How do they see you???

"Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants and stewards of the mysteries of God."
The apostle Paul scribed these words to the church at Corinth, but they are still appropriate for us today. How often do we allow ourselves to be regarded that way? Does it happen just by your normal course of action on any given day? My guess is probably not. It would not from mine. As I have thought about the people I come into conteact with daily, weekly, or with any sort of regularity, I can't say that most would regard me this way. Why? Because I do not give them the opportunity. If I do not act in this manner, I will never be regarded in this manner.
Although indeed, I may often liev up to the calling of acting in a way that is holy and pleasing to God, would those around me realize that that isactually my motivation for doing it? Would they even think it strange? Or would they just simply view me as being a nice person? there are a great deal of people I would never regard as a "servant of Christ and a steward of the mysteries of God."
Ghandi is the perfect example. He was an incredibly respected world leader even though he never held any sort of political office, nor ruled any country. Ghandi held strictly to a policy of non-violence, and welcomed anyone into his presence. It would have taken a serious character flaw to leave Ghandi disliking him. But Ghandi had nothing to do with Christ, and he did not claim to.
Certainly, Christ is not the only motivation to live a life loving and caring for others. It is, however, the only motivation that brings eternal rewards.
And Although it is true that we are able to make it to heaven based on accepting the sacrifice Jesus made for us, and not based on our actions, if you say that you believe something to be right and true, but then show the opposite by your actions, who is going to believe you? And possibly worse... whose perspective of Christianity have you tarnished beyond anything you can do to repair it? I think a great many believers can look back into their past and fell an overwhelming sorrow for actions they have commited in front of nonbelievers that have left deep impressions.
Regardless of our intentions, you are affecting lives everyday whether we realize it or not.
You see, like it or not, by embarking on this Christian lifestyle we have accepted a higher calling with more responsibilities. Our main one is to share the joy and rewards God has given us with others. We don't simply share that with words. You can not share joy if you don not have joy yourself. Is it possible to share anything you don't have?
Sharing is more than words. an overused, but very applicable cliche' is that our actions do speak louder than our words. Christians know that phrase well. After all, we are all hippocrites. we would have to be perfect not to be. Perfection is our role model, after all, and that is what we strive to be. If indeed no one is perfect, then all Christians are hippocrites. Deal with it.
I don't say that my like needs to be perfect. My point is that I need to pay better attention to the people I am around when I let my imperfections slip, as they are sure to do.
First, we mus adjust our lives to actually reflect the principles and morals we believe in. Afterwards, we have to find a way to convey where our morals come from. You will be rewarded for treating with others with love even if they do not know that it is Jesus that compels you to do it. But will that do anything to change their lives? They won't have a chance to receive that reward if you can't convey The saving Grace that has covered you. In the 10th chapter of Romans, Paul tells us that anyone who calls on the name of The Lord will be saved. But how can they call on someone in whome they do not believe? And how can they believe in someone they have never heard of? and how will they hear if no one tells them?
Treating others with love is great, but revealing to them why we do it is better. we have to ask ourselves this: If we treat someone well, show them love, always take care of them, but never introduce them to the savior that compelled us to do it....... are we really showing them love at all???