Living The Gospel

Wanna fight?

As Christians, we are charged with spreading the Gospel to the unsaved.  We don’t do this by our words but also by how we live our lives and interact with people.  Our lives and actions really need to match what we’re saying.  As we all know, children learn not by what we tell them but they watch those adults that are in their lives.  It is the same with Christians.  We are being watched.  Yesterday I had an interesting experience.  During the course of my day, I had opportunity to spend some time with a Christian who was trying to take care of some business.  I always love spending time with Christians.  This Christian was experiencing a great deal of frustration.  I witnessed cursing, and I mean yelling, throwing out curse words that we expect to hear from seasoned sailors, throwing items around, and generally having an adult temper tantrum.  It was rather frightening (no I was not scared for my safety) but it did cause me to step back out the way lest I find myself in the line of fire.  I moved out of the way and made myself as inconspicuous as possible.  What I witnessed was troubling.

I have spent time with this person before and this Christian really loves the Lord.  This Christian is very involved in various ministries and I do not in any way doubt this his salvation (in case anyone is wondering).  It is really easy to display and live the fruit of the Spirit when things are going our way.  The real test is when things are difficult.  I am sure we have all been there – I know I have

Stephen, even at the moment of his death, displayed the Gospel and is recorded for all times for all the world to see.

• And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:60 (ESV)

Late last night after returning home, I checked my email and any comments on my blog.  I saw a comment by a non-Christian that, well, blew me away.  On the post titled Book Burning, a commenter had initially left an angry response to the post.  None of the responses to his angry comment were responded to with anger.  After reading the responses, he left an incredibly kind and gracious comment apologizing for his initial comment.  Instead of closing the door to him with angry responses, the door is left open and we can engage in conversation with someone that does not believe.  Is that not what we are supposed to do?

Turns out God is right.  He knew what He was talking about when He said:

• If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. Luke 6:32 (ESV)

It’s easy to display the fruit of the spirit when all is well in our lives.  Anyone can do that.  Even the meanest of folks can be nice when things are well.  What do we look like when things are difficult and not going our way?  Hopefully nothing like what I witnessed yesterday.  The fruit of the spirit really should be evident in both good times and in bad.

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