Take the Apron Off
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not
I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in
the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved
me, and gave Himself for me." - Galatians 2:20
He looked the part.
No doubt about it, he looked like a grocery stock boy.
When my wife and I walked into the local grocery store to
grab a "late night snack," there were few people around, so
I immediately noticed him. And, as we walked throughout the
grocery store, I happened to notice his actions.
Like I said, he looked like a grocery stock boy. He had a
green apron on - a dead giveaway, right? His name tag
identified him as an employee of the store - another obvious
sign. He used terminology that sounded like a grocery clerk
like "stock room," "box cutter" and "fronting" - more
evidence was building. The cashier at the check-out stand
called him over the intercom to carry out a ladies'
groceries - still another clue that indicated this young man
was a grocery stock boy.
As we walked by the front office of this store, there was a
time clock and a stack of time cards...and, sure enough,
this young man had a time card that logged the amount of
hours he had worked at the store - the clincher, this young
man MUST be a grocery stock boy, right?
He had the right identification, the right documentation,
and the right communication...but there was something wrong.
He didn't ACT like a stock boy!
I didn't see him putting out any stock on the shelves. He
never carried out a single bag of groceries, nor did he even
bag up any groceries. He didn't respond to the calls made by
the sales clerk. And he wasn't straightening up the goods on
the shelves. In fact, he was DOING nothing to indicate that
he was indeed a grocery stock boy. To the contrary, he was
cutting up with the guys and acting like anything but a
grocery stock boy.
Something just isn't quite right, huh?
Sadly, there are many believers who sometimes fit in this
same mold. Oh, they LOOK the part...
...They have on their Sunday church clothes, a dead
giveaway, ight? They wear their WWJD bracelets and Christian
t-shirts and they have that really cool fish symbol on the
back of their vehicles - more obvious signs. They use
terminology that, well, sounds like Christianity, like
"repent," "baptism" and "worship" - more evidence builds.
Folks around them call them, "Brother So-and-So" and "Sister
So-and-So" - still another clue that they are believers.
And, if you check the church roles, you'll find their name
on the list - the clincher, right?
They have the right identification, the right documentation
and the right communication...but there is something wrong.
They don't ACT like believers in Christ Jesus!
You never see them sharing the Gospel with anyone around
them. They don't seem to have time to visit the sick and the
afflicted. They don't say encouraging words or offer a
shoulder to cry on and they just aren't around when someone
needs a helping hand. In fact, they don't do much of
anything to indicate that they are indeed Christians.
To the contrary, they do all kinds of things to damage their
testimony like gossiping, telling "off color jokes" and
"little white lies." They watch R-rated movies and listen to
ungodly music. And they are self-centered and prideful.
Something just isn't quite right, huh?
Christian, LOOKING like a believer is great. I'm all for
wearing Christian t-shirts and I have a fish on my vehicle
and I love WWJD bracelets. Like I said, LOOKING like a
Christian is great. But, LIVING like a Christian is even
greater!
We are to do more than wear Christian merchandise, we are to
wear Christ! Our lives are on display and I promise there
are "customers" watching to see if we are the real deal.
What will they see? Will they see someone who "looks" the
part, but doesn't "live" it? Or, will they see believers who
reflect the nature and conduct of Jesus Christ Himself in
our words and deeds?
It's time to take off the apron and put on Christ!
Have a "Wonderful DAY in Christ," Jimmy D. Brown
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