For awhile I have been observing this in our churches from Bwari to Kaduna and Kamuru, I decided to speak about it as I
bring to your attention a crucial aspect of our Christian journey – living beyond the walls of the church.
It is easy to wear the mask of a saint when we gather here, but the true measure of our faith lies in how we live our lives every day.
I need to bring our attention to what the Bible says in James 1:22; it reminds us not to be mere hearers of the Word but doers of it. It's not enough to attend church services and activities; we must embody the teachings of Christ in our daily conduct. Jesus himself emphasized this in Matthew 7:21 when he said, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."
Being a Christian goes beyond the confines of the church walls, as 1John 3:18 admonishes us; "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."
Lip service, my brethren, is not the currency that will secure our place in the kingdom of God.
Our Savior warned against hypocrisy in Matthew 23:27-28, saying, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean."
Let us not be like whitewashed tombs, appearing righteous outwardly while our hearts are far from Christ.
Engaging in church activities is commendable, but let us not be deceived. The apostle Paul, in Ephesians 2:8-9, makes it clear that we are saved by grace through faith, not by our works. Our deeds, without genuine faith in Christ, are void.
Moreover, the Gospel of Matthew 25:40 reminds us, "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the LEAST of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'" OUR ACTIONS TOWARD OUR FELLOW HUMANS ARE A REFLECTION OF OUR LOVE FOR GOD.
Therefore, let us be kind and compassionate, for in doing so, we express our devotion to our Creator.
In conclusion, let our lives outside the church walls and religious gathering resonate with the teachings of Christ. Let our actions be a testament to the faith we profess. Remember, not everyone who calls Him Lord will inherit the kingdom, but those who do the will of the Father. May our lives be a living testimony to our commitment to Christ.
Amen.
NOTE that my writings are based on my daily encounter with people and issues as it affects our general well being.
Thank you for sparing time to go through these few lines,
God bless you.
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