WHAT DOES MY LIFE PREACH TO THE WORLD?
MAY 17, 2025
TEXT: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. (MATTHEW 23:3)
Evangelism is a task assigned to all, not just a few or a specific set of people. While evangelistic skills and results may differ from person to person, what matters is that it is an assignment for all.
Now, having established that, we must be conscious of the fact that evangelism encompasses more than just biblical doctrines and debates to convince an unbeliever. Evangelism is 90% about me, that is, my personal life. Ask yourself, what message is my lifestyle preaching to those around me?
⭕Am I a Christian only on Sundays but something else in my place of work?
⭕Do I make a conscious effort to please God only when I’m with my pastor or other so-called holy people in the house of God?
⭕Can I open my mouth boldly to preach the gospel in my place of work without my coworkers jeering/sneering at me, apparently due to knowledge of my questionable behaviour?
⭕Can I boldly walk into my street and preach the gospel without people mocking me and calling me unscriptural names that reflect my hypocritical and deceptive nature?
If your answer to the above questions happens to be in the affirmative, all is well and good. However, if it is in the negative, then it shows that you need to improve.
People rarely listen to what you have to say from the scriptures or how deeply rooted you are. Once they notice something contradictory to what you preach in your life, you are done, I repeat, done, unless you make the necessary changes.
I cannot preach to my junior workers in the office to avoid stealing when one of them just witnessed me manipulating a cheque to my financial advantage. Even if my conscience doesn’t trouble me, that junior worker will never take my words seriously.
How can I preach peace and forgiveness to others when I have a problem with harboring malice and poor anger management? It is impossible!
We must avoid leading lives like the Pharisees who say/teach but don’t practice. Many of them confronted Jesus about certain teachings, and the Master was quick to point out their hypocrisy, telling them that they themselves don’t practice what they seek to impose on their followers.
Emphasis must be placed on the fact that our knowledge of the scriptures is only about 10% of evangelism. The remaining 90% encompasses how we lead our lives.
When your actions lead your brother to sin, his blood remains on your hands. We must be aware that we live our lives not for ourselves but for God’s purpose. Our lives are the scriptures and tablets that people study and examine, and once you are found wanting, what you say or preach is no longer valid.
There are two types of Bibles: the hardcover Bible and the Christian’s lifestyle Bible. Our lifestyles are a Bible that people study, even without our knowledge. Whatever we do is under close scrutiny by someone we don’t even know is watching us.
Just give people the opportunity to talk about you for five minutes, and you’ll be surprised at what you’ll hear. Therefore, regular behavioural checks are essential in our daily lives. Let’s strive to constantly examine ourselves to ensure that we’re not causing others to stumble and, above all, that we don’t preach the word and become pcastaways ourselves.
SEARCH LIGHT: Regular behavioural checks, continuous conscience assessment, and persistent integrity examination, with excellence in the results of all these, is what being a Christian entails.
PRAYER: LORD, don’t let my lifestyle drive people away from your presence. Help me to be a faithful labourer for you and not to become a castaway, in Jesus’ name.
BIBLE READING
Job 4-6, 1 Thessalonians 3.
PST. MICHAEL OMOLE
