles away. The baroness, not wishing the houseboy to leave just
when he had learned the routine of the household, offered to increase his pay.
The lad replied that he was not leaving for higher pay. Rather, he had decided
he would become either a Christian or a Muslim. This was why he had come to
work for the baroness for three months. He had wished to see how Christians
acted. Now he wanted to work for three months for the sheik to observe the ways
of the Muslims. Then he would decide which way of life he would follow. The
baroness was stunned as she recalled her many blemishes in her dealings with
the houseboy. She could only exclaim, "Why didn't you tell me at the
beginning!"
I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news but the minute we
label ourselves "Christian", we must know that people will be
watching us everywhere we go. This does not mean that we have to be perfect
(although that is what the world often expects to see)! But what it means is
that we have to be daily walking in repentance, frequently examining our
behaviors and motives, and praying for God's deliverance from all the ways we
fall short. We must be bettering ourselves for the Kingdom every single day!
Yes, it must be the main focus in our lives!
None of us have arrived. Let's make it a point to be in
daily, or even hourly contact with the Lord, asking Him to restore our hearts
and minds for His sake and for the sake of all who are watching!
Dear Lord, help us to stay in contact with You through
prayer and studying Your Word the Bible. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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