Thursday 21 April 2016

Your Life

Your Life
The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’ 
                                                                                     1 Peter 2:9-12.
Francis of Assisi wrote,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 
                                                                                                          Francis of Assisi
What is your sermon telling the people around you? Is your life reflecting the love of God to those around you.
Jesus said,
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
                          Matthew 5:13-16
A great light shines on the Christian. The eternal resting place of people we come in contact with may depend on us. By our deeds will people will judge, not only us, but Christ.
We must at all times act in an ethical and moral way toward those around us. We cannot afford to do less.
All too often I’ve heard “Why should I go to church. I know people who say they are Christians and I live lives that are better than them.”
As Christians we need to be going before God each day and asking him to show us how we can live a better life. How we can live a life acceptable to Him.
Billy Graham said,
“The men who followed Him were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.”
                                                                                                                                         Billy Graham.
Is your heart turned right side up?
When people look at you and your life do they see a morally and ethically good person? Do they see Christ reflected in your life and lifestyle?
For many years I was a professional clown. I did everything from Children’s birthday parties to major events to which thousands showed up. Before I left my home to perform I said a simple prayer that I still say each morning. I pray,
Dear Heavenly Father,
May your will be done in my life this day. May I perform to the best of my ability. May I bring a little joy, happiness, and laughter to those whom I preform in front of. May all who see me see Jesus reflected in my life.
                            Amen.
You may not think you are performing but you are. Your life is a performance. Each day when you meet people they consciously or subconsciously are judging your performance.
So what will they see in your performance?
Please think about it.

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