Julia Melatis – Author

Walking out our Christian faith is being the presence of Jesus to others. We cannot do that without allowing Him to transform us from the inside out through His Word and the indwelling Holy Spirit. Being and doing go hand in hand. Too many try to be a doer without the transformed being. We cannot effectively and, more importantly, properly represent Jesus in this world if we’re not allowing the Lord to transform us into the image of Christ.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
James 1:22‭-‬25 ESV

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Mark 8:34‭-‬38 ESV

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
Colossians 3:5‭-‬10 ESV

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
1 Peter 2:12 ESV

Our witness will not be effective if we’re still holding onto sin of our own. We must take up our cross daily, putting to death everything that is not godly. Sometimes, we look at sin in broad terms. If we’re not going out robbing or killing people or having affairs, we think we’re doing well. However, Jesus showed us that sin is not that black and white.

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
Matthew 5:21‭-‬22‭, ‬27‭-‬28‭, ‬31‭-‬32 ESV

Our thoughts, attitudes, and emotions are where sin is born and can be sinful in themselves. At times, what is permissible can be sinful depending upon circumstances.

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 6:12‭-‬13‭, ‬19‭-‬20 ESV
“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:23‭-‬24‭, ‬31 ESV

We must be continually conscious of where our thoughts, attitudes, and emotions are leading us, to keep our living testimony pure. If we are not careful, we can become a stumbling block to others.

But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
1 Corinthians 8:9 ESV

This particular verse was written in regards to food that had been offered to idols, but it’s implications can be far reaching. We don’t have marketplaces selling meat offered to idols, but we likely have friends who struggle with food-related health problems, addictions, etc. Of we share a meal with someone who has trouble avoiding sweets or eating healthy, we don’t want to tempt them by preparing or ordering some extravagant dish or dessert.

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
1 Corinthians 1:18‭-‬19 ESV

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:16 ESV

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:1‭-‬2 ESV

We should never be ashamed to speak about Jesus or His Gospel. It does not mean that the “world”  will welcome what we have to say. On the contrary, the Bible clearly tells us the Gospel is offensive “to those who are perishing.” I have seen so many videos, reels, and news reports with confrontations between believers and non-believers. Often, it is just the mere presence of a Christian or the presentation of God’s Word that sets off non-believers. But sometimes, it is also the attitude of the believer and the manner in which we present the Gospel message that adds to the offensiveness. We must first and foremost walk in love. Though the Word may offend them, we don’t want to add disrespectful behavior to the mix. In some of these videos I’ve seen Christians just standing with a sign that quotes Scripture, which incites a non-believing person to begin screaming at them. The believer rarely gets to engage in calm conversation with them because somewhere inside the offended person, there is a spiritual battle being waged. Their spirits are confronted with their sinfulness, and they lash out because they want to believe their sin is acceptable. There are other videos where it becomes more confrontational because both parties get upset and begin arguing. We know that anger and foolish arguments serve no good purpose (1 Corinthians 13:4-5, Colossians 3:8, Titus 3:9, James 1:19-20). It can only serve to push the unbelieving soul farther from God. There is nothing we can do in our own power to save souls. We must rely upon the power of God to enable us to speak wisely and to prepare hearts to receive our testimony. Pray before, during, and after an encounter, relying upon the Holy Spirit to work in them to convict and draw them to repentance and salvation in Jesus. Never stop hoping, believing, and trusting God to bring the answers to our prayers for unsaved souls.

Prayer:
O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Psalm 139:1‭-‬5‭, ‬23‭-‬24 BSB

Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me. There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant. Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
Psalm 86:4‭-‬13‭, ‬16‭-‬17 ESV
Thank You, Lord, that You are patient, “not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter3:9). Father draw all the unsaved people within our sphere of influence to Jesus as no one can come unless You draw them (John 6:44). Please also draw every person in our government to Jesus from President Biden to local city councils and first responders, that they might serve our country by serving You first. Help us to be salt and light to everyone in our sphere of influence to point them to Jesus. Thank You, Father, for answering our prayers. To You be all the glory, honor, and praise! In the name of Jesus, the name above all names, amen.

With Blessings of Hope and Joy,

Julia

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