Now let’s be honest something that we all struggle with – I mean real honesty. When you hear someone say they are a Christian what is your initial reaction I mean inside? If you are anything like me I am so tired of all the buzz words, the Christianize. If everyone that says they are a Christian was really living like a Christian the world would look very differently. Before you get your underwear all twisted up in a bunch. I am not saying I have arrived; I am just trying to encourage all of us to take honest inventory and say “Lord please help”.

Paul says in twice in I Corinthians – I Co 4:16 and I Co 11:1 that we should be a follower of him better translated imitator; 1Co 11:1 Be you followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. There is the great qualifier “as I also am of Christ.” Last I looked Jesus never talked about people; you know something that we have always allowed ourselves to do. He never sat around criticizing, fault finding, tearing down, gossiped. So when we say to people I’m a Christian am I really Christ like? People for the most part know we are Christian’s but are they really seeing Jesus? Am I really imitating Jesus?

Here is an old favorite – Matthew 5:14 -16 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. I am sharing with you what I believe the Lord is saying to me (to all of us). People should be able to see our “conduct” and when they do it should cause them to say wow – God is awesome because I can see Jesus in – plug your name in.

I know this is that God is working in us in fact I love Weymouth’s translation

Phil 2:13 For it is God Himself whose power creates within you the desire to do His gracious will and also brings about the accomplishment of the desire.

I am excited because he is working in us and we will become the son/daughter (Christian) so when people hear us say we’re a Christian they smile and say yes they are because they see Jesus in us…

Do you want to be a follower of Jesus? It will cost you everything. Look here:
http://www.fathershand.org/wp/pure-salt/cost-of-following-jesus/