“A Christian’s life should be nothing but a
visible representation of Christ.” Thomas Brooks
Today’s
Passage: 1 John 2:6
Whoever claims to live
in Him must walk as Jesus did.
In
Word It seems obvious, but somehow we miss this truth. We
who claim salvation by faith in Jesus-that we are filled with the Holy Spirit
of God and worship our Father in spirit and truth-are often remarkably unlike
our Savior.
What causes such incongruity in our lives? Do we want
only the benefits of salvation without its responsibilities? Do we grab the
“free gift” of grace while forgetting the cross-carrying side of discipleship?
Whatever our reason, we are not alone.
Every religion has followers who claim to follow it’s
precepts but are noticeably indifferent to them. Christians are skillful at
such games as well. We fool ourselves into thinking that agreement with the
gospel equals living it. But it doesn't.
Perhaps as John wrote this sentence he was recalling
the sharp words of Jesus when He asked His disciples a penetrating question:
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46).
John had seen crowds surround the miracle-working Jesus
with admiration and even worship, and he had also seen them walk away when the
teaching got tough.
Are we only miracle seekers as well? Do we seek a
salvation that doesn't disrupt our lives? Do we claim to live in Him and yet
not live like Him?
In
Deed First John was written to help believers know whether
their faith was genuine or not. High on the list of indicators for authenticity
is a consistent lifestyle. John tells us, in essence, that there is no such
thing as an un-Christlike Christian.
He acknowledges our imperfection and our need to
confess, of carouse, but he never implies that we claim saving faith without a
serious regard for the way we live. We must be like Him.
Students resemble their teachers. Servants resemble
their masters. Children resemble their parents. Christians resemble Christ.
It’s a given.
Devote all diligence to this truth. The watching world
is skeptical of the faith because it has seen un-Christlike “Christians.”
God’s Word calls His witnesses to be like Him. Do you
resemble Christ?
