If you’ve ever been in a battle, whether physical or spiritual, you know how easy it is to grow weary and lose sight of the reason you’re fighting. Soldiers on the battlefield often carry pictures of their loved ones as a simple yet powerful reminder of what they are fighting for. The same is true for us as Christians.
In a world filled with things we don’t agree with, it’s easy to become consumed by the fight against what’s wrong. You might find yourself constantly speaking out against everything Christians oppose. But if that’s all people see or hear, they’ll only know you by what you’re against, not what you stand for.
Being a Christian is about so much more than what we’re against. It’s about proclaiming what we’re for. When you look at the life of Jesus, he didn’t spend his time solely condemning the wrong. Instead, he focused on the good news he came to bring. Maybe it’s time we take a page from his example and remind the world what Christians are truly about and what we’re for.
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38).
If Christians are for anything, it makes sense to start with the greatest commandment. All Christians should be for loving God first. Sad to say, I don’t know if this is true of many who profess to know Jesus. The reason is you don’t show your love for God by the words that proceed from your mouth, but by the actions that proceed from your life.
To love God means to obey God. Who we are as Christians and what we present to the world would be radically different if we truly loved God first. Yet, that is who we are (or supposed to be) and this is what we stand for. I challenge you to think about what it means to love God. After doing that, ask yourself, how does your life align with that? Does it show the world you are for loving God with all your heart?
If loving God is our first priority, then loving our neighbors as ourselves should be our second priority. Again, listen to the words of Jesus.
“And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:39-40).
Just like loving God, loving your neighbor is not about words but actions. To love your neighbor as yourself means you are patient with them, and you show them kindness. This means you don't get easily angered by their actions or words, and you don't hold grudges against them. To love means there is no arrogance, but humility and you don’t look down on others. This is what we believe, and this is what Christians are for, or at least they should be.
One of the most amazing statements Jesus ever made was this one.
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).
Everything in our faith centers around love. We are saved because God loved us first and we responded to his love. After salvation, our relationship with him deepens as our love for him deepens as well. Then we take this love we have received and share it with the rest of the world. Christians are for love because that is the foundation of our faith. We cannot miss this because without it, the world will not understand who the followers of Christ really are.
Finally, if we don’t love others, then we can’t love God. That’s why above everything else, Christians must be for love.
“We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen” (1 John 4:19-20).
One of the greatest expressions of love we can share with others is sharing the gospel with them. The challenge we often face is the way we do this. For most of us, it comes back to one simple reality: relationships. We tell people about Jesus because we believe he came to die for our sin and offer us a way of forgiveness and eternal life. At our core, this is what Christians stand for.
That’s why I find it a little disturbing when we berate, mock, or even belittle those who don’t know Jesus. Our hearts should break over those who don’t know Jesus, because they face an eternity without him. This mindset draws us back to the two most important things Christians are for, loving God and loving others.
When we share the gospel, not only are we showing love, we are aligning with God’s heart. His desire is that no one would perish but that all would come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Taking the time to share the gospel can go a long way toward making this happen.
Christians are for helping other people grow in their walk with the Lord. We call this discipleship, and this is one of the last things Jesus instructed his disciples to do.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Somehow, over the years, we have made Christianity about something else – whether it is improving your life, getting ahead, making more money, or even gathering more political influence. While in theory there is nothing wrong with these things, they are not our primary focus. Helping someone love Jesus more and obey Jesus more is so much greater because it will have an effect in this life and all eternity.
The way we live should be a big deal for Christians. We are called to live holy lives that reflect the inner transformation that has taken place. To be holy does not mean perfect, but your life should look different because you are living in a way that pleases God. This means your integrity, your character, and everything you do – whether people are watching and especially when they are not – all matter.
Holiness does not mean you just hold yourself to a higher standard. It means you also hold those who profess to be followers of Christ to a higher standard as well. Ultimately, the motivation for this is not because we think we are better, but because we love Jesus and we want to represent him well. This takes us right back to where we started. Christians are for loving God. And when we really do that, it trickles down into everything else we stand for.
Imagine for a moment that this defined your life and reputation.
Loving GodLoving your neighbor as yourselfSharing the love of Christ with others Helping people grow in their relationship with JesusLiving a holy life filled with integrity.If these are the markers that define your life and what you stand for, then it does not matter where you live, what profession you pursue, or how much money you make. Your life will influence those around you. I would argue that this type of influence is what all Christians should stand for and strive for. If we are going to be known for anything, that is an impressive list. If we can do this, it will truly make a difference in this world.
Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. He is the author of The Pursuit of Purpose which will help you understand how God leads you into his will. His most recent book is The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. This book will teach you how to put the pieces together so you can live a victorious Christian life and finally become the man or woman of God that you truly desire to be. Clarence is also committed to helping 10,000 people learn how to study the Bible and has just released his first Bible study course called Bible Study Basics. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com.
He is a cross pendant.
He is engraved with a unique Number.
He will mail it out from Jerusalem.
He will be sent to your Side.
Emmanuel
Bible Verses About Welcoming ImmigrantsEmbracing the StrangerAs we journey through life, we often encounter individuals who are not of our nationality......
Who We AreWhat We EelieveWhat We Do
2025 by lntellectual Reserve,Inc All rights reserved.
