“The Bible UN-Believers are Reading”

2 Corinthians 3:1-3, “Are we beginning to be like those false teachers of yours who must tell you all about themselves and bring long letters of recommendation with them? I think you hardly need someone’s letter to tell you about us, do you? And we don’t need a recommendation from you, either! The only letter I need is you yourselves! By looking at the good change in your hearts, everyone can see that we have done a good work among you.  They can see that you are a letter from Christ, written by us. It is not a letter written with pen and ink, but by the Spirit of the living God; not one carved on stone, but in human hearts.” (TLB)

Out of nowhere, all of a sudden we heard a loud ‘Boom’! Suddenly all the lights went out in the conference center where we were staying, just as we were all making our way out of our rooms and down this long hallway to breakfast. No windows. The hallway was longer than usual that morning because it was totally dark. Turns out the entire region experienced a power failure that morning. And guess what caused it? A squirrel got into a relay station and gnawed through a cable. In one split second, there was fried squirrel and lights out!

But the problem that day really wasn’t the darkness. Truth is, darkness is always dark, right? No shock and no surprise there. But the actual problem was the failure of the light. And a lot of us Christians have been lamenting what we perceive as the growing spiritual darkness around us: Fewer people identifying themselves as Christians, more people identifying themselves as nonbelievers, long-time moral boundaries that are eroding or collapsing. Marriages are failing, children are straying, there’s so many robberies, fires, slashing’s, murders and the like. Let Christians tell it, this is the worst the world has ever been, the darkest it has ever been!

But might I throw a monkey wrench into the equation? Because when it’s dark, the problem isn’t the darkness. It’s the failure of the light to shine. And Jesus Himself said to His followers, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14 NKJV). It appears something’s wrong then with the light, not the dark. The dark is fulfilling its purpose, but the light however, is not!

I can think of two ways that we’re failing our world and our Lord. One has to do with a flawed message that obscures the true Message. But we’ll talk about that in a minute. In the meantime, here are three reasons why I think the light is so often obscured.

First, FLAWED MESSENGERS: Over and over, a watching world sees well-known Christians suddenly disgraced by a dark secret. You can probably think of some pastors, mega church “stars,” TV personalities, athletes, politicians. And folks who don’t like the message can now find another “hypocrite” to hide behind.

The sad fall of a prominent Christian is a teachable moment, underscoring three critical realities:

First, each Jesus-follower’s life is either a reason for someone to check out Jesus or check out on Jesus. You see, if I drift away from Him, I take watching unbelievers with me. That’s why Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:12, “…We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.” (NLT) And Peter said, “Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when He judges the world.” (1 Peter 2:12 NLT). So, my little “sin fling” or “spiritual detour” will cost me God’s blessing. However, what’s even more important is that it could also cost those watching me their eternity!

So, when you think it’s just “your business” when you fail and fall, you couldn’t be more wrong. Unbelievers are watching, whether you are aware or not. It’s a lot like an adult touching a hot stove, when kids see them doing it, they automatically see no problem or danger with touching it too. But the thing is, the adult has experience, they know what to touch and for how long. They’ve been burned before, so even though their hands may touch a hot stove, they know how to do so without injury. But children don’t know this. They’ll simply imitate what they’ve seen us do. And the end result is their hurt. Unbelievers are the same. They’re watching us, and many, believe it or not, are imitating us, but to their own hurt. We’re not giving them the whole story on how we’ve been burnt before. So they do what we do to their own demise. They end up hurt, by following our lead. We have to learn to pay greater attention to what we do, say and how we behave. Others are watching, others are imitating. And we don’t want to be found guilty of causing hurt to someone we were supposed to be helping.

Then secondly, every time a public Christian is discredited, the importance of the everyday Christian is elevated. The Christian who is in a seeker’s life every day has far more impact than any Christian in the spotlight. I am the face, the voice, the proof of Jesus to the unbelievers in my personal world for better or for worse. Therefore, it’s always important that I walk the talk. It’s exponentially important that I’m consistent especially when there’s been a public Christian disgrace. When they see me, they’ve got to be able to see Jesus all day every day. Like it or not, truth is, when people see that ONE preacher has failed, we’re ALL GROUPED TOGETHER as “see, that’s what I mean about THEM preachers”. Many have been assassinated by association. So when one falls, it’s vital that we that are standing, remain standing as we help our brother/sister back on their feet. Galatians 6:1-3, “Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.” (MSG)

I reiterate, others are watching, others are imitating.

Here’s one other very vital reality. The failure of the messenger does not change the truth of the message. Jesus said, “Follow Me.” Not follow My followers. He said, “I am the Way” (John 14:6). Not, “I will show you the way.” He told us, “I am the resurrection and the life…he who believes in Me will live, even though he dies” (John 11:25). Not, believe in someone who practices the Christian religion. No, He said, “Believe in Me. Follow Me.” Therefore, I don’t want you to think I’m letting folks off the hook. Even when the messenger is flawed, the Message is still flawless! Jesus made it all about Jesus. So while a hypocrite might provide an excuse for not believing, they don’t provide a valid reason. Because it’s what we do (personally) with Jesus that determines our eternity. In fact, that’s the question you will face when you see God. “What did you do with My Son who died on a cross for you?” So, this does not take away people (or unbelievers) personal accountability to receive, follow and obey Christ. But we are His messengers with His message of salvation, healing, deliverance and change, and when we handle the message haphazardly, it causes harm to them that have yet to believe.

Believers, we play a huge part in the eternity of others. People listen to what we say about our Savior, but more importantly, they watch to see if we’re living what we say. Which reminds me of something I once read that said: “There are five Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, John – and the Christian. Most people never read the first four.” (Author Unknown) That observation, made a long time ago, could not be more true today. I, and you, are Living Epistles, we’re Human Bibles that unbelievers are reading daily, whether we’re at work, in church, in the laundromat, in traffic, or on a Friday or Saturday night. People are reading us as the Word and Work of God.

If our world’s getting darker, then something must be wrong with what folks are “reading,” in the Christians – the messengers – the light of the world – they know. And truth is, the problem isn’t the message, and it’s not about the messenger, but actually, with the way the messenger represents the message.

That message is, as the Bible says, is the “good news about Jesus” – the love that died for us, the power that crushed death. So the problem sure isn’t the message. But the Good News doesn’t sound as good when it’s obscured by three mistakes that we the messengers make.

Number one, our TONE. So many unbelievers I know use some unwelcome words to describe Christians. You may have heard them: “angry,” “judgmental,” “condemning.” Did you know up to 80% of communication is tone? Not what we say, but how we say it. So is our tone drowning out our message?

Jesus’ main man, Simon Peter, seemed to learn that over time. Earlier, he was brash, he was explosive. But later, he said we should “But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.“ (1 Peter 3:15). Is that how people feel when they’re with us – “gentled” and “respected?” Listen to the Message Bible translation: “If with heart and soul you’re doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath. It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God.” (3:13-18 MSG) We are as believers to make sure that our tone is always, “…WITH THE UTMOST COURTESY…” Which should make you ask? Is it our message folks are rejecting or our tone as we deliver it? People of God, this isn’t about winning an argument. It’s about winning a heart. Think about it: No one reads a love letter the same as they do a letter of condemnation. One makes them feel special, loved, important, valued, it makes them smile. The other makes them feel condemned, judged, criticized, unloved, irrelevant, it makes them frown. And the same goes for us and our tone in delivering the Good News. You Can’t Deliver Good News With a Bad Tone! Even if they’re in the wrong, it doesn’t make it right for us to scream at the top of our lungs, “you’re going to hell!” Because, if God drew us with loving-kindness, who are we to lash out at others with anything less?

Then secondly, our message gets obscured when it becomes OUR message. We Jesus-followers have one authority for the message that changes eternities. It’s God’s Word. “All Scripture” the Bible calls it. And it says it is “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). “God-breathed“…Not Apostle Apple; Bishop Banana; Pastor Potato; Elder Eggplant; Minister Macaroni; Deacon Danish; Missionary Maple Syrup! It’s not OUR personal message, it’s His. His Word, His Message, His Gospel, His Breath! 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is GOD-BREATHED [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (AMP) You see, when it becomes our personal message, it becomes about us, and we didn’t bare the cross, the nails, the spear, the wounds, the agony, the blood, the pain, the death or the resurrection for anyone, Jesus alone did that. Therefore, the message of Hope is about Him…not us! Many are being turned away and turned off because we’ve spent so much time talking about the wonderful clay and all the great things it’s been shaped to become, but not sharing that it is the Potter that makes it all possible.

2 Corinthians 4:7, “Our bodies are made of clay, yet we have the treasure of the Good News in them. This shows that the superior power of this treasure BELONGS TO GOD AND DOESN’T COME FROM US.” (GWT)

Jeremiah 18:1-6, “The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will make you hear My words.”  Then I went down to the potter’s house, and saw that he was working at the wheel.  But the vessel that he was making from clay was spoiled by the potter’s hand; so he made it over, reworking it and making it into another pot that seemed good to him.” Then the word of the Lord came to me: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” says the Lord. “Look carefully, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.” (AMP)

It’s never about the messenger, only the message. It’s never about the clay, only the treasure within. It’s never about the vessel, only the hand that molds it. I reiterate, sharing the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is About HIM, NOT US!

Another danger is that as our culture moves, and Christians tend to move with it. Always keeping an apparently “righteous distance” but quickly ending up where non-believers were as little as ten years ago. Reinterpreting, rationalizing, diluting their source (the Bible) to justify their “flexible truth.” But when we adjust our beliefs to placate our culture, we are no longer the choice Jesus called us to be. We’re just an echo of our culture; losing the power of God’s voice for some wimpy blend of Christianity and cultural appeasement. We stop speaking about sin, holiness, righteousness, repentance, because we need to say things in a way that brings them to the church (not changes them or even brings them to Christ) just brings them to the church. However, that’s not the goal. The goal is saved souls. And we can’t accomplish that calling Sin: “affairs, struggles, issues, strongholds” no, Sin is just that, Sin. And sin leads to death. James 1:13-15, “Don’t let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, “God is trying to trip me up.” God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one’s way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer.” (MSG) BUT, there is an alternative, and His name is Jesus! Church, we have to get back to a clear, concise message about Jesus. And the only way to do that is to preach, teach, and share the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Not the latest cliché, not the latest movie title or dance, not the latest slang. But the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Completely Undiluted, Uncontaminated, Unaltered, Unadulterated!

As Martin Luther essentially stood against the whole world in his day, here was his anchor verse: “Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens” (Psalm 119:89). If it stands firm in the heavens, we can’t change it here on earth! That word “eternal” is defined as, “lasting or existing forever.” Meaning the Word should remain the Word always (not depending on where we are, who we’re around or what we’re assigned to do). You can’t alter the Word of God. You can’t add to it or take away from it. It needs to remain in its most effective state and that is pure and unaltered! Whether you share the Good News in church, at work, in your home, at the shelter, at the gas station, to 500 people or to 5, to the CEO or the garbage man, the Word is to remain Unchanged! We don’t compromise the integrity of the Word of God to fit and suit our culture (or conference, convocation, morning sermon etc.). So, when people read your life, make sure they’re reading a clear, concise, unchanged Word about Jesus!

Thirdly, I think our message can be obscured by our BAGGAGE. The Gospel is compelling when it’s just the Gospel. But some people never get to the Gospel because of the baggage we encumber it with: church, denomination, culture wars, rules, condemning people’s lifestyles. However, the fact remains, it’s all about Jesus! Not our personal opinions; our ideologies; our experiences; our imaginations; our feelings. No, none of that matters. The message is about Jesus! It needs no fluff, no rhymes, no jingles, no eloquence of speech. Just the unadulterated Word of God about Jesus…about Salvation.

Even Jesus made it all about Jesus with His simple invitation, “Follow Me” (Mark 1:17). “Come to Me” (Matthew 11:28). “Believe in Me” (John 14:1). Jesus never said follow Me and Pastor Potluck…Come to Me and Sister Soup…Believe in Me and Brother Roast Beef! NO! The message we are to share is that people are to follow, come to and believe in JESUS! Not us, not our church, not our ministry, not our pastor, not our gifts, not our anointing, not our choir, not our praise breaks! But JESUS! That’s why Paul, Jesus’ greatest ambassador said in 1 Corinthians 2:2, “for I made the decision to know nothing [that is, to forego philosophical or theological discussions regarding inconsequential things and opinions while] among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified [and the meaning of His redemptive, substitutionary death and His resurrection].” (AMP) In other words, I don’t want nor need to hear anything else but JESUS!

Charles Spurgeon said the Cross is “that magnificent magnet.” Because “if they perceive,” Spurgeon said, “that He loved them and gave Himself for them, their hearts are stolen away.” And all that simply by the Cross. Not our name, anointing, gifts, preaching, teaching, power, etc…but the CROSS!

Can you imagine what would happen if we went back to preaching the Word, preaching Jesus, preaching the Cross, preaching holiness, preaching the Blood?!

That message, uncompromised, unencumbered, delivered with love, is what it has always been. Romans 1:16, “The power of God at work, saving everyone who believes”. It’s all about Jesus and His Cross and His Word. Stick to that!

Messengers who act like Jesus, a message that’s all about Jesus. That is a bright light on an otherwise dark and dangerous stretch of road.

We, my friends, are Human Bibles that unbelievers are reading daily. Make sure that the Message they read in our lives is that of the Unadulterated Word of God, the Name of Jesus and the Power of His Blood, Cross, Salvation, Healing, Deliverance, and Redemptive Life-Changing Power! Don’t complicate the Message, don’t confuse the readers, keep it simple…keep it about the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus!

As Believers, WE are the Only Bible Some Unbelievers Will Ever Read About Our Jesus. So Let’s Make Sure Our Lives and Lifestyles are Giving Them the “Good Message” to Read!

“Only if the Church hides its message and ceases to be what God designed the church to be can it make an unbeliever comfortable.” (John Macarthur)

“You are the ONLY Bible some unbelievers will ever read.” (John MacArthur)

“Be careful how you live. Your life may be the only bible some people ever read.” (Author Unknown)

Much Love, Dr. Shermaine #EnjoyTheRead #BeInspired #BeEncouraged #BeEmpowered #BeChallenged 
Feel free to also join us at: http://www.selfcarewithdrshermaine.blogspot.com Today’s Lesson: “Men’s Health: What You Need to Know About Prostate Cancer?”

“How Well Do You Represent Your Name?”

Acts 4:36, “Joseph, a Levite and native of Cyprus, who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement.)” (AMP)

My friend Alan lives in Colorado. And if it’s one thing anyone who knows about me knows, I absolutely love Aspen, Colorado, in particular. Another favorite of mine is also the season of Fall. And with Colorado having so many trees, you can only imagine how breathtakingly beautiful it looks in Autumn. Well, my friend Alan, although he loves his home state, is not exactly a huge fan of the trees or the Fall season! You see, one of the good things about Alan’s yard is all the huge, beautiful trees he has. However, one of the really bad things about Alan’s yard is all the huge, beautiful trees he has…especially in the Fall! The problem is, his town requires the bagging of leaves, so they had the exciting challenge of raking and bagging over 100 bags every single year! And as the kids left home, one by one, guess what…Alan’s labor force dwindled to one. And take a wild guess as to the one who was left with the responsibility of raking and bagging all of those leaves? Yep, you guessed right, Alan!

Well, one day Alan was out there raking away – The Lone Raker. And suddenly an angel arrived in the yard. Well no, actually, it was his eight-year-old next door neighbor, Sandra. But in Alan’s book, she must have been an angel! Why? Because she said she wanted to help, and help she did. She raked, she bagged, and then she said, “Any time I hear you raking, I’m going to come over and help!” Alan said ‘this girl must have specially tailored sweaters to cover up her huge angel wings!’ Well as Sandra was going for another bag, she told Alan why she’d come to help him rake and bag. She said, “My parents told me that my name means ‘Someone Who Helps’, so I’m always trying to do what my name says I’m supposed to do, help.” I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love that! Someone who lives up to their name!

In doing a little research on Sandra’s name, I actually learned that it’s Greek, and means “Helper of Humanity.” I for one can attest she lives up to her name and represents it quite well!

Now, the girl next door has been named Helper, and she’s living up to her name. And truth is, most people usually do live up to the names they’re called…for better or worse. Acts chapter 4, verse 36, the Bible identifies a man who will become a trusted and important leader of the early Christian church. It calls him “Joseph, a Levite and native of Cyprus, who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement.)” (AMP) Well, later we see Barnabas go into action when the Christians are trying to decide how to handle the most notorious convert they had – Saul of Tarsus; the man who until recently had been the number one persecutor of the followers of Christ. But now he had met Christ.

Here’s what Acts 9:26-27 says, “When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.” (NIV).

Barnabas introduces Saul and opens the door for him to the apostles. Here’s the Son of Encouragement putting an arm around a new believer and giving him a chance when no one else would.

With that said, I wonder how much better our homes, churches, jobs, schools and communities would be, if only we were more like Barnabas? If we encouraged, included, supported, defended and helped others. Instead of joining the critical clan in competing, comparing, and criticizing. And truth is, Saul had a lot against him, and he was the one who put all of it against himself. No one made him do the things he did. He was a horrible man. Yes, that was his truth. But Jesus changed him, therefore who had the right to judge his change? I personally believe we spend too much time talking about who and what someone was, that we miss out on all the great things they’ve become and accomplished since. I mean if your daughter was a straight D student, and then sought out help with tutors, and put in extra hard work, to now become a straight A student…would you continue to throw her past D’s in her face? If your spouse wasn’t as attentive the first 5 years of your marriage, but has been the last 5 years of your marriage, do you hold the first 5 years over their head forever? If they weren’t growing, but now they are, do you keep watering their past weeds, or celebrate that they’ve gotten rid of them? They’re better this year (2018), but do you keep them mentally imprisoned in year 1998?

Just as you deserved a second chance (and that’s putting it mildly, because we’re all on at a minimum chance number 1,000,000,000,000…clearly you get the picture), so don’t they deserve the same chance? What if people locked you into the person you used to be? What if they kept throwing in your face your drug and alcohol abuse; your adultery; your fornication; your babies out of wedlock; your 2 baby mama’s and 3 baby daddies; your lying; your stealing; your gossiping; your repossessions; your 4th closed church; your pink slip; your cussing; your prison record; your recovery relapse; your foreclosure; your unemployment; your 3^rd marriage; your overeating; your abortions; your promiscuous ways…would that be acceptable? What if they continued to throw in your face when you lived in a filthy one room apartment; when you had no money, no food, and no one to help or love you…would that be acceptable? No, it wouldn’t be, and you wouldn’t like it one bit. Therefore, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If you were redeemable, remember that so is everybody else, no matter what they did, who they were, or where they came from! Jesus died for ALL, not just for the ‘acceptable few!’

That’s why I love Barnabas’ response to Saul. Knowing who he was, what he did and where he came from, STILL when he brought him before the people, he spoke of who he is NOW! Why not allow today to be the day you treat others likewise. Stop speaking of their THEN, and speak of their NOW, because you have no idea what great things God can still do for them in their LATTER.

That’s the story of Barnabas’s life. In chapter 11 we’re told that the believers (who were almost all Jewish at this point) weren’t sure how to respond to the news that Gentiles were coming to Christ in Antioch. Guess who they sent to check it out? “They sent Barnabas,” it says. “When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord.” What did he do? “Encouraged them all,” what else would you expect from Mr. Encouragement? He Always Represented the Name Whereby He’d Been Called…Do You? Selah…

Let’s read the text in full: “Those who had been scattered by the persecution triggered by Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, but they were still only speaking and dealing with their fellow Jews. Then some of the men from Cyprus and Cyrene who had come to Antioch started talking to Greeks, giving them the Message of the Master Jesus. God was pleased with what they were doing and put his stamp of approval on it—quite a number of the Greeks believed and turned to the Master. When the church in Jerusalem got wind of this, THEY SENT BARNABAS TO ANTIOCH TO CHECK ON THINGS. As soon as he arrived, he saw that God was behind and in it all. HE THREW HIMSELF IN WITH THEM, GOT BEHIND THEM, URGING THEM TO STAY WITH IT THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. He was a good man that way, enthusiastic and confident in the Holy Spirit’s ways. The community grew large and strong in the Master. Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. He found him and brought him back to Antioch. They were there a whole year, meeting with the church and teaching a lot of people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were for the first time called Christians.” (MSG)

How phenomenal of a leader and believer is Barnabas? Not only does he exemplify leadership, but also character, integrity, credibility, accountability, and encouragement. And does he take any credit for himself? Absolutely not! In fact, he goes looking for Saul (the one no one wanted to include, encourage, support and help), and he had him to join him in the work of strengthening the church. In a place of persecution, their work for the Lord prospered for the people. It’s in this setting in which disciples are first called Christians, in the midst of one man who simply encouraged all! One man who simply lived up to his name!

Then to take it a step further, later, when Barnabas and Paul have a disagreement on a young missionary named Mark, it’s Barnabas who takes a chance on this young man who actually flunked out as a missionary and he disciples him into leadership. The point’s obvious. Just like Sandra next door in our opening story, Barnabas became what he was called; he did what his name indicated he would do. Sandra helped, Barnabas encouraged. What are you supposed to be doing? Are you doing it?

Example: Daniel means ‘God is my judge’; David means ‘beloved’; Ruth means ‘friend’. And each lived up to their names, but so did Achan whose name means ‘trouble’. What name are you living up to?

Think about it: Do the people around you remember and probably act out the names that they’ve been called growing up? You know as parents I think we forget the power of our words sometimes to make our children feel very big or very small. We call them lazy, or stupid, or rebel, or not good enough. And chances are, that will imprint the tape in their heart and it’ll play back their whole life! Think of how that affected you and how even as a grown up, maybe you’re still playing back those old tapes of what mom or dad said; grandma or grandpa; that sibling; aunt; cousin; coworker; boss; pastor; teacher; coach; neighbor; friend; ex-boyfriend or girlfriend; spouse etc… People have a tendency to become what you call them, much like many of us have had the hurtful experience of becoming what others called us.

For instance, in counseling, there are so many terms that come up that I absolutely detest. Things like: “you’ll never be nothing because your daddy wasn’t nothing”; “you act just like your no good mama”; “his daddy went to jail and he’s on his way just like him”; “her mama got pregnant at 16, just wait and see, the way she act and dress, she’s gonna be just like her”. Those kinds of words, names and labeling are easy to attach, but never are they so easy to detach from! Which is why we should be ever so careful how we label people. Stop calling them: “mean, rude, nasty”, don’t label them with what you wouldn’t want to wear on your own back.

That’s why it’s so important to consistently call people what we want them to become; caring, unselfish, helper, listener, creative, smart, accomplished, better, changed. Even when you see just a flash of a great trait, tell them how much that means to you and others. Celebrate their every improvement, no matter the size of it.

In addition, even our mates tend to become what we call them; our friends and family; the people we minister to. And it’s important to water what you want to grow with positive strokes and sincere praise. Remembering that Proverbs 18:21 admonishes: “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.” (MSG). So look for the beauty in each person in your world and speak the beauty, even when you see the ugly. Romans 4:17, “…God who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.” (AMP). Our words are powerful, impactful, creative and life giving, we just have to Choose to use them Wisely! Therefore, no matter how bad it looks in their life, speak good by faith until it manifests! Look for the gifts they have; for a spark of what they could be if someone would just fan that spark into a mighty flame. What you’re really doing is helping a person see the masterpiece and workmanship God made when He made them; the make-a-difference person that Jesus can make them.

Now, as for all of us as believers, we are called Christians. But are we living up to that name? ‘Christian’ in and of itself is defined as ‘a person who has received Christian baptism or is a believer in Jesus Christ and follows His teachings; someone who lives Christ-Like.’ And that term ‘Christ-Like’ is defined as “resembling or showing the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” And “resemble” is defined as “to have a similar appearance to or feature in common with.” Its Old French Origin “resemble”, from Latin “similare”, from “similis” literally means “like”. And if someone were to ask if YOU live your CHRISTIAN LIFE, CHRIST-LIKE, what would be your HONEST response?

After all, Jesus was and encourages us to be:

“Loving” (John 13:1, “It was before the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt. Jesus knew the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. He had LOVED His own who were in the world. He LOVED them to the end.” (NLV);  

“Joyful” (John 15:11, “I have told you these things so My JOY may be in you and your JOY may be full.” (NLV);

“Peaceful” (Matthew 5:9, “Those who make PEACE are happy, because they will be called the sons of God.” (NLV);

“Kind” (Ephesians 4:32, “You must be KIND to each other. Think of the other person. Forgive other people just as God forgave you because of Christ’s death on the cross.” (NLV);

“Forgiving” (Luke 23:34, “Then Jesus said, “Father, FORGIVE them. They do not know what they are doing.” And they divided His clothes by drawing names.” (NLV)

“Fair” (Matthew 7:12, “Do for other people whatever you would like to have them do for you. This is what the Jewish Law and the early preachers said.” (NLV)

“Compassionate” (Mark 1:41, “Jesus put His hand on him with LOVING-PITY. He said, “I want to. Be healed.” (NLV);

With that said, if you were accused of being a Christian (Christ-Like), would you be found guilty…or innocent of all charges and characteristics?

I’m personally very thankful for my friend Alan’s neighbor Sandra and for her parents who named their daughter Helper. She was becoming what she’d been called, and you know what? That could happen to the people around you as well. So be sure you call them what Jesus would call them.

You know in preparing this, I thought of Benjamin, when his mother birthed him and what she called him: Genesis 35:18, says “With her last breath, for she was now dying, she named him Ben-oni (Son-of-My-Pain), but his father named him Ben-jamin (Son-of-Good-Fortune).” (MSG) Can you imagine what people can turn out to be if we call them (not by the past, not by the hurt, not by their failures or mistakes, not by their sin or short-comings, not by their experience, not by our mood or attitude), but by what they can actually become! Benjamin went from being the son of pain, to the son of good fortune, and all because one person refused to allow him to wear a label he was not to be called by! You have the power to change what someone’s been called the same way! Just speak well of them and what they will become!

In fact, a name was so important to God that He even changed Jacobs name: Genesis 35:9-10, “God revealed himself once again to Jacob, after he had come back from Paddan Aram and blessed him: “Your name is Jacob (Heel); but that’s your name no longer. From now on your name is Israel (God-Wrestler).” (MSG) If God can change Jacob’s name, He can change yours and theirs!

Don’t get stuck on how they behave, conduct themselves, what they say and do. Don’t get stuck on their past, their failures and mistakes. Don’t even get stuck in their personality flaws. Because truth is, we ALL have issues, flaws, mistakes and a past. Remember what the Bible admonishes: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, “Don’t you realize that this is not the way to live? Unjust people who don’t care about God will not be joining in his kingdom. Those who use and abuse each other, use and abuse sex, use and abuse the earth and everything in it, don’t qualify as citizens in God’s kingdom. A NUMBER OF YOU KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT, FOR NOT SO LONG AGO YOU WERE ON THAT LIST. SINCE THEN, YOU’VE BEEN CLEANED UP AND GIVEN A FRESH START BY JESUS, OUR MASTER, OUR MESSIAH, AND BY OUR GOD PRESENT IN US, THE SPIRIT.” (MSG) Therefore, BEFORE you call, name and label Them…remember…the Bible says: “…A NUMBER OF YOU KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT, FOR NOT SO LONG AGO YOU WERE ON THAT LIST…” Don’t Remember What They Were, and Forget What YOU Were! After all, you don’t want anyone going through the dirty laundry of your past, so stay out of the hampers of others! You are now Clean, so call them Clean too, after all it is the SAME Savior and Word that Washed and Cleansed You Both!

Today let’s start by behaving by the name in which we are called, Christians, who live Christ-Like. Let today be the day we exemplify the fruit of the Spirit that is supposed to be dwelling on the inside of us, or so we say. Galatians 5:22-25, “But the fruit that comes from having the Holy Spirit in our lives is: love, joy, peace, not giving up, being kind, being good, having faith,  being gentle, and being the boss over our own desires. The Law is not against these things.  Those of us who belong to Christ have nailed our sinful old selves on His cross. Our sinful desires are now dead. If the Holy Spirit is living in us, let us be led by Him in all things.” (NLV)

Lastly, I thought of Jabez. The Bible says in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, “Jabez was a better man than his brothers, a man of honor. His mother had named him Jabez (Oh, the pain!), saying, “A painful birth! I bore him in great pain!” Jabez prayed to the God of Israel: “Bless me, O bless me! Give me land, large tracts of land. And provide your personal protection—don’t let evil hurt me.” God gave him what he asked.” (MSG) In this instance, his name wasn’t changed, but he prayed to God to change what his name represented. He would go from pain, to God’s personal protection. Likewise, for those of you who have spent years struggling and hurting with the names and labels that have been attached to you, the best thing to do is go to God. And like Jabez, despite what They called you (even when it’s family!), God can still bless you! God is your Maker, so never settle for wearing a Label He didn’t Design for you!

You have been called Christian. You have been called to be Christ-Like. Today, Remember Who you represent, and Whose Name you represent, and Live Up to It! And while You do so, make sure you give that same opportunity and grace to Others as well! Everyone deserves a second chance and a fresh start no matter what they’ve been called by name: liar, cheat, thief, bastard, no good, loser, failure, drunk, stupid, etc. Which reminds me of a quote that says, “The devil knows your name, but calls you by your sin. God knows your sin, but calls you by your name.” (Author Unknown). And what new names has God given you? 1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (AMP). God doesn’t call you any less, so make sure you don’t call others any less. 

Never Forget, We Are Called to the Ministry of Reconciliation, Not Retaliation! 2 Corinthians 5:16-20, “Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.” (MSG)

We are God’s Representatives, so let’s make sure that we live up to all His Name Represents! After all, we are Called Christians, after Christ, so shouldn’t we behave Christ-Like (in word, deed, attitude, lifestyle)?

Genesis 1:26-27, “God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature so they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, and, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.” God created human beings; he created them godlike, reflecting God’s nature. He created them male and female. God blessed them: “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.” (MSG)

This is who we are called to be and what we are called to do. Let’s represent this well! Let’s represent His name well. Let’s represent well the name we’ve been called.

Much Love, Dr. Shermaine #EnjoyTheRead #BeInspired #BeEncouraged #BeEmpowered #BeChallenged 
Feel free to also join us at: http://www.selfcarewithdrshermaine.blogspot.com Today’s Lesson: “Everyday Habits That Are Aging You”