Do you ever stop to think about what your actions cause others to do? Of course we do, it's human nature. We all understand basic cause and effect.
But do we stop to think about what our actions cause others to believe? Do we stop before doing something and ask if it will effect someone's perception of faith, of us, of Sigma Theta Epsilon, or of Jesus himself?
When you think about it, every action we take could have a direct impact on how others perceive Jesus Christ. When we see a representative of Microsoft say something or do something, it creates an impression of Microsoft. When an NBA player is arrested for drug possession or domestic violence, we get a negative impression of the NBA.
And it's the exact same thing with Jesus, and with our faith. We're representatives of Jesus here on earth. We're representatives portraying why someone might want to have faith in Christ. And, as we journey towards the cross, are we providing people with a picture we can be proud of? Are we projecting Jesus in a light he wants to be projected? Are we careful with the faith reaction of our actions?
Join me in reflecting on this thought, and reflecting on these song lyrics:
Well I see him on the TV
Preaching about the promised land
he tells me believe in Jesus
steals the money from my hands
some say he was a good man
Lord I think he sinned.... yeah
Twenty two years of mental tears
cries a suicidal Vietnam vet
Who fought a losing war
on a foreign shore
to find his country didn’t want him back
their bullet took his best friend in Saigon
our lawyers took his wife n kids no regrets
In a time I don’t remember
in a war he cant forget
he cried “forgive me for what I done there
Cause I never meant the things I did”
and give me something to believe in
if there’s a lord above
and give me something to believe in
oh, lord arise
My best friend died a lonely man
in some Palm Springs hotel room
I got the call last Christmas Eve
and they told me the news
I tried all night not to break down n cry
as the tears rolled down my face
I felt so cold n empty
like a lost soul out of place
and a Mirror mirror on the wall
sees my smile it fades again
and give me something to believe in( I give me something to believe in)
if there’s lord above
and give me something to believe in ( I give me something to believe in)
Oh, lord arise
Sometimes I wish to God I didn’t know now
things I did know then,
Road you gotta take me home
I drive by the homeless
sleepin’ on a cold dark street
like bodies in a open grave
underneath the broken old neon sign
used to read “Jesus saves”
A mile away way live the rich folk
and I see how they’re livin’ it up
but while the poor they eat from hand to mouth
the rich are drinkin’ from a golden cup
and it just makes me wonder
how so many lose and so few win
Ha give me something to believe in
give me something to believe in
I said the lord above
give me something to believe in
oh lord arise
give me something to believe in
you take the high road
give me something to believe in
and I’ll take the low road
give me something to believe in
you take the high road
and give me something to believe in
and I’ll take the low road
there’s some times I wish I didn’t know now
things I did know then
and give me something to believe in
I do believe we're all called to a higher standard of living. Not for us, but for the Almighty that we represent. Let's do him proud. Together.
Join me in this prayer:
Sovereign Lord,
Thank you for giving me faith
And giving me a reason to have faith
And for continuing to grow my faith.
Help me to cultivate faith in others
That their desire for you might increase
That your name would be greater on the earth
Help me to represent you well
That others would want to find you
And have something to believe in
Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love
Amen
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