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WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

2 Corinthians 5:14-18
3-29-09

    What real difference does your faith make in your daily life?  Every Christian must answer this question.

    Does your faith make your outlook more hopeful?  Does your faith make your relationships more loving?  Does your faith make your work more productive?

    You see, a genuine salvation experience changes us.  It affects our thoughts, our interests, our feelings, our speech and our actions.

    So what real difference does your faith make in your daily life?  Remember, as Christians, we are representatives of God.  Once, when Billy Graham witnessed to a man in India, the man responded, “Sir, I like what you told me about your Christ, and if I ever see one of those Christians, I’ll become one.”

    The evangelist continued, “Unfortunately, he was looking right at me when he said it.”

    We’re here to reflect God’s nature and achieve God’s purposes.  Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your . . . good deeds, and recognize and honor . . . your father Who is in heaven” (Matt.  5:16, amp).

    A Christian conversion is a radical transformation.  Paul said it’s nothing less than a Spiritual death and rebirth.  “We were buried with him (by baptism) so that we could live a new life . . . We know that our old life died with Christ on the cross . . .” (Rom.  6:4-6a, edb).

    “If anyone belongs to Christ, then he is made new.  The old things have gone; everything is made new!” (2 Cor.  5:17, edb).

    So, what difference does your faith make in your daily life?

I.  FIRST, SALVATION CHANGES OUR THOUGHTS. 

    Paul said, “Those who live following their sinful selves think only about things that their sinful selves want.  But those who live following the Spirit are thinking about the things that the Spirit wants them to do . . .  If his thinking is controlled by the spirit, then there is life and peace” (Rom.  8:5-6, edb).

    “In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5, edb).

    Solomon said, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he . . .” (Prov. 23:7a, amp).

    A Christian’s thoughts are positive.  Paul said, “Think about the things that are good and worthy of praise.  Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected” Phil.  4:8, edb).

    A Christian does not obsess abut negative, destructive things.  Our overall attitude is different.  Thoughts may be small but they can have a domino effect.  Once an investigator concluded that a costly tragedy was caused by one small mouse.  It seems the rodent ran up the wall and in chasing it a cat knocked a vase off a shelf.  The vase fell onto a gas line.  The impact opened the valve, letting the room fill with gas.  The leak reached the water heater pilot light and ignited.  The result: an explosion that destroyed a home.

    Likewise, little things which we count as insignificant can ultimately destroy us.  We never know how greatly a few careless thoughts will affect our lives.  Jesus said temptations and sin begin with thoughts.  “Out of his mind come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual sins, stealing, lying, and saying bad things against other people” (Matt.  15:19, edb).

    An old verse says:

        Sow a thought, reap an act.
        Sow an act, reap a habit.
        Sow a habit, reap a character.
       
    Thoughts, therefore, are the basis of our Spiritual growth and development.  So, do you dwell on your blessings or your grievances?  Do you remember your joys or your sorrows?  Do you anticipate successes or failures?

    What do you think about?

II.  SECOND, SALVATION CHANGES OUR INTERESTS.

    Jesus said, “Your heart will be where your treasure is” (Matt.  6:21, edb).

    Paul said, “Earnestly desire . . . the greatest and best . . . [gifts] and the choicest [graces] . . .” (1 Cor.  12:31a, amp).

    A Christian’s interests focus on Spiritual things.  Paul said, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Col.  3:2, niv).
    A Christian does not crave materialistic possessions.  Our overall priorities are different. 

    Once, a college student became the school’s tennis champion.  He was extremely proud of the trophies he added to the University display.  Years later, however, someone mailed him one of those trophies.  They had found it in a dumpster.  Sooner or later all earthly “trophies” will be trashed.
    Money, cars, clothes and electronic gadgets don’t satisfy and they don’t last.  Jesus said, “Moths and rust will destroy treasures here on earth.  And thieves can break into your house and steal the things you have.  So store your treasure in heaven . . .” (Matt. 6:19-20).

    Treasures in heaven mean permanent things like love, benevolence and a sense of God’s presence.  These are ultimate concerns.

    So, are you more involved with your family or your finances?  Do you spend more time gaining wisdom or having fun.  Do you care more about the amount of good you can accomplish or about the amount of money you can make?  What are you interested in?

III.  NEXT, SALVATION CHANGES OUR FEELINGS.

    Our feelings give us assurance.  John said, “We know we have left death and have come into life . . . because we love our brothers in Christ . . .” (1 John 3:14, edb).

    Our feelings impress others.  Jesus said, “All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other” (John 13:35, edb).

    Paul said, “Be kind and loving to each other.  Forgive each other just as God forgave you . . .” (Eph.  4:32, edb).

    A Christian’s feelings are loving.  Paul said, “If someone does wrong to you, do not pay him back by doing wrong to him . . . Do your best to live in peace with everyone” (Rom.  12:17-18, edb).

    A Christian does not harbor resentment.  Our overall responses are different.

    Our level of concern for others is our most influential witness to the world.  Mother Teresa said, “It’s how you treat people, not your wealth or power that is your enduring legacy.”

    Jesus even outlines our responsibility toward enemies.  “I tell you, love your enemies.  Pray for those who hurt you” (Matt.  5:44, edb);

    “When you are praying, and you remember that you are angry with another person about something, then forgive him . . .” (Mark 11:25).

    Now, such feelings and reactions are not “normal,” but they are required of Christians.  Defensiveness and retaliation must be eliminated.

    So, do you usually like or dislike the people you meet?  Do you forget about or become bitter over slights from other?  Do you envy or rejoice with your neighbors when they receive honors?  How do you feel toward others?

IV.  THEN, SALVATION CHANGES OUR SPEECH.

    Jesus said, “Men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken” (Matt.  12:36, niv).

    Paul said, “Put these things out of your life: anger, bad temper, doing or saying things to hurt others, and using evil words when you talk” (Col.  3:8-9, edb);

    “Show them with your words, (and) with the way you live . . .” (1 Tim.  4:12, edb).

    A Christian’s speech is kind.  Paul said, “Speak no evil about anyone . . . be gentle and polite to all people” (Titus 3:1a,2, edb).
    A Christian does not criticize and judge.  Our overall communication is different.

    Words are important.  We are evaluated by our words.  Christians express their faith with words.  Researchers say if two people each repeated a remark to a friend within fifteen minutes after hearing it, the news will then be known by four.  If they, in turn, repeat the matter, and this process continues, it would take less than eight hours for everyone in the world to hear it.  Think of the possibilities if we were faithful to share the good news of the Gospel.  That’s what Jesus envisioned when he said, “Go and make disciples of all nations . . . teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you . . .” (Matt.  28:19-20, niv).

    Let both your lips and your lives speak for Christ.  So, do your words more often encourage or discourage?  Do you prefer to pass on compliments or complaints?  Do you enjoy exchanging information or gossip? 

    What do you talk about?

V.  FINALLY, SALVATION CHANGES OUR ACTIONS.

    Paul said, “Now we serve God in a new way, not in the old way with written rules.  Now we serve God in the new way, with the Spirit” (Rom.  7:6, edb).

    Jesus said, “While it is daytime, we must continue doing the work of the One who sent me . . .” (John 9:4, edb).

    James said, “Do what God’s teaching says, do not just listen and do nothing . . .” (James 1:22, edb).

    A Christian’s actions are productive.  Paul said, “We are workers together for God . . .” (1 Cor.  3:9a).

    A Christian does not waste time on selfish and unproductive activities.  Our overall purposes are different.

    Everyone invests their lives in something.  It may be a career, a sport or a hobby.  It may be wealth, fame or friends.  It may be pleasure, excitement or beauty.  But Paul made his choice saying, “For me to live is Christ . . .”  (Phil.  1:21a, amp).

    If we center our lives on anything else, we lose.  A wise man said, “Your life is God’s gift to you.  What you do with it is your gift to God!”

    So, do you look forward more to giving or getting?  Would you rather offer help or receive help?  Is your main goal contributions or comfort?   What deeds do you do on a regular basis?

    If salvation changes our thoughts, our interests, our feelings, our speech and our actions, then in fact, salvation changes our entire personality.  Paul said, “You were taught to leave your old self—to stop living the evil way you lived before . . . You were taught to become a new person.  That new person is made to be like God—made to be truly good and holy.” (Eph.  4:22a-24, edb);

    “The Spirit gives love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control . . . Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their own sinful selves.   They have given up their old selfish feelings and the evil things they wanted to do.  We get our new life from the Spirit.  So we should follow the Spirit” (Gal.  5:22-25, edb).

    But, perhaps most important of all, salvation changes our circumstances and our future.  Our guilts are gone; our anxieties are gone; our insecurities are gone.  Imagine a chalkboard with a week’s worth of writing scribbled all over it.  That’s how our lives looked.  Cluttered and confused with sins, mistakes and failures.  Then, Christ took a damp cloth and wiped the slate clean.  We’re free of the past.  We can start over.

    Furthermore, we also have some wonderful promises.  John said, “Everyone who is a child of God has the power to win against the world.  It is our faith that wins the victory against the world . . .” (1 John 5:4-5a, 12a, 13b).

    No temptation can defeat us.  No obstacles can frustrate us.  No problems can confound us.  That’s because Christ is living in us.
    We have the assurance that no matter what happens, “The one who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world: (1 John 4:4, niv).
    Jesus said, “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, niv).

    And that’s the real difference our faith makes in our daily lives.

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(WC1871)
   
Copyrighted 2009 by Miles and Maralene Wesner, Idabel, OK.  PLEASE FEEL FREE TO USE THIS MESSAGE IN ANY WAY YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE.  The only thing we ask is that you give credit for original material in PUBLISHED works. 

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Miles E Wesner