Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
Life is about Jesus. In fact, death is about Jesus. So is everything that we experience between those two major events. This morning's sunrise was about Jesus; today's sunset will be about Jesus. The wintry cold tells us something about him, and the changing seasons speak his name. His fingerprints are on everything he made, and "all things were made by him" (Jn. 1:3).
Life is a golden opportunity for us to reflect the nature of Christ in our deeds, our words, our attitudes, even in the tone of our voice when we speak. When we do not reflect the nature of Christ in our behavior toward others, we are saying to them, "It isn't about Jesus; it's about me! Don't look at Jesus; look at me!" If we treat the people in our lives any way other than the way Jesus would treat them, we take their attention off the Lord. We make ourselves dangerous to the souls of those around us when we steal their attention away from the Lord with bad attitudes or ungodly deeds. Any time that ungodliness plays a part in our conduct or attitude, we harm others' lives.
Paul said, "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless, I live. Yet, not I, but Christ liveth in me." Paul didn't steal the attention that men should give to Jesus. Just as the light of the stars in the night sky preaches to the whole world about God and His Son, and just as the sound of a running brook sings His glory, a godly life is a reflection of the goodness, wisdom, and power of God. Jesus speaks through the obedient life even when that person is silent. He is speaking to all men now through the life of every person who humbles himself to live in the will of God. Be like the Lord, and keep the attention of your children on Jesus. Walk in the Spirit, and help those with whom you work to think on him. Stay out of the way, and let Christ live through you.
Sin is man's way of saying, "Life is about me, not Jesus!" Sin is to steal attention away from Christ. Sin is the way that men express their rejection of the Lordship of Jesus. To do righteousness is to confess Christ before men. To do righteousness is how we express love for God's Son. Sin denies Christ; righteousness confesses him.
What are you saying to those who watch your life?