Waynesboro Church Of Christ

Welcomes You!

A pasted message from Matthew!

Past Message From Matthew

Posted Date: June 26, 2008

Jesus’ teaching that “God’s people should be the salt of the earth and the light of the world,” (Mt. 5:13-16), has to do with our influence in life. He intended for us to go out and be a force for good in a world noted for sin and selfishness. Our lives should demonstrate the fact that God’s ways are always best.

We need to realize that our claim to be Christians must be supported by the way we live. Our words and actions tell others something about the content of our heart (Mt. 15:18,19). James says that it is impossible for us to claim one thing and exhibit something else altogether contradictory. (Jas. 3:10-12) Either we believe strongly enough that we live our faith or we will appear to the world as hypocrites. Throughout his epistles, Paul urges the first century Christians to live in a way that brings honor to God. Our words are to be as salt, our lives are to be light in the midst of darkness, and our attitudes are to reflect the presence of Jesus in the heart. As Peter shows, some will be won to Christ through positive Christian influence (1 Pet. 3:1). It is interesting that the writings of non-Christians in the early days of the church attest to the purity, simplicity and goodness of the first century Christians.

Are you a positive influence in the would? Do people know you are a Christian because of the way you live? It is one thing to tell them who you are, but another to prove it by the way you live. We cannot bring the world to Christ without the power and influence of a godly life that is born of a deep and abiding faith. Everyone has influence, good or bad. What kind of influence do you have?