As you step out today, here’s a reminder of God’s word to you from 2Corinthians 13:5 [TLB].
“Check up on yourself. Are you really Christians? Do you pass the test? Do you feel Christ’s presence and power more and more within you? Or are you just pretending to be Christians when actually you aren’t at all?
Today’s Bible verse is a call to action, a food for thought that challenges us as believers to look within and to truthfully ask ourselves the question are we really Christians? Apostle Paul in this verse challenges us as believers to reflect on ourselves and carry out what I call or refer to as the Christian character test.
This is where we get to daily weigh our actions, words and lifestyle based on God’s word. This verse challenges us to ask ourselves if our lifestyle in private reflect Christ or is it only when we are in the public eye that we act as Christians or demonstrate the qualities of a Christian. It challenges us to ask ourselves if we practice what we preach and live out God’s truth in our dealings with others.
It is therefore very important for us as believers to regularly check up on ourselves as believers (just the same way we would go to the Doctor from time to time to check up on our health) to be sure that we are living our lives as a representative of Christ in our words and deeds.
We can do this by intentionally practicing being a doer of God’s word and not just only a hearer as James 1:22 (NLT) says “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”
Unfortunately, in today’s society, many people are critical of people who refer to themselves as Christians because they do not practice what they preach and their character do not reflect that of a Christ follower.
Another reason why people are critical of Christians is because of the many despicable things that sadly we read about on the news( though some might not be true), also what we get to see and hear about the experiences of non-believers in the hands of Christians.
This is why it is very important that as Christians and Christ ambassadors we must live a life that is worthy of emulation. A life that is truly representative of a Christ follower. We must go about our daily business being intentional about the way we speak, act and behave towards others. Our lives must clearly speak (i.e. in words and in action) that we are Christ followers such that people want to know the Jesus that we serve.
Think about this for a moment, if someone asks you, are you really a Christian? Would you pause to give a response because you know you live a ‘double life’ so to say yes will be a lie. Or would you joyfully respond yes to them, not because it’s in your power that you live as a Christian but because you know your daily pursuit is always do the Lord’s will and to live out his word by the help of the Holyspirit.
Today’s key verse no doubt reminds us as believers amongst many other scriptures in the Bible that admonishes us as believers on our spiritual state. To make it a priority to check up on ourselves as Christians as doing this will reflect the state of our spiritual life per time. And it will help us to take the necessary steps/changes and adjustment in areas of our lives where we might fall short in character as a Christian.
Therefore, as you go about your daily business and activities today, be mindful of this admonition from Apostle Paul which is a good food for thought as you live life each day. Endeavour to be mindful of your daily work as a Christ representative so others can come to the knowledge of Christ through your lifestyle!
Take time to regularly examine and check up on your spiritual state to be sure that you truly walk the talk as a believer. To be sure you are in faith and you are living your life in a way that God will be proud.
Be sure to have covenant friends that can check up on you as well and can correct you in love.
Do have a blessed and fruitful day.
God bless you.
