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Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus

By Barbara J. Scott
How do we treat other Christians? In the church there are those who consider themselves above those who have no titles, just as the Pharisees did. They judge new Christians instead of encouraging them. They criticize the way they dress, the way they talk, even knowing that the new Christian needs to be taught and discipled in order to learn the ways of the Kingdom of God. We can chase the new Christians away by the way we treat them with lack of love and compassion.
Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus

What do people see when they see us, do they know that we are Christians?  Many times we don't have to say anything in order for people to recognize the Christ in us. In Jesus' day the Pharisees wore certain clothing that made them stand out in the crowd.  They walked a certain way, talked a certain way with their strict observances of the written law.  They considered themselves high above the "common" people.  Everyone who saw them knew that they were Pharisees. Now the apostles, on the other hand, looked no different than all the other people: on the outside they looked like everyone else.  But it was Who was on the inside that made the difference as they walked and talked among the people. They spoke with boldness and performed miracles in the presence of the people.  When the religious leaders heard the apostles and saw the miracle of the man who was healed, they were amazed that these men hadn't been to school, they didn't have any degrees, and just listen to them; look at the miracle they performed: oh yes, these men have been with Jesus, no doubt about it. Remember, this is after the Holy Ghost came and filled them.  Their boldness was the Holy Ghost dwelling on the inside of them, their words was the Holy Ghost speaking through them.  As followers of Jesus Christ, our lives should be showing the same manifestation of the Holy Ghost.  The world should be able to see Jesus in us, and be drawn to Him. We represent the Lord Jesus Christ, and everything we say and do should look like we belong to Him.

How do we treat other Christians?  In the church there are those who consider themselves above those who have no titles, just as the Pharisees did. They judge new Christians instead of encouraging them.  They criticize the way they dress, the way they talk, even knowing that the new Christian needs to be taught and discipled in order to learn the ways of the Kingdom of God.  We can chase the new Christians away by the way we treat them with lack of love and compassion. The church is the "hospital" for the sick, the hopeless, the downtrodden, the hurting, the brokenhearted, and those who have no helper.  How do we treat them? Where is the love of God; do we greet them with a smile, a hug, a word of cheer and encouragement?  Would they be able to say that they were blessed by being in our presence? Some of us tend to look at people through the eyes of flesh instead of through the eyes of Jesus.  We look at their outward appearance and make quick judgements. We need to realize that every person on this earth is a soul that Jesus died for: and when we come in contact with anyone, that is how we should treat them.  Jesus didn't pick and choose who He was going to love, who He was going to forgive, who He was going to heal. Are we better than He?  If the world can't see Jesus in us, where are they going to see Him? The apostles were noted to have "turned the world upside down".  We too, should be turning this world upside down by reflecting the love of Jesus everywhere we go.  What kind of Christian are you? "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." Acts 4:13.

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