1 John 2:6, English Standard Version

“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

Quite often we hear about those who were hurt by a church, and they walked away from it. What is worse is, some may even have walked away from God. How does this happen in a place that should be an environment of love? I could not be a person to answer this question, yet it develops more sincerity in the way that I serve His people. One foundation that I seek to lay down in each opportunity that God given me to speak life and hope to one another is that I am just a human being, one who is weak and will make mistakes. Therefore, I point them only to Jesus. Furthermore, I am aware not only of what I say about Jesus, but how I am living according to what I say – I desire to learn to demonstrate Christ just as Christ demonstrated Himself to us. Oh, how could a person with a wicked and weak nature possibly accomplish this? Not what the Lord has said, “…Not by strength nor by power, but by My Spirit…” (Zechariah 4:6, NLT)

A good example is the Apostle Paul who said, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1Corinthians 2:1-5, NKJV)

He then also said, “But [like a boxer] I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached [the gospel] to others, I myself will not somehow be disqualified [as unfit for service].” (1 Corinthians 9:27, Amplified Bible)

Being a servant of Christ is a great responsibility and accountability, which I do not take lightly. I pray and I draw closer to the heart of Christ, and I desire to dwell in Him. So, I am not leaning on my flesh that will absolutely fail. I keep His word like a booster to my immune system, and His word becomes a part of me – my thoughts, my desires, and my freedom in Him. When I admit my weakness, the strength of the Lord is in me. (2 Corinthians 12:10)

Can I prove that “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”? (Galatians 2:20, ESV) No, I cannot. I can however say that “…by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2, ESV)

May “…we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)

Let us not just preach Jesus but be like Jesus!