How to Set a Good Example With Christ-like Living

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

Are you working within God’s will or working against God’s will? Setting a good example of Christ-like living should be a daily focus for all believers.

Introduction

In my sermon this week, I want to continue to focus on walking in spirit and in truth by being an ally of peace and living in fellowship with each other.  This week, I will share more scripture with you from Ephesians 5:8-11, 15-17.  

Something I believe to be incredibly important for us to understand about living in fellowship with one another is the effect we have on each other.  Sadly, many of us don’t take into consideration the role we play in the lives of those around us.  Yet, something you should be made aware of today is that you are being watched, and I don’t mean that in a way to frighten you.  

Sure, some look to catch God’s children slipping up so that they may speak evil of our faith.  Yet many look to you today as an example of being Christ-like.  Whether you realize it or not, some even look to you as a ray of hope.

So, the question my sermon will ask of you today is this:  Are you being a good example (image) of Christ?  Do you even care?  

In my sermon this week, I want to focus on our walk and why we must take into consideration how we live and the example we set for others.

Seeking to be Approved

As children of God,  we should certainly care about how we represent the Lord, shouldn’t we?  Yet, many of us, over the many years we’ve lived, have reached the point in life where we just don’t care what others think about us.  

As we were growing up, we learned whose opinions mattered and whose opinions didn’t matter.  Some of us found out the hard way that not everybody is your biggest fan.  Some of us learned the hard way that there are many who do not want to see us succeed, and it is a waste of time to seek their approval.

In Galatians 1:10, Paul wrote to the Galatian believers, essentially saying, ‘I’m not trying to please or to win your approval, for if I did that, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ.’  For Paul, the only approval that mattered was that of God, and therefore, he chose to live to please God.  

As God’s children, we must take a page from Paul; we must live in a manner that God will approve of, rather than trying to please man.  As I shared with all of you in my sermon – Friend Request Denied, Evil – you cannot seek to be loved by everyone (Luke 6:26).  Let me remind you, not everyone loved or approved of Christ.

The manner of living that God approves of begins with faithful living, as it is impossible for one to please the Lord without faith (Heb. 11:6).  

In faithful living, Christ taught that we are to do good works (charitable deeds), bearing fruit.  When Christ spoke of our charitable deeds, He said that we shouldn’t sound the horn about our deeds so that man will praise and glorify us.  Christ taught that one should do their charitable deeds in secret, being unprofitable servants, whom the Lord will reward openly one day (Matt. 6:1-4; Luke 17:10).

In faithful living that pleases the Lord, Christ called for us to be lights in the world, whose light will shine before others (Matt. 5:14,16).  Now, you should understand, light will always be seen, especially in darkness.  Therefore, you will be seen, and people will form their opinions and judgments based on their perception.  As a child of God, you will develop a reputation.

Outward Perception Matters

Now, while we should only care about seeking God’s approval, we believers should understand the importance of our reputation as God’s children.  Yes, your reputation matters as a child of God!

Why your reputation as a child of God matters begins with God Himself.  You see, the Lord desires for His reputation with mankind to be good.  Now, you may ask yourself, why would God care about His reputation?  This is where I will direct your attention to God’s will.

The Lord’s desire is for mankind to dwell with Him for everlasting life.  Yes, Jesus told this to Nicodemus in John 3:16.  However, Jesus also told a multitude that the will of God is for all who receive His only begotten Son to be raised with Him at the last day (John 8:40).

For mankind to be raised with Christ, man is required to turn from the way of sin to Christ.  However, if we’re being truthful, there are many who love living in sin!  Again, keep in mind, Christ said that the world hated Him because He preached against sinful living!

Throughout His ministering years, Christ had to do many things, glorifying God, to get people’s eyes off the world and onto Him.  Jesus healed the blind, caused the deaf to hear, made the lame walk again, healed the sick, fed thousands, and even restored the dead!  Even then, Christ was still despised by many, with a handful desiring His death.

To this present day, God is still working overtime to reach out to mankind to get him to turn away from the world.  God still causes His sun to rise for both the good and the evil.  God still permits His rain to fall upon both the just and the unjust.  The Lord faithfully keeps His doors open to those who desire to come before the throne of grace!  Yes, God is still answering our prayers, providing, sustaining, shielding, protecting, and making a way for all comers!

If you still don’t think God cares about His reputation, let me ask you this:  Why do you think He still does all of these things for us after He gave His only begotten Son?

If the Lord didn’t desire to have a good reputation so that many would come to Him to be saved,  God wouldn’t have saved Noah and his family when He flooded the earth.  

If God didn’t care about having a good reputation to save mankind, He would’ve destroyed Israel after they worshiped the molded calf of gold.  The Lord would have destroyed Israel when they refused to inherit the Promised Land if He didn’t care about His reputation.

If God didn’t care about His reputation, He would have never sent His only begotten Son, nor would He bother to answer our prayers.  God would’ve let the world rot in sin, as we work to destroy each other until none of us were left remaining.

So, as God shows us daily that His reputation matters to Him, we certainly shouldn’t think so little of our reputation as being His children, should we?  You see, your reputation matters for two main reasons.  

Reason 1:  Your reputation will either draw others to Christ or push them away from Christ.  Keep in mind, the religious leaders of Jesus’ day had the kind of reputation that shut up the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 23:13).

Reason 2:  Along those same lines, your reputation as a child of God will either help to fulfill God’s will or hurt His will.  Like Christ, His followers ought to move in a manner to fulfill God’s will, as Christ has commissioned us to do so.  We should constantly keep in mind that Christ tasked us to teach others to observe His command of love by the example we set (Matt. 28:19-20).

Walk Wise in the Christian Walk

So, I’ve shared all of this with you about our reputations as God’s children because I want you to understand the importance of our reputation so that you will live in consideration of it.  

As Paul reminded the Ephesian believers, I remind you today that you are light in the Lord, and should walk as children of light (Eph. 5:8).  As children of light, this means we dwell in fellowship with Christ, and from dwelling in fellowship with Him, we ought to move as reflections of Christ.  Now, let us take a look at what this walk ought to look like so that we can be good reflections of Christ.

Walk in goodness

In Ephesians 5:9, Paul encouraged the Ephesian believers to walk in goodness, but I want you to note that he spoke of the goodness that is a fruit of the Spirit.

I must point out that the goodness Paul spoke of was of the Spirit, not mankind’s subjective idea of goodness.  Mankind’s idea of what is good is all over the place and often strays far from the fruit of the Spirit.  An example of that can be seen in the world today, as some believe they are doing what is good by pushing wars, dropping bombs, and threatening the lives of others.

So, let this be clear to all of you today:  to walk in the goodness that is the fruit of the Spirit is to walk in sincere love towards each other.  

The love that Christ preached about is to love as He loved us.  If you may have forgotten how Christ loved and still loves us, let me remind you.  Christ laid down His life to intercede for us and lift us higher.  Christ said that there is no greater love than for one to intercede on behalf of another!

In this present day, Christ still making intercession for us!  Christ sits at the right hand of the Father, advocating for all of us justified sinners who fall short of God’s glory!  In this present day, Christ is still moving out of grace and mercy, washing our feet from sin.

In a day filled with examples of hatred, racism, and bigotry, we must be examples of divine goodness.  In a day that is filled with people who choose to tear each other down, again, our fellowship must be filled with love!  We are to move in the kind of love that intercedes, advocates, and uplifts!  

Our reputation ought to be one who moves to be a blessing to others through loving kindness, being highly affectionate to one another with brotherly love!  In such love, we will have a good reputation of Christ that draws others to know our Savior.

Walk in righteousness and truth

In Ephesians 5:9, Paul also encouraged the Ephesian believers to walk in righteousness and truth.

Once again, it must be made clear that Paul spoke of the righteousness and truth that are fruits of the Spirit, not of mankind’s own fruition!  This, I believe, must be stated throughout churches, especially!  

The reason why I point out that we must walk in the righteousness and truth which is of the Spirit is because so many are proclaiming to be moving in righteousness and truth, yet they’re moving according to gossip, conspiracies, and the thoughts of madmen.

I want to be very clear about this: we are to be reflections of Christ.  I ask you today, did Christ spread gossip?  Did Christ spread conspiracies?  Did Christ spread fears of a madman?  

The Lord has not called on you to spread your gossip, conspiracies, and your own personal feelings as gospel.  The Lord has called for us to walk in sincerity, honesty, His way – the truth.  

In a day filled with lies dressed up as truth, conspiracies dressed up as truth, thoughts of a madman dressed up as truth, we must be faithful to God’s truth.  Our reputation ought to be one who moves honestly and sincerely, whom our neighbors can trust to be moving faithfully in God’s truth.  

Expose unfruitful works

For further clarity about walking in righteousness and truth, setting a good example, I want to point to Ephesians 5:11.  To the Ephesian believers, Paul told them to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but to expose them.

Light, I want to remind all of you, is a revealer – it travels through darkness and as light spreads through darkness, it reveals what darkness hides.  

Some of us believers love to verbally preach against the darkness.  Some of us believers love to wag our fingers at the darkness.  Sure, preaching against darkness and wagging our fingers can have some impact, yet there is a way we can expose darkness with a greater impact that will encourage others to follow suit.  

To set the best example, exposing the unfruitful works of darkness, let us show that fellowship in love, righteousness, and truth is greater.  While preaching uplifts us, and those who are open to receiving God’s word, preaching falls on deaf ears to those who don’t care for the word.  

Let me remind you that Jesus said, “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine (Matt. 7:6).”   

We can have a greater impact today against the unfruitful works of darkness by showing how much better fellowship in love, righteousness, and truth is through our actions.  Such fellowship brings joy to the souls of those who dwell in fellowship, and encourages others who desire to live in joy to join the light.

At the same time, such actions in fellowship bring shame to darkness and its unfruitful works.  As it is said in John 1:5, darkness scatters as it always does in the presence of light, as it cannot comprehend or withstand the light.  We must keep moving in fellowship together in sincere love, as such fellowship always defeats the works of darkness.

Walk circumspectly

Lastly, to set a good example, Paul encouraged the Ephesians to do two more things.  In Ephesians 5:15, Paul encouraged the Ephesian believers to walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise.  Then, in Ephesians 5:17, Paul encouraged them to understand what the will of the Lord is.

I remind you that the will of the Father is for all of us to dwell in His kingdom for everlasting life.  Jesus said that He will be the shepherd over one flock, which will be made up of all nations (John 10:16).  In the day of eternity, there will be no segregation and separation in the flock of Christ.

For us to redeem the time, we must be cautious, wise, and prudent in our walk.  Firstly, in all our ways,  Proverbs 3:6 encourages us to acknowledge the Lord, and He will direct our paths.  When we look to the Lord to direct our paths, He will keep us from the way of the fool, whose end is the way of death.

Secondly, when we walk cautiously, considerate of our ways, we should also consider those who live in fellowship and look to us as an example.  When we walk right, it will help those who dwell with us in fellowship to also walk right!

In being circumspect in our walk, walking wisely, I think of what James said in James 5:20.  James said that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.  This should be our goal: to shine as a light to help lead people out from the unfruitful works of darkness, redeeming the time.