Photo by stockimages freedigitalphotos.net

Have you thought about the power of your actions and the things you do? Do you ever think about what your actions say? Our actions reflect on who we are and the values that we hold. They speak to the world around us either a story of hope or a tale of woe.

As followers of Christ, we have been called to a higher standard of living. The standard is not a burden, but it can be confusing. Many of us would like a list of rules to follow, but the Bible, our guide to the Christian life, is not a rule book. Scripture is God’s way of telling us who we are, whose we are, and therefore how to live.

While the Old Testament listed out rules to follow, the gospel does not. The gospel is too big to be contained in a set of rules. The gospel that Jesus brought…his life lived…is the insight into the life we are to live.

Philipians 1:27-2:4 gives us a glimpse into this calling for a Kingdom life.

Unity: A life worthy of this calling is tied to Jesus’s church. We are told to “come together as one in mind and spirit and purpose, sharing in the same love.” Be as one. The collective body of believers is a power force in God’s kingdom. It can withstand the attacks of the evil one. It can move mountains. It can change the world. But it can only do it if it is united; united in love.

Opposition: Followers of Christ stand firm in the face of opposition. “Don’t be paralyzed in any way by what your opponents are doing. Your steadfast faith in the the face of opposition is a sign that they are doomed and that you have been graced with God’s salvation.”  We will face opposition as believers and we are to stand firm, holding to our faith in the One who is worth any and all kinds of suffering. There can be joy in the face of suffering and we must find it to show the world where our heart lies.

Being a follower of Christ is not a solitary effort. It is about being a part of a community, living life together, sharing the hope we have and the joy Christ offers. Am I looking to the needs of others or am I selfishly looking after myself? In this busy world, it is easy to huddle up in our own bubble, but we must make an effort to branch out and truly live the Kingdom life. A life where our actions speaks loud and clear who we are and Whose we are.

What are your actions saying?

**This message was given by Candace Nicolds are our church yesterday. Thank you Candance!