“Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:6

The wonderful gift of the gospel is that it changes us — not only on the inside (our hearts), but on the outside (our lives). In other words, our lives as Christians should be demonstrated in our daily living. The way we live should validate on the outside what our hearts believe on the inside.

But, you may ask, "How do I live my life for God?" God has given us some very clear instructions in His Word as to how we are to live for Him.

The spiritual path of a believer in Jesus is a life committed to self-discipline, self-denial and self-commitment to discipleship. To be a servant of God, we must give up the pleasures of self-gratification and selfishness, and learn the power of humility, faith, hope, and love.

Jesus said to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. He said we are to love one another, to follow Him at the cost of denying our own desires, to care for the poor and needy, and to not fall into sinful behaviors like those who don’t know God.

It’s simply not possible for those who obey Jesus' teachings to live lives that are not significantly different than their kind and agnostic neighbors. The life of a Christian should outwardly reflect his or her inner faith.

Lord, I have given my heart to You. I know I am clean on the inside, but help me to not get caught up in the sin of the world. Help me to live a life that reflects Jesus. Amen.

 

Take Action

Look back at the end of each day and ask yourself if your words and actions have mirrored the teachings of Jesus. As you look forward to the day ahead, think about what Jesus would say and do in each situation you face. Live so that by your actions, others will know you are a Christian. For more on this, read this challenge.