Is their proof of Christ in your life? In other words, if you said yes to Jesus ruling and reigning in your life, does your everyday life reflect that? When Jesus first began his ministry, he always seemed to have to combat a religious group called the Pharisees. This group was known for knowing and following all their traditions & Jewish laws, but their hearts were far from God. Jesus called these men hypocrites because they were defined by their religious traditions and not by a lifestyle that reflected the love of God.
Many Christians today are living their lives like these Pharisees – going through the motions of their religious activities, but are not fully surrendered to Christ in mind, heart and soul. The Gospel makes it clear that God did not intend for us to live our lives on earth without transformation. Repentance is what Jesus is asking of us, evidenced by a change in lifestyle. The evidence of belief is allegiance to Christ – know God, imitate Christ, participate in the work of the Holy Spirit. This is constantly taught within The Well community. Why? Because this is how we can model the life Christ expects us to live out!
So, how can we look different than people who confess to love and honor God, but really didn’t? The only way to know what God wants and expects in our lives is to read His Word and then we need to talk about it in community with others and hold each other accountable and expect transformation. Jesus began his ministry combating the Pharisees because he did not want others to model their way of living. He doesn’t want religious activity. He wants our lives to reflect His Lordship. Jesus expects our lives to look different, the proof of a surrendered life is constant transformation. It’s always transformation, not religious tradition that He’s after. So, live in such a way that when you see Jesus one day, you will hear “Well done, my good and faithful servant” instead of “Why do you call me Lord, Lord but do not do what I say”.