Somebody's Watching You

My younger son, Jaxon, loves to follow his big brother, Joey, around.  As soon as Joey gets home from school in the afternoons, my little tyke detaches himself from me and becomes his big brother's shadow.  From room to room, every move Joey makes my little guy is right behind him, mimicking everything he says and does.

I often tell Joey, "Be careful of what you do and say because your little brother is watching you, and he is going to copy everything you say and do."  I can already attribute Jaxon's smacking of the lips, and his favorite expression, "Maaaan" to big brother.

My little copycat did something last evening that inspired today's post.  Joey was running into my room when he tripped over a toy and fell.  Seconds later, what do you know? Jaxon comes running and purposely falls on the floor just like his big brother.  Though it was funny, I saw a huge lesson in it.

We each hold the power to positively or negatively influence someone's life by the way we live on a daily basis.  Once we take on the role of a Christian, all eyes are on us.  No matter how inconspicuous you think you may be, trust that someone is watching you.  Not watching you in a way to keep tabs on what you're doing, but in a way that they can model their walk with Christ after yours. 

Very often, our lives are the example that many other Christians look to for an example on how to live for Christ.  This is why it is imperative that we are mindful of how we portray Christianity and holy living, and live daily according to Romans 12:1, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." 

If we are constantly dibbling and dabbling in wordly customs, and openly tripping over ourselves, what type of example are we giving to those who are looking us to us?  We are telling them that it's okay to straddle the fence, when God clearly tells us how he feels about that in Revelation 3:15-16, "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth." 

Now I'm not suggesting that any of us are perfect or incapable of falling, because it is only by the Lord's great mercy that we are not comsumed.  But if we are holy, then we should be that at all times and at all costs.  Whether we want to accept the responsibility or not, our daily lives serve as the platform that many look to for empowerment, encouragement, and example. Titus 2:1-8 (Message Bible) says this:

"Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don't want anyone looking down on God's Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives. But mostly, show them all this by doing it yourself, incorruptible in your teaching, your words solid and sane. Then anyone who is dead set against us, when he finds nothing weird or misguided, might eventually come around."

We should never want our lives to be the reason another falls from grace.  Not implying that we can control what others choose to do, but we do have the power of influence, both directly and indirectly.  We are to be examples to one another, especially to those who don't know Christ.  It is our job to draw them to Him by living a Christ-centered life. 

Know that someone is watching you and following your example. If you stay rooted and grounded in Christ, so will they.  Someone is watching to see how you handle tough situations; how you weather the storm; how you handle your anger; how you handle temptation.  So, today I just want to encourage us all to be mindful of the life we live, in secret and in public.  More than upholding a Godly example for our fellow sisters striving to grow in Christ, uphold that same standard when the only person watching is God. 

Just as I tell my son, Joey, I am saying to you today, be careful, prayerful, and mindful of how you live your daily life because your sister is watching you.

Til we meet again...live, laugh, love!

Peace & Blessings,
Keisha