“But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!” 1 Peter 4:16 NLT
When my son was born, friends and family came for his christening. There was refreshment, and everyone had fun.
One of my uncles walked up to me twice, at separate times, requesting beer, and I told him there was none. In both scenarios, he looked disappointed because he was used to drinking alcohol at parties.
My wife and I don’t drink, so the party reflected our values. Whatever we don’t do as a family wasn’t offered to guests. Whether alcohol is good or not is a subject for another day.
But here’s the point: your actions reflect your values and beliefs. It doesn’t matter if you say you’re a saint; people will know by your actions (Matthew 7:16).
In the world, it doesn’t seem cool to be a Christian because there’s that feeling of missing out. But we must remember that we can either please God or please people. We can’t do both.
How can we stay true to God’s values as we work?
The way you work is a reflection of what you believe. We can say proudly that we’ve been created in the image of God. But then, anytime excellence in results is needed from us, we do the barest minimum. This means we don’t believe in the image we profess.
We can tell ourselves that we are vessels for God, but the moment He gives us instructions that require us to pour into someone else through mentorship or discipleship, we look for reasons to back out.
Actions don’t just speak louder than words; Actions show what words have concealed. When I find myself acting contrary to what I thought I valued, I realise that my real values are revealed in my actions. With that realisation, I must autocorrect so I don’t continue on a path that will lead to a future I don’t desire.
Our background, experiences, and disappointments all create beliefs that conflict with who a Christian should be. God knows this and is merciful enough to help us realise our errors through the Holy Spirit.
There are strongholds in our lives that stop us from doing work God’s way, which is what prayer is there for (Romans 8:26). When those mental strongholds are out of the way, we will work differently.
“I am a Christian.”
This might sound cliche, but it’s an affirmation of identity. When you say it, the next question that should appear is, “How are you a Christian?”
Remember, God doesn’t need you to prove you’re His child. The Father knows his own. It’s the world that needs convincing.
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