Colossians 4:5-6 "Someone's Watching"

Read Colossians 4:5-6.

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders...." NIV

Recently at our church we had one of our teens (let's call him Clay) play the drums in the service. Clay had only been attending for about three months and had grown spiritually in tremendous leaps from an atheist to a believer. He had played drums for our Sunday morning youth service called, A.M. But not in the adult service. That's why his father and his girlfriend came that morning. I was sitting on the front row because Jim (my husband) and I were going to team teach on parenting that day. Jim was standing off to the side in the wing. Worship began and suddenly I realized that standing to the side, but right in front of the stage was Clay's dad with a camera taking video of Clay playing the drums. Because we work so hard to avoid distractions during worship so people can actually worship, my first instinct was to go ask him to sit in the front seats or wait until after service to get his video. I knew the team would play another song for him in between services. I even looked over at Jim to see if he wanted me to move. We both just waited a bit to see if he would sit back down, but he tenaciously stood there taping his son. Jim nodded me off to let him continue. At greeting time, Clay's dad (We'll call him, Tom) sat down beaming from ear to ear.

Bob immediately got involved in the church helping with set up (We meet in a high school.) and came to church three weeks in a row. I talked to Clay the second week Tom was there and he said that his dad really liked coming and felt it just added something to his life. This last Sunday, week three of Tom's coming, we had baptisms. We always have some scheduled with video testimonies to precede them. But after the scheduled ones, Jim always gives an invitation for anyone who wants to get baptized to come talk to a pastor. We have clothes and towels waiting for them to use. At the end of first service baptisms, Clay came forward and asked to be baptized. It was awesome. Here this 16-year-old, who only three months previously was a self-proclaimed atheist, was receiving the sacrament of baptism. Clay had called his dad to come, but Tom missed it by just minutes.

Tom stayed for second service and after the baptisms, he came forward to speak to a pastor about being baptized. Someone ran to A.M. service and pulled Clay out saying, "Your dad is going under." So with Tom and the pastor in the portable hot tub, and Clay kneeling behind his dad with his hand on Tom's shoulder, Tom took the plunge. What a beautiful sight - father and son, hugging and crying -- as together they declared that they will follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

So here's the point of my story. What if Jim or I had stopped Tom from videotaping his son that day three weeks ago? Here was an unbeliever who was proud of his boy and just wanted to document his son's accomplishment. We could have come across as very uncaring and legalistic if we had stopped him and maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't have come back. I'm not saying this is the only reason Tom kept coming back. There are other factors -- the Holy Spirit working in his heart; the love and acceptance of not only Tom but his son by the people of the church. But.....what if.

People are watching us every day. Many just waiting for us to "mess up" so their view of Christians can be confirmed. Many watching because they see we have something that they so desperately want. Are we taking that fishbowl life seriously? Are we watching that we treat all people with love and kindness -- not just those in the body or the ones that treat us nicely? Are we allowing the glory of Christ to shine through our actions and conversations so we present the best reflection of Christ possible? We have to live out in front of all people the person we say that we are. Souls are hanging in the balance. And I don't want to have to answer for one of them being lost.

Further Thoughts:

1. Look for more Scriptures on being a witness for Jesus Christ to those who we are around every day.
2. How did Jesus treat the unbelievers He came in contact with?
3. Is there a "Tom" in your life who needs to see who Jesus really is? Are you showing them? If not, what needs to change?

Matthew 26:69-75 "What is Your Resolve?"

Read Matthew 26:69-75.

"I don't know the man!" NIV

Five terrible little words that can change a life for eternity. I know thousands of my brothers and sisters around the world throughout centuries were faced with this dilemma - Do you know Christ? When said in a friendly conversation, it's a wonderful opportunity to share what Jesus means to you. But amidst persecution, your answer could mean death. And for too many, it has.

You really can't cast too much animosity toward Peter for denying Christ. How many of us would have done the same thing? Even though Jesus had warned His disciples that this would happen, when faced with reality, the human resolve can be very weak. Peter had been traveling for three years as a close confidante of Jesus. He had watched a gentle carpenter's son reach out to people all over the region to offer healing from their sicknesses and demons. He heard the parables Jesus told the people and the great wisdom He layed before them. So if these religious leaders would want to kill this gentle giant of a man, then what would happen to a simple fisherman that had followed Him? Peter probably thought he was a dead man walking and the fight for preservation kicked in big time. Notice how his denial escalated each time he was accused of being with Jesus. He was reaching panic mode.

Fortunately, that is not the end of the story. Peter's resolve later turned from self-preservation to complete surrender. Peter died for his beliefs because He would not deny his Lord again and is one of the great fathers of the Christian church for the leadership He gave after Christ's resurrection.

Not many in America have been faced with death for being a follower of Jesus Christ, but we do face a verbal persecution all the time. The same question, Do you know Jesus? when said in a hostile, hateful way takes on a whole new meaning. How many times have I been sitting in on a conversation that turned to a "those Christians" diatribe. A little part of me wants to run from the conflict. It's not easy being in the minority or having to defend what you believe when you are standing alone. What do we do with Jesus then? Deny or defend? Flee or stand?

When we are confronted with opposition to our beliefs, we don't have to prove anything. We do not have to have twenty Scriptures to rattle off, commentaries to whip out, or extensive debates to prepare. We need to know one thing - what Jesus did for me. I sat in church last week and watched video testimonies of fellow believers given right before they were baptized. Some were children that had the simple faith only a child-like heart can have. Others were older that had faced a lot of life. But all of them had one thing in common -- they'd met Jesus. There is nothing more powerful than hearing how Jesus transformed someone's life. That is why I believe what I believe - because Truth touched me and I was changed forever. That's what I can stand on. That is why when faced with opposition for being a Christian - physical, verbal or emotional - I can stand.

Further Thoughts:

1. Think of a situation where you were tempted to deny Christ. How did you handle it? Why? How would you do it differently next time?
2. Read further about Peter after Christ's resurrection? What was Peter's resolve? How did he reach that? How did he pay for that?
3. What Scriptures can we rely on when faced with opposition to Christ? Search for and memorize them so you are ready to face temptation.

Matthew 18:6-9 "The Warning"

Read Matthew 18:6-9.

"Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin!" NIV

The graphic nature of Jesus' words immediately convey the gravity of these sins. Not that any sin is not grave, but the punishments and the recommendations to prevent such sins borders on the extreme. He definitely wanted us to know that this is something He will not tolerate.

So are we taking these warnings seriously? As a society I believe our children have been hung out to dry. We have not upheld a moral or ethical standard for them to follow. As a parent, I feel I am constantly rowing upstream against public opinions that would pollute my child's thinking.

On a personal level, living a life holy and pleasing to God is not just out of love for Him and a desire to spend eternity with Him. I am held responsible for the people I influence, as well. If there is any sin in my life that leads someone else to sin, I am condemned. As a preacher's kid and then as a pastor's wife, I definitely know what it is like to live in a fishbowl. But I'm still always surprised by how many are watching.

But you don't have to be in leadership to be an example. If you are living an honest, open Christian walk, people are going to be watching you. And they will eventually know if there is sin in your life. If you lead them down that path with you, you will be held accountable. That is a heavy responsibility we all must take seriously. That is why Jesus says to eradicate the opposing offender. Now He is not literally meaning to mutilate your body, but emphasizing the seriousness of capturing our weaknesses and killing their influence in our life.

Losing the lusts of our desires is nothing compared to losing eternity with God. Our life is not for satisfying every whim and notion we selfishly possess. Luke 10:27 says that we are to "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" No where in that passage am I to love myself first or even second. My comforts and desires are a tertiary point. And if I am loving God with my entire being - heart, soul, mind and strength, then my first inclination will be to see others as God sees them and extend my love to them. If these steps are all in line, I will not lead someone to sin but only to God.

Oh Father, help me to first focus on loving You and then out of that love, to love others. I again today die to self and the lusts that pull me toward the destruction of sin. Guide my heart; keep me for You alone.

Further Thoughts:

1. What temptation to sin do you constantly battle in your life? If you succumb, how could it affect those around you -- your family, friends, co-workers. Contemplate the gravity of your actions and ask the Lord to eradicate that desire from your life. So many people depend on your obedience.
2. Who are the people watching you? Are you living a life that they can follow? Do you reflect Christ not only in your words, but in your heart and actions? If not, why?
3. We cannot be a perfect example; only Christ is. But if we are living humbly before our Lord, we can be a light in a dark world. Shine.