Live As Jesus Did

IF WE SAY THAT WE REMAIN IN UNION WITH GOD, WE SHOULD LIVE JUST AS JESUS CHRIST DID. I John 2.6.

Many people get freaked out on Christ, Christianity and the Church! Their reason - the Christians they know are all ‘hypocrites and crooks!’ It is a pity they lump all ‘the good and the bad Christians’ into one and express a grossly biased ‘bad opinion’. Strangely, no one does that to the Hindus or Buddhists or even the atheists!

The whole problem is that the people of this world expect the Christians to live like Christ. The people seem to have the idea that Jesus Christ was a good and godly person. He was a good teacher who taught all to be good – loving God, loving others and doing good. When they do not see the followers of Christ living according to His teaching, they blame Christ’s Church and not so much the culprits! We must admit that many of us are a bad publicity for Christ, the Christians and the Church.

For some strange reason, people do not expect those of other religions ‘to be good’. They can go to the temple or places of worship but need not live good and exemplary lives. Even if they live as crooks and criminals, they are not branded as bad Hindus or Buddhists or Muslims! No one expects them to live differently from others, leading good lives because of their religion or their leaders!

Whatever people may or may not say is not so important to you and I. But we need to know that our God, the Lord Jesus Christ and His Church have certain expectations of us, His children. It is high time that you, as a follower of Jesus, take a stand to live like Christ. You cannot live as you please and do what you like and continue to be Christians! I just taught at a church camp 'What it is to be a Normal Christian and how to live it.'

Today’s Bible text says, “if we say that we remain in union with God, we should live just as Jesus Christ did”. God is our Father in heaven and we are His children on earth. We live among others who have no such knowledge or relationship with God. Hence it is expected of us, is incumbent on us, to live as Jesus lived.

The apostle Paul tells us of God’s expectation, “you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life” (Phil 2.15).

Dear child of God, if you so live no one will ever call you a hypocrite and you will be a credit and a witness to Jesus to the people you come across.

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, help me to remember always that I am Your child and that You expect me to be like Jesus Christ Your Son in everything I say and do. Amen.