Someone once said, "If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" I've even seen this printed on a business card sized track and left in places for people to find them. I do not wish to debate the usefulness of leaving tracks around for people to find, but this one can really cause you to think.
There seems to be an ever increasing gap between perceived Christian living and following Christ in the world today. Too many people believe what they have learned about Christianity from Hollywood or from their friend who has an acquaintance who is one of those radical born again Christians. I have a thought about that and it is based on Scripture.
In Matthew 18 starting with verse 27, we find Jesus teaching about forgiveness. Jesus explains His answer to Peter with a parable, or word picture. It boils down to a master who was owed money by a servant. The servant begged for more time to repay the debt and the master forgave the debt. Notice that he didn't just grant more time to repay, he forgave it. This servant then went to another servant that owed him a smaller amount of money and demanded payment. When the second servant couldn't pay the first servant, he had him thrown in prison until the debt was paid. When the master heard this, he called in the first servant, rebuked him, reinstated the debt, and had him tortured!
Now marry that verse with Matthew 10 verse 8. The latter half of this verse records Jesus saying, "Freely you have received, freely give." When we look at these two passages of scripture together we see something that may not be readily noticeable when looking at each independently. These two verses, when connected in context, teach us how we should be living a complete life in Christ. Unfortunately, the life styles and life attitudes of many professed Christians today explain the ever increasing divide between perceived Christianity and true Christian living.
Have you ever found yourself sitting at the mercy of another and hoping for grace? Maybe you've been pulled over by a police officer and you knew you were driving over the speed limit. Maybe an unexpected bill had to be paid and you are a few days late with the mortgage or electric bill and they are calling you. Maybe the tree you've been meaning to have topped came down on your neighbor's garage in a windstorm. All of these things put you at the mercy of another and you hope for grace and mercy. You hope for anther chance or an extension of a due date. Have you found yourself on the opposite side of the situation? Have you been the one in the position to show grace and mercy? Did you have the opportunity to share a gift you have been blessed with? Did you?
As Christians today, we have received the ultimate grace and mercy, in the salvation of our souls and relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Many of us also have been blessed abundantly in finances, time, knowledge, wisdom (yes they are different), talents, and liberties. How often do we then give those to someone else freely? How often do we show mercy and grace? How often do we let it cost us something to bless someone else? How often do we use our time, talent, and treasure to further the Kingdom of God? How often are we quick to cry, "Unfair!", or "I'll sue!"?
Jesus preached, "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!" We need to be living out life in that kingdom everyday by freely giving what we have freely received. We need to be true followers of Christ and forgive those who trespass against us as we have been forgiven our trespasses. We need to grant grace and mercy, even when it's not deserved, and stop crying out for justice for ourselves. We need to stop hoarding resources and gifts and start sharing them with others. As soon as we start living our lives that way, the gap between perceived Christianity and true Christian living will start to narrow.
Are you helping to narrow the gap?
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