IT JUST DOESN’T LOOK RIGHT

The COCA-COLA COMPANY’S colours are red & white.
But certain nations are allowed to bottle unique soda flavors under the umbrella of the COCA-COLA COMPANY.
Here in the Bahamas the soda flavor selected & produced is grapefruit.
It’s a BIG seller. And the side of the can of this delicious soda is green & white rather than red & white.
It doesn’t look right.
Sometimes we Christians just don’t look right to others.
They know what Christians are supposed to look like and sometimes we don’t look those ways.
Ephesians 4:1-3 …
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
These wonderful qualities look “Red & White” to others who observe us.
 
When we live proud or harsh or impatient or self-asserting or unloving or divisive we look “Green & White”.
 


SHOW YOUR TRUE COLOURS!

Beth and I were once in Old San Juan Puerto Rico. We were in a group touring the Old Fort there.

Another tour group went by us & its leader was carrying a bright Norwegian flag.
The flag was a way for the group members to stick with their tour guide.

Because Beth is half Norwegian, I asked to borrow the flag and I had my wife
hold it so I could take a fun picture.

It was not evident that Beth is Norwegian until she carried Norway’s flag.

We have true colours as Christians.

In Matthew 5:16 our Lord said:
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.”

Our true colors as Christians should be both light (a reflection of God’s light) and good works.

Do persons see God’s light and good works as they observe you? This is the flag you are to carry! It will identify you as being a Christ-follower.



PLAN FOR THE TIME AFTER YOU

A British newspaper recently published some set & secret plans for Great Britain after Queen Elizabeth II dies. Currently she is well on in years.

Part of that once quiet and un-publicized (and some would say morbid) plan is to issue these three postage stamps.

It is not morbid to plan for the time after ourselves.

It is helpful to have life insurance and a last will and testament etc.

Even better, it is excellent to have lived in such a way that you have passed on (1) your saving faith in Christ and (2) your love for & commitment to Christ’s Church to your family members & friends who will survive you!

Plus, living daily with intentional kindness, grace, justice, generosity, worship & prayerfulness will leave a God-honoring legacy far more valuable than money and the things which money can buy!

With the Psalmist Moses, let us each pray:

“So teach us to number our days, that we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom.”

You won’t live forever, on earth at least, plan now for the time after you!



YOUR LABEL

These nametags could be read from about 200 yards off’
Such big letters.

If you know Christ as Lord and Savior by faith, you have a name tag label which never comes off of you: “Christian”.

“Christian” literally means “a little Christ”.

Acts 12:26B: “… and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch”.

Let’s Live up to our holy Name!

After all our permanent name tag is written in very large letters each day!



BE WEARING THE SHOES YOU WANT YOUR KIDS TO FILL!

Little girlsMore is caught by children than is taught to children. These precious little girls enter deeply into worship of Jesus because they want to … and they want to because their parents wanted to first.
 
This is not parental lip service; this is parental lifestyle. What have your kids concluded about you & your Jesus? The chances are that they will come to their own conclusions largely based on yours!
 
“Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites  in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:14-15)


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