You can’t hide what’s inside
It’s easy to claim to be a Christian because all you have to do is simply that – claim it. Simply claiming to be something doesn’t make you what you are claiming to be. I can claim to be the tooth fairy, but it doesn’t make me the tooth fairy….right? I hope you would agree with me on this. If you believe everything you hear, then you are thinking that I have a ton of teeth stashed somewhere. Ha! Humor me for a moment…..
If I don’t have wings, can’t fly, and don’t have a magical wand then I’m not the tooth fairy. I can claim to be….but the fact remains that I just can’t prove it; therefore I’m NOT.
We should prove that we are Christians by the way we live our life.
It boggles my mind that so many people say they are a Christian, but they are the meanest and ugliest people around, who murder others with their tongue and say and do whatever suites their fancy and not thinking twice about what spills from their mouth. Their hearts are filthy and full of wickedness and nothing but darkness.
Do they actually think that we can’t see the condition of their hearts?
Do they really think they’ve got us fooled?
Your actions and words will reflect what’s inside your heart just like the moon reflects the light from the sun. No matter how hard you try, you can’t hide what’s inside your heart.
Matthew 15:18 says “But the words you speak come from your heart – that’s what defiles you.” NLT
If the condition of your heart is “clean” and you are “Spirit-filled” then others will see this through your actions, words, and how you live your life (what you say to others and how you treat others; being Christ-like). Others will see good (Christ) in you because you have taken on His characteristics (love, gentleness, kindness, compassion, forgiving, etc…) and everything you say and do is like Christ (Christ-like).
When others can see Christ shining in your life that is proving what you claim to be….a Christian (a true follower of Christ).
Luke 6:45 says “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.” NLT
If the condition of your heart is “filthy” and you are full of darkness and “evil” then others will see this through your actions, words, and how you live your life. Others will see evil (Satan) in you because you have taken on his characteristics (hate, harshness, cruel, heartless, vengeful, etc…) and everything you say and do is like Satan.
We take on the characteristics of who we serve….
Who do you serve?
2 Cor. 5:17 Paul says “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new”.
I want to challenge you all to grab that “spiritual” mirror and take a long, hard look at yourself (inside your heart) and be honest with yourself…what do you see? Have you experienced what Paul is talking about in 2 Cor. 5:17 and have been transformed by God and given a new nature?
Whose character shines through your life?
Can you honestly say that the way you live your life is pleasing to God?
Are you a claiming Christian or a proving Christian?
Blessings,
Krista
Visit my personal devotional blog at From The Pages of Love
Thank you, Krista, for the brave words. A gentle reminder to keep ourselves before God.
Great post! With so many lukewarm Christians in our society today this is a great reminder. Revelations 3:16 says, “But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” I would also like to add that we make sure God gets all the glory from every good thing in our lives and the things we do for the Kingdom.
tiannamae.blogspot.com
I often see the filth in my own heart due to my thoughts, words, and attitude.
My heart is to please the Lord and I’m thankful His mercies are new every morning. Ugh, that sinful nature is constantly battling the Spirit.
I desire to be a pleasing aroma to my Lord and I pray others can see Him in my life (not because of something I might write on my blog).
Changing from glory to glory.
Bless you today. Thanks for sharing!
Beth
Krista, What an awesome post. To the point and backed up with scripture. There are way too many people following people who claim to be godly but in essence, their fruits say something else. We must be careful to not throw around the word “Christian” so lightly. Its easy to claim to be something we are not, but as the old saying goes…proof is in the pudding. 🙂 Love you and so proud of you!
Very powerful, Krista. It is true that how we act defines if we are a follower of Christ or not. I hope that on most days, I let His light shine through me.