Our Lives Are the Gospel

Jesus gave His followers the Great Commission: go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything He commanded (Matthew 28:18-20). When we love someone, we seek what makes them happy, and that same love for God moves us to tell others about Him. But not everyone will listen to our words. That is why the saying "actions speak louder than words" matters so much for the Christian. Jesus said, "While I am in the world, I am the light of the world" (John 9:5), and He has now made us bearers of that light. We should strive to live blamelessly, so that people can see the glory of the Lord in us even without a word.

In Antioch, the disciples were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). Their lives resembled Christ's so closely that observers could not help but attach His name to them. Today we proudly call ourselves Christians, but are we acting like Christ? Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). As Christ's ambassadors, our lives are the gospel people read first. We will sometimes fall, but we must repent quickly, ask for forgiveness, and seek the self-control not to walk that path again. We never know who is watching or whose life our actions will touch.