March Like Jesus
… In Our Behavior- Part I
Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:13-16
Key Verse: Matthew 5:16
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”.
It is very clear that Jesus wants His followers to be an influence in this world; it is the fifth marching order that He gives in His first sermon. This comes from the heart of God that loves all the people more than any of us could imagine.
The Word of God is clear: God does not want anyone to be lost (2 Peter 3:9). God uses His followers to influence others to repent and be saved.
The question that most Christ-followers deal with is: What is the best way to influence the people around us? In the past, the emphasis has been on teaching Christ-followers how to talk to unbelievers and convince them to decide to follow Jesus.
However, the Bible does not put the emphasis on talking but on “being”! In other words, we are to let who we are and how we carry ourselves do the talking. That is not to say we will not, at some point, talk about what Jesus means to us, but the talking is usually not the first thing that happens.
In our Scripture Reading for today, Jesus teaches us that we are to be salt and light to the world. Salt and light are about the influence that comes from the way we do life in this world. Words from someone who does not do life the way Jesus teaches falls on deaf ears of a skeptical world.
Today, Jesus might have given these marching orders to us like this: “Go out there and live a life of love and be merciful to everyone you meet. That way, you can be the best influence for God’s Kingdom!” The reason I say it like that is because of what Jesus said:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)
Think about how Jesus loves us. We are to love others with that kind of love! Even the worst kind of sinner as well as the strongest atheist would enjoy receiving the kind of love that Jesus shows. Jesus left it to us to be examples of that kind of love and shower it upon all those around us!
Showing people Jesus’s kind of love is a tall order, but it is our marching orders from Him. Jesus is not asking us to “feel” this love, but to show it no matter how we feel. In many cases we start to feel it as we show it.
Are you ready to start marching to the drumbeat of Jesus? Why not start today?
Father, I want to obey Your marching orders, but I need Your help. Grant me Your wisdom and strength, reminding me often throughout my day. In Jesus’s Name, amen.