"Reflection"

Stepping Out in RED Shoes!

- Day 74 -

Am I an accurate reflection 

of Christ?

A recent study was done, in which a group of individuals 

were surveyed about their perception of Christians.  

The response was rather alarming.  

Most people felt that Christians were 

"hypocrites and judgmental" 

-- to say the least.  Yikes! -- That's not good!

Let me just say this...  As gracious and loving as we are to be to one another,  we can't negate the fact that the Bible strongly exhorts Christians to live a life that reflects Christ -- the One who saved us!
Take a look at what Ephesians 5 has to say...

"Be imitators of God!"

"... and live a life of love,  just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.

Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking which are out of place, 
but rather thanksgiving.

For of this you can be sure:  No immoral, impure or greedy person -- such a man is an idolater -- has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.  Therefore do not be partners with them.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Live as children of light..."

If you've been around me long enough, you know that I'm big on taking care of my own business with God.  As a Believer, my job is to make sure that I continually work on accurately reflecting Christ to the world.  It's Your  job to make sure you're working on accurately reflecting Christ to the world!  It's the old, "take care of the stick in your own eye, before complaining about the toothpick in someone else's eye."

But it's not about everyone being in denial 

of something being in their eyes either!

I can't help but wonder,  if we all just took care of ourselves - making sure we accurately reflected Christ - would we be perceived as less hypocritical and judgmental?

As Christians, we should be doing good things - 

things that Jesus would do - 

but as time goes on, we should also be eliminating 

the bad things from our life that Jesus wouldn't do.  

Don't you agree?  

Isn't that what sanctification is all about?

As I step out in RED shoes each day, I try to remember that I am an ambassador for Christ.  My job is to accurately represent Him.  Thereby, I make it a point...

• to walk in His ways -- according to His Word -- to the best of my ability.
• to respond to the correction and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
• to repent when I fall short and to try again to do it the right way.
• to continually ask God to help me be a more accurate reflection of Him.

In His service,

Gail