The television repairman didn’t like to think about his work when he returned home, so he never bothered to fix his TV antenna after it was broken in a storm.
One day, a new family moved in next door and the owner installed a new antenna. Knowing his new neighbour was a TV repairman, who would surely know how to get the best reception, he turned his antenna in the same direction as his neighbour’s. After studying it, he reached up and broke two arms off his new antenna.
We teach by example – whether or not we intend to do so.
- What example do we set for our neighbours?
- Are we happy for them to imitate us in everything we say and do?
- Do we allow the love, mercy and grace of the Lord Jesus to shine through us to them?
- Or do they sometimes see signs of our old nature and judge Christianity (judge our Christ) by what they see?
John 8:12
Jesus spoke to them saying,
I am the Light of the world.
He who follows Me shall NOT walk in darkness,
but have the light of life.
Timothy 4:12, 15
Be an example to the believers in word, in conduct,
in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them,
that your progress may be evident to all.
Ephesians 5:1-2, 8
Therefore, be imitators of God 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.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
Walk as children of light.
This old poem by Annie Johnson Flint bears reading yet again, and taking to heart, determining to reflect a true example of Christ to all.
We are the only Bible
The careless world will read.
We are the sinner’s Gospel,
We are the scoffer’s creed.
We are the Lord’s last message
Given in deed and word:
WHAT IF THE TYPE IS CROOKED?
WHAT IF THE PRINT IS BLURRED?
2 Corinthians 4:3
If our Gospel is hid, it is hid to those who are lost
We need to reflect a TRUE picture of Christ
MEETING IN THE CLOUDS 
Thank you for this reminder.
Even in our struggles we are being watched by a world in need of hope.
God’s richest blessings to you and your family, and followers.
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The world is constantly watching and seeking to point the finger – judging our Christ by what they see in us.
We serve an amazing God who desires to reveal Himself to others by what they see in us. May we always reflect a true picture.
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Helo! Happy New Years eve. Are you still planning on sharing your story on my blog? The first posts go out tomorrow. :)
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Happy New Year to you too.
Yes, I’m nearly finished. How do I get it to you? (pics with it)
Do I email it? I’ll need your address.
I work in Publisher in Office 2010 on Windows 7. Can you access that?
If not, let me know how I can send it to you.
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Thanks for sharing, Dear Angela
“We need to reflect a TRUE picture of Christ”
Amen and amen.
Blessings and all the best for 2013
ann
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I believe the greatest need today is for Christians to present a true likeness of Christ to the world, but sadly they usually get a very distorted view.
May the Lord bless you abundantly this year and use you to bless many others.
Angela
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What a great illustration! I may just borrow that sometime. It truly gets the point across!
I try to live my life as an open book letting people see how I deal with the good, bad and ugly things in life. Some of my ministry friends give a false front thinking they are somehow suppose to do that. My question to them is how do you show people how to handle difficult and painful situations if you appear to not have any? Thanks for a great article Angela!
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I agree Gloria. We DO have problems and we shouldn’t ‘gloss them’ but be honest and also honest about how the Lord undertakes for us and leads us through them. We serve an active, living, caring God who is personally interested – and the world needs to see that He is our Refuge, our Comfort, our Help, our Enabler – all we need.
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I just can’t be reminded of this enough. May I stay close, listening to Him throughout the day, so others can hear Him through my actions and words. God bless you, mentor Angela, as you follow Him!
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Debbie, we all need constant reminders of this important aspect. People judge our Christ by what they see in us, so it is a great responsibility to show Him as He is. Your ‘simple poems’ help to keep this in mind.
I am back from a few days away and now I’ll be playing ‘catch-up’ again – seems to be never ending.
We serve an amazing God who enables us to do all we need to do.
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Very true that others do notice how we behave and if we live what we say. I teach my children and grandchildren that our actions can influence a lost person to turn to or away from Christ. It is a huge responsibility, but we get our strength from God’s power and must keep our focus on Him. Thank you Cloudwatcher, and Merry Chist-mas to you!
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Anna, it is a huge responsibility, but praise God, He equips, empowers and enables us to live victorious lives in Christ – WHEN/if we submit to Him, resist the devil, and allow Him to work in us and through us.
What an incredibly amazing God!
Happy CHRISTmas to you and yours!
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God’s Blessings to you and yours for a very Merry Christmas too!
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This is great, Cloudwatcher, and a good reminder that people watch our reactions to how our lives unfold.
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Yes, Anna. Every word, every action, every attitude is either a stepping stone to faith in Christ or a stumbling block.
If every blood-bought, adopted child of the living God allowed Him to control, and allowed His light to shine out to others, we would see a big change in the world. Sadly, we all too often allow self to control our emotions and our reactions and people judge our Christ wrongly because of what they see in us. May we all reflect His true Light.
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When we follow Jesus, we have the light of life and change the world.
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True – provided we allow His light to shine through us to others. May all His blood-bought, adopted children be faithful.
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