Titus 1:16 "They claim to know God but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good."
Do you ever have driving thoughts? You know the kind. When you're driving down the road with no music on, just silence and your brain, driving down the road. For me, "silence" may not be the best descriptive word, if you know what I mean. When I have driving thoughts, I carry on a complete and loud conversation with myself, sometimes even audibly. When I have these driving thoughts, I can't get them out of my head, no matter how hard I try. They drive my being to the point that my mind races, repetitively, all while driving down the road. Yes, "driving thoughts"...have you had them?
Well, last week I took a trip into Dallas in rush hour, and I had some of those driving thoughts myself. You see, at work, part of the focus of my job lately has been in the area of job descriptions. I started to think...what is the job description of a Christian? Seriously, if we had to put it on paper, and my supervisor evaluated me to see if I was doing my job, would I be fired? Would my boss, God Almighty, give me a favorable performance appraisal? Even more so, if I was put in a line up, and someone had to pick "the Christian" out of the line up, would they pick me over someone else?
What are some of the things that could be on that job description? A few things come to my mind. Feel free to add to this list! Definitely, it's not exhaustive!
- Loves the Lord wholeheartedy (Mark 12:30)
- Lives life humbly, with patience and love (Ephesians 4:2)
- Works to be a peacemaker (Ephesians 4:3) (Philippians 2:2)
- Considers the needs of others over himself (Philippians 2:3)
- Serves others (Galatians 5:13)
- Goes into all the world to tell others about Christ (Mark 16:15)
- Looks different compared to his old life before following Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17)
- Disciples or mentors others (Matthew 28:20)
- Creates an environment of peace (Matthew 5:9)
- Lives their life in a way that others will know they are a Christian (2 Corinthians 6:3)
- Controls his tongue (James 3:8)
- Sacrifices for the sake of others (Hebrews 13:16)
- Does not hold grudges (James 5:9)
- Trusts in God, even when things don't make sense (Proverbs 3:5-6)
- Gives generously (Proverbs 11:25)
- Ability to trust God (Psalm 46:10, Psalm 62:8)
- Knows what is right and does it (James 4:17)
- Loves God and obeys His commands (John 14:21)
- Reflects God's glory and is being transformed to be more like Him daily (2Corinthians 3:18)
- Characterized by compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience (Colossians 3:12)
- Resists when faced with temptation (James 1:12)
- Submits to God, resists the devil (James 4:7)
- Admits when he's wrong; prays for others (James 5:16)
- Exemplifies love, joy, peace, slow to anger, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and has self control (Galatians 5:22-23)
If I had time to write, there would be an endless list of character qualities in this Christian job description, but it's important to realize that none of these qualities are possible on our own. It's by giving God control in each area of our life that we are able to live out these character qualities.
But remember my original driving thought. Would people be able to pick me out as the Christian in the line up?
Take a look at the verse to memorize for this week. If you have time, read through Titus chapter one. In it, Paul addresses people who claim to be Christians but their lives don't match that claim.
Titus 1:16 "They claim to know God but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good."
I knew God wanted me to blog about my driving thoughts this week. I had several verses in mind to memorize, too. However, my pastor opened his sermon with this verse in Titus on Sunday. It's truly the antithesis of what I want to be true in my life. I so desperately want my life and actions to match what God wants. I want my life to be a sweet smelling savor, not something detestable to God.
What about you? Do you have driving thoughts? Does your life match the job description of a Christian? Or could the verse to memorize for the week be true of you?
...Driving Thoughts
© by Beth Banfill
Driving down the road
Haunted by the thought
Am I an undercover Christian
Would people think I'm not?
If I had a job description
Taken straight from God's Word
How much would I be living?
Or would the lines be really blurred?
If You put me in a line-up
Could You ID me? Would You be pleased with me?
Could You quickly pick me out?
...These are my driving thoughts.
Sure, we all want to fit in
But should we look the same?
Our thoughts, our words, our deeds
Do they bring glory or cause Him shame?
Help me, God, give me strength
Let me live in such a way
So that others who look at me
See the difference that You make.
If you put me in a line-up
Could You ID me? Would You be pleased with me?
Could You quickly pick me out?
...These are my driving thoughts.
The words of my mouth
My thoughts so deep within
Are they acceptable to You?
Do they give off a sweet perfume?
If you put me in a line-up
Could You ID me? Would You be pleased with me?
Could You quickly pick me out?
...These are my driving thoughts.
---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com
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