If you love Christ

 If you love Christ

In John’s gospel we read Jesus as saying,

“....if anyone loves me, he will keep my word and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14:23. (ESV).

This is the mark of a true Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus. A true follower will keep the commandments Jesus has given them.

As a result they will show positive traits in their life. The apostle Paul noting anyone with God’s spirit will exhibit the fruit of that spirit. Paul writes,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control.... Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22,23.

If you consider yourself a true follower of Christ Jesus, do you exhibit the fruits of the spirit the apostle Paul speaks about?

Please think about it.

Do

Do

“My dear brothers, take note of this: 

Everyone should be quick to listen, 

slow to speak 

and slow to become angry,  

for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.  

Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil 

that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, 

which can save you. 

Do not merely listen to the word,

 and so deceive yourselves. 

Do what it says.”

James 1:19-22  

Francis of Assisi said,

“The deeds you do

 may be the only sermon

 some persons will hear today” 

 Francis of Assisi.

Christianity is not just a religion. It is a way of life. In order for people to see God they need to see God at work in our lives. The writer of Proverbs tells us,

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

 bind them around your neck, 

write them on the tablet of your heart. 

Then you will win favor and a good name

 in the sight of God and man.”

 Proverbs 3:3,4,

The early church set the example. The book of Acts telling us,
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  
Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.  
All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.  
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,  praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47.
If we claim to be followers of Christ we can do no less than what the scriptures tell us to do.
If people do not see God reflected in our lives, if they do not see that we live life differently than the world they will not want anything to do with us. As the writer of Hebrews states,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men 

and to be holy; 

without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 

Hebrews 12:14.

If you claim to be a follower of Christ you are God’s representative on earth. You are the lense if you will, through which people will see God. Thus how you conduct your life may determine the eternal resting place of someone you come in contact with.
Please think about it.