Represent!

The bible is full of examples of people who said one thing yet did another. Who claimed to be believers, when it was convenient and/or to make themselves seem important. I want to quote just a few of these scriptures before I continue:

“Elijah came near all the people and said, ‘How long will you be divided between two ways of thinking? If the Lord is God, follow Him. But if Baal is god, then follow him.’”

Jesus said, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I will spit you out of my mouth.” (One version says that type of behavior makes Jesus want to vomit.)!

Jesus said, “Listen! There is a group that belongs to Satan. They say they are Jews [believers], but they are liars. They are not true Jews. I will make them come before you and bow at your feet. They will know that you are the people I have loved [the true believers].”

Friends, why Jesus would rather you be outright against Him than to HALF follow Him is because it’s like a train carrying needed supplies that goes off the track but half is on and half is off. It’s better if it completely derailed than to stay on the track just a little bit, preventing other trains from getting through. Jesus is saying that being a hypocrite hurts His cause more than if you didn’t believe at all, because when you preach one thing and live another, it keeps others from wanting to seek Him.

The type of believer God wants you to be is one that draws more people to Him, not one that leaves a bad taste in their mouth about Him. Who is attracted to mean-spirited, gossiping, rude, lazy, negative, untrustworthy, hypocrites? Exactly! Now, how much more appealing are joyful, gracious, peaceful, mature, stable, positive, uplifting people?

So how do you really think God wants you to represent Him? Read 1 Corinthians 13. Honor God and He will move mountains out of your way! His blessings will chase you down! Represent Him accordingly and He will cause you to go further and faster than you ever dreamed possible!