Living faithfully before God and the world calls for purity on the part of all soldiers of Christ. The psalmist, calling out to God, declared, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Thy presence, and do not take Thy Holy Spirit from me” (Psalm 51:10-11). In order for disciples to successfully reach out to others, they must be living their lives in complete agreement with God. Jesus, giving instructions to His disciples, declared, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…” (Matthew 6:33). This truth calls for Christians to daily test and prove their lives so their influence might assist others to remain in Christ or to come to Jesus.
The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, taught Saints to “…be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” (Ephesians 5:1-2). God certainly had man’s best interest in mind when He sent Jesus to die on the cross. Because of His unparalleled love, disciples of Christ must acquire and never relinquish their love and desire to follow Jesus. This type of leadership is needed by those who seek to save the lost. If Christians have joy in Christ they will want, more than anything else, to share it.
Knowing the spiritual danger Satan advances in the world, the apostle Paul admonished Saints to “…put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts” (Ephesians 4:22), and “to not give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27). It is imperative for Saints to leave behind the works of flesh and embrace the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-23). To give place in one’s mind to the devil is to fall back into darkness, thus losing any influence you might have had in the lives of others.
Emphasizing once more the need for Christians to disassociate themselves from evil, Paul declared, “…have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11). How are the works of darkness exposed? Truly, the works of darkness “…are revealed by the light of God’s Word” (Ephesians 5:13). The word of God illuminates the works of darkness, exposing Satan’s evil agenda for all to see.
Are you walking in the light (1 John 1:7)? If so, you will not only be pleasing to God, you will also be doing the things you wish others to do in Christ. When others observe your joy it will be much easier to convince them to become participants in God’s promises.
What kind of example are you providing for the lost?