Affecting the Community
You can tell a lot about a person based on how they live, dress, speak, act and respond to stressful situations — and Christians are no different. So, who do people say we are, both as a Christian and as a church? We should be people who love like Christ loves, a people who reflect the love of their Father with courageous compassion (2 Corinthians 2:14-15; Acts 4:7-13, 21-22). And this doesn’t just mean people who agree with us and share our ideologies and principles. It goes without saying that we will not agree with everyone all the time. God made us unique, but instead of focusing on the differences and building up walls, Christians can live and respond with integrity. Standing firm in what we believe does not mean pushing our beliefs on others. Rather, we should try to learn and show grace instead of lashing out to prove our point and being “right” (1 Peter 3:15). When we live with integrity, humility and repentance toward God and others, we can reach those around us and make an impact while giving God the glory (Mark 5:18-20; Matthew 25:37-40).
Points To Ponder
2) Do my actions and way I live my life show the heart of God?
3) What does it mean to live with integrity? How can I change to bridge relationships and make an impact?