Friday, April 25, 2008

Who are you looking at?


Hebrews 12:1, 2 - Wherefore, seeing we are encompassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us. Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."


One of the sad things regarding the ministry is to see so many people rejecting Christianity because "there are just too many hypocrites." You feel like telling them, "You're to look to Jesus and not people, and quote the above mentioned verse." However, on second glance, that verse was written to us Christians. We are to be looking to Jesus. The lost world is looking at us! We are exhorted time and again to walk in a godly manner, because we are "encompassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses."
  • The lost are looking at us!
  • Our children are looking at us!
  • Our co-workers are looking at us!
  • They are looking at us and testing us to see if our faith is genuine!

So, what are we to do?

Eph 5:15
See then that ye walk circumspectly [in a right manner] , not as fools, but as wise,

Eph 5:16
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Eph 5:17
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord [is].

Eph 5:18
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

We should walk in a Christ-like manner. We should lay aside the hindrances and besetting sins. We should be filled with the Holy Spirit. And we should redeem our time for the glory of God. Furthermore, we should not give the enemies of Christ an opportunity to blaspheme.


Col 4:5
Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
1Th 4:12
That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and [that] ye may have lack of nothing.

And if that wasn't enough, Paul exhorted for others to be followers of him.
1Cr 4:16
Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
1Cr 11:1
Be ye followers of me, even as I also [am] of Christ.
Phl 3:17
Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example.

The fact of the matter is this. People are going to watch us; they should watch us; and we need to be conducting ourselves in a Christlike manner so they will get a good picture of Him.

Now, as for us who know Jesus. WE ARE TO BE LOOKING TO HIM and not to each other. The lost are not going to look to Jesus on their own, but they will look to us. But we who are saved are to look to Jesus. So many people are miserable in the Christian faith, disgruntled in church, and upset with other believers. Some need to build some bridges and get over some things! All of us should get our eyes off the other body parts and look to the head of the body, Jesus Christ. He has called each of us to our own ministry, which is unique from anyone else. So, let us just do what He has called us to do to the best of our ability for His glory! And look to Jesus for strength, encouragement, comfort, healing, and whatever else we need. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we could ever ask or think, according to the power which is at work in us. So, let's fall in love with Him afresh and anew. Live for Him, and watch Him do the impossible in us, to us, with us and through us! He is the Author and Finisher of our Faith! Praise be to Jesus!

2 comments:

Colvin5776 said...

Iam reminded of a verse as I read your blog...

2Co 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.


We are ambassadors for Christ, so others can look to us and see Him! The sad thing is the world sees our life and sees no diffrence! One of the big hindrences of evangilisim, is that if I am going to proclaim him, then that makes me more accountable to live a Christ like life...and others will be looking closer at me. So instead of doing what we need to do anyways...we rather not witness to others for the sake of living a life with out accounability! So no one will ever say "I thought you were a christian?"...because no one ever knows in the first place!....Hey that will preach!

Nathan Wilkerson said...

AMEN AND AMEN!!!