Recently, I got to find out that whether you actually like it or not, people are watching you. There’s even a common saying now that we i.e. Christians are the Bible people read. If you act contrary to what you preach or speak, they notice and one way or the other, they’ll let you know. Let me give you an illustration. It’s actually a scenario that played out between me and some friends of mine some days before.
I went to pay this lady a visit, and for the purpose of this story, I’ll name her Kate. I went to visit Kate because it’s been a while I saw her and I also needed to change environment. I got there and we did the usual friend talk. Exchanging pleasantries, catching up, making jokes, laughing at each other etc. Let me not forget to mention that Kate is a fashion designer. She sews for me pro bono (the love is massive). She has saved my life getting me fabric and sewing it for me without collecting a dime. Of course, I do appreciate her but not necessarily with a legal tender. She doesn’t do that for everyone. In my case however, she just does it out of a willing heart of love! (Why are friends friends for if they do not love each other?)
We’ve been friends for about 4 years and still counting. Can you ever say someone is your friend when you don’t actually know the person in and out? (Nah, I don’t think so). She knows me well and I know her well! She’s however the kind of friend that loves God, goes to church, prays but is still having trouble doing some spiritual things. (You don’t leave such friends, right? What you do is help them grow. Where there’d be an issue having that kind of friend is if he or she is an unbeliever). I apologize for swerving off the story. Let me come back.
As we were doing our friends thing, another friend of hers came in who is also a fashion designer. We were now 4 in the room, with me being the only one having no idea about fashion designing (I’d rather pay to sew a fabric, than actually learn it, it’s not my thing). They were all catching up, talking about everything fashion designing and I knew nothing! I busied myself with something else.
There was this skirt Kate had to adjust for me. She made it though. She did and when I wore it, her other friend said something that I hear 60% of the time- “You should be a model. You have the body.” I’ve had someone come after me literally pleading with me to come work as a model for their company that I don’t even have to pay a dime.
Immediately, Kate said “Noo! She’s our pastor. Leave her to be praying for us. Let those who are modelling keep modelling.” She said quite a lot of other things but I stopped listening at that point. I smiled to myself and I knew that Kate knew and understood what I stand for. She knows how much of an ambassador for Christ I am. If I give Kate a fabric without giving her a specific style, she knows what to do because she knows what I can and cannot wear. When I regained consciousness that I was amongst people, I also heard her say (I’m paraphrasing now) that there are some dresses I cannot wear, and she kept emphasizing the pastor and Mummy G O part.
That wasn’t what moved me. The pastor or the mummy G O she used to describe me didn’t move me. What actually moved me was the fact that she saw and knew what I stand for. She understood how that I am a CHRISTIAN, a BORN AGAIN one at that, and there are just some things I should not be found doing or wearing. She went ahead to even list some of those things. I could imagine God smiling and telling one of the elders or maybe the angels, “look at My daughter, she is making Me proud!
I myself was proud of myself, that people around me know me for who I am. Not that I’m claiming to be a Christian and I act otherwise or be like a hypocrite that acts like a saint in church, and like a rebel outside of the church.
What do people know you for? Do they know you as a saint on Sunday and then you switch personality the remaining days of the week? Do your friends know you as Mercy Chinwo with a little touch of Rihanna? How far your guys? Do they know you as Lawrence Oyor with a sprinkle of Wizkid? Hmmm. Does your life and life style portray Christ? Does it? You’re scared of being called a pastor or a pastor’s wife? Or you’re scared you’ll loose some friends? Not everyone befriended Jesus o.
You know, I read a post one time that said, “the moment we’re talking and you asked me to put the Bible aside, I’m going to walk away”. It should be the same with you. Let others, people around, believers, unbelievers know you as a Christian, because you’re exhibiting a behavior that is Christ-Like not because you go to church or you wear the tag.
If you’re having a conversation with someone, and in about an hour (which is actually too much) of your conversation, the person cannot deduce that you’re a Christian, Ahh, sir, ma, something has happened to you. Check yourself very well. If you’re scared of people identifying you as a fanatic, you’re loosing something.
I recall listening to a message of Pastor Mildred Okonkwo, she said she was tongue strolling in her estate and a guy was smoking somewhere. She decided to reduce her voice. Then the Holy Spirit made her understand that if the man can smoke unashamedly, what’s with you that you cannot pray boldly? She said at that point, she tuned it up! The man looked at her strangely and she replied with tongues in Capital letters! I felt that!
If you’re ashamed to be identified as a Christian, to pray in public, to carry your Bible visibly, dear Christian, something is wrong with you (I dare say). If the people on the opposite side can do these fearlessly and carefreely, how much more we that hold a more excellent Gospel? How much more we that hold the truth? How much more we that have the life of Christ?! C’mon! We can do better.
Matthew 5:14-16
[14]Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
[15]Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
[16]Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Let the world know who we are! We are meant to penetrate the world and shine our light, and not let the world penetrate us to dim the light! Live a VISIBLE holy life! Live a VISIBLE Christian life! Live a VISIBLE Christ-like attitude.
You can do all these by the strength of God in the place of prayer. I was ashamed to be identified as a fanatic before now. However, it’s now my joy to hear people say “Iya Jesu leleyi o” (denotatively, it means “this is Jesus’ mother. Connotatively, it means, this one is a Christian).
Live it in your character! Live it in your attitude! Live it in your behavior! Live it visibly! You think you cannot live a life for God that is open and glaring to all? You can, start by doing it intentionally. Start by praying for God's help, and soon, like Peter, people will tell you, “Surely, you are one of them" and you wouldn't deny being a member of the kingdom of Heaven (Mark 14:70). Rather, you'll be glad to identify as a follower of Jesus Christ!
After my name, the next thing I identify as is “A Believer". It's all over my social media account. Anyone trying to connect with me will see it first and then they'll have to choose if they want to be associated with me or not. I wouldn't bend this particular identity for what someone feels or thinks. Neither should you.
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