Does Your Life Reflect Christ

Without having to say "I'm a Christian," does your life, your actions, your words, your overall disposition, reflect Christlikeness?

It's easy to get caught up in the "I don't owe anyone an explanation" and "I don't care what anyone thinks" mindset when that is what is being pushed so fervently today, but more times than not, our lives reflect what is in our hearts. And to God, the heart is everything. If your heart is pure and full of goodness, your actions will manifest this. If your heart is unsettled and defiled, your actions will reflect that.

This "just do you boo" movement is literally opposite of Christ's teachings. As humans, we have a natural tendency to want to serve our flesh, but as Christians, we are called to walk in the Spirit. "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." (Gal. 5:16). You can't serve both your flesh, and God.

It matters what others think about you, because if they can't see Jesus in you, neither can He.

But how do we walk in the Spirit? Crucify your flesh. You can't serve two masters, for one works against the other. Serving our flesh, or allowing our flesh to rule our actions, causes us to sin. To the unsaved, sin is desirable, and the flesh seeks to please this desire. BUT, the Spirit seeks to please God.

What does a pleasing spirit look like? "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance..." (Gal. 5:22-23). These characteristics are traits that not only reflect the likeness of God, but reflect the presence of the Holy Spirit within us who are saved.

Christ must abide in you, and you in Him, to bring forth fruit. The fruit of the Spirit is the by-product of wholeheartedly serving God. Is your life bearing fruit, or are you but a withering branch?