Show them your sermon
I’ve got an important question for you, are you showing your sermon? Although others may have an opinion about it, only you and God know the answer for sure. Let’s ask ourselves, “Do others know we’re a Christian”? If so, is it because we told them so, or because of the fact that we go to a Christian church? Are you known as a Christian because of the Christian paraphernalia you wear, or maybe because you have one of those cool fish symbols on the back of your car?
You see, I hear people all the time professing they are Christians, but the fruit seems to be lacking. They may go to church once, twice or even more times each week; but the way they live their lives seems to be a contradiction to a walk with Christ. Now let me be clear, I’m not judging who is and who is not a Christian as only God can look into one’s heart and determine if he or she is one of His. But let’s be realistic!
If I stand in my garage and shout to the world that I’m a Cadillac, does that make me a car? Let’s consider what Christ said when determining who is one of His.
Matthew 7:15-20
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
God is talking about religious people in those scriptures.
There’s a song that is perfectly appropo to this subject called “Show Em Your Sermon”. I’m not positive who wrote it, but I love the version by Marty Raybon. Check out the lyrics below.
My grandpa was a preacher and New Bethel Baptist Church
I can still recall him standing tall delivering the word
But the strongest sermons that he preached weren’t from that old pulpit
no his message came through clearest in the way my grandpaw lived
He told me show Em your sermon if you want it to ring true
Your life’s the only preachin’ that folks will pay attention to
If you aint walking that walk then sunny talking that talk won’t due
Show em your sermon and the message will shine through.
So many times I’ve seen him down at Foresters cafe’
With twenty bucks and breakfast for some soul who lost their way,
poor folks, sick folks, hungry folks, shut in’s and bereaved
They knew he’d stand right by their side in their hour of need.
He told me show Em your sermon if you want it to ring true
Your life’s the only preachin’ folks will pay attention to
If you aint walking that walk then sunny talking that talk won’t due
Show em your sermon and the message will shine through.
Well I didn’t make a preacher like my grandpaw thought I might,
but I hope there’s still a sermon in the way I lead my life.
He told me show Em your sermon if you want it to ring true
Your life’s the only preachin’ that folks will pay attention to
If you aint walking that walk then sunny talking that talk won’t due
Show em your sermon and the message will shine through.
If you’d like to hear it yourself, which I would highly recommend, check it out below:
Now the scriptures are clear, none of us is perfect, and we all fall short.
Romans 3:23
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
If we are not striving to walk with Christ and doing the things He has called us to do, are we not just people standing in a garage calling ourselves Cadillac’s?
Remember the parable of the ten virgins?
Matthew 25:1-13
The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins
25 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming;[a] go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour[b] in which the Son of Man is coming.
This next scripture should make us all sit up consider.
Matthew 7:21
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven
I think the scriptures are pretty clear on this, our calling ourselves Christian’s doesn’t make us a Christian. It has much more to do with what we do and not so much with what we say.
If you find yourself in that Cadillac category, it’s not too late to turn your life around. God wants nothing more than to have fellowship with you, but He will not force it, you have to open yourself to it. He is knocking, it’s time to set down the electronics for a little while and open the door and spend some time with Him.
———————————————————————————————————————————————-
“If you like what you’ve read, please feel free to share it with a friend; and recommend yourspiritmindandbody.com to them”. Also, please like me on Facebook.
The post Show Them Your Sermon appeared first on Your Spirit Mind and Body.