Episode Transcript
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Did you know, as Christians, we are called tobe new creations? We certainly talk about freedom,
grace, transformation, and we definitely actlike we are righteous and holy. But when people
look at our lives, would they even know we'veencountered something real? Would they even
see God at all? God is so amazing and has doneso much for us. But do our lives accurately
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reflect all that He has really accomplished? When other people look at our lives, what
do they see? All too often, Christians tendto be broken down people who have struggled
and come to crisis, where in that crisis, theyturn to God, get saved, get in church, get
right, all that churchy stuff. But they neverend up properly reflecting this amazing God
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who supposedly set them free. They still basicallylook the same. In fact, Christians even have
a popular saying, I'm not perfect, just forgiven.It's like a disclaimer to the world. I'm a
broken mess, but I'm saved and you're not.So leave me alone and deal with it. I can act
any way I choose. God forgives me, just notyou. This is wrong. Burn that shirt, bumper
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sticker, or poster now. This is not the messageor reflection of the kingdom of God. Now,
don't get me wrong, this might have startedwith the right heart. And I'm sure there are
a bunch of very sincere people who are justtrying the best they can, who may even say
this phrase. I'm not referring to them, butto the general wrong attitude, this phrase,
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has since come to represent. When we come toGod, our lives should get better and start
looking different, not the same. We can nolonger act any way we see fit just because
we're forgiven. This doesn't properly reflectGod's mercy and love in our lives or his kingdom.
When we come to God, we now have a responsibilityto represent him and all that he has done so
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others can see that in our lives and see thatGod is real and that maybe there is hope for
them as well. After all, now that we have beensaved and rescued, we are representing someone
far better than us. Why do you think we canbe so sloppy about it? You are a brand ambassador
for heaven, a representative of God's kingdom. Start acting like it. The world doesn't want
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to see your broken mess. They see that alreadyin their own lives. They want to see your
broken mess transformed into a life truly touchedby God. When our hearts and actions match the
words coming out of our mouths, then our liveswill be a genuine reflection. I remember the
story of young couple who were going throughmarriage issues. She and her family showed
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up one day to clear out the house and take whateverbelonged to her and leave. There was shouting
and fighting and the neighbors called the police. I remember the devastated young man standing
in the street talking to the police. He said,I'm so sorry, we are Christians, we should
be better than this. I think what he meantwas, He saw all this shouting and fighting
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and chaos. And it looked just like everyoneelse's lives. That being a Christian should
mean something. There should be a reflectionin us coming from heaven that looks different,
sounds different, acts different. Not justtrying to be a better person, but a truly changed
life reflecting to the world the greatnessof an amazing God. Does this mean we can never
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have bad days or never mess up? Or we can neverhave a fight? Of course not. We are, after
all, still human. It just means we make everyeffort to truly represent and reflect all that
God is and has done for us. We don't live socarefree and loose. This may be as simple
as making sure your bills are paid, that youkeep your word. You just don't get to say everything
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that pops into your head. And maybe you holdback from giving your opinion so much. Or
that you truly let God change those attitudesin you that don't belong. Ouch. Yeah, I know,
that's a big one. But the world sees rightthrough a form of godliness. We need to truly
allow God to change us from within. Christiansshould be reflecting all that God is and all
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he has done. Yet, sadly, we mostly reflect spiritual arrogance, pride, anger, hostility,
unforgiveness, poverty, brokenness, our hurts,our disappointments, our opinions, our self-effort.
We end up reflecting the same mess everyoneelse is reflecting. Just go on any social media
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and see what Christians are posting and you'llsee what they are reflecting the most. Honestly,
Christianity on social media tends to reflectanother kingdom and it's not God's. In general,
as Christians, we're not that great at actuallyreflecting God, which ironically is our purpose.
Listen, you can't be a Christian and look thesame as everyone else. Otherwise, how will
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the world know that God is so amazing? if theycan't see him active in someone's life? What's
the point of being a Christian if you're notactually going to let God transform your life
in such a way that you stop reflecting thisworld and start reflecting his? Look, the
solution is easy. Stop just trying to be a Christian. Open your heart and let God's power actually
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make you one. Stop relying on your efforts and allow real transformation to take place
in your life. Start to become someone who properlyreflects God and His Kingdom. Stop living this
worldly Christianity that only has a form ofgodliness and no real depth. So take a good
look at your life, your words, your socialmedia. What are you reflecting to this world?
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Is it a life truly changed and transformedthat heaven recognizes? Or is it something
else? If it's something else, it's okay. Justchange it. The bottom line, is that all of
us can do a better job at representing the Kingdomof God in our lives and truly letting God reflect
how awesome He really is. Let's stop usingforgiveness as an excuse to live like sloths.
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Jesus deserves more than that. He deservesour best effort to represent Him well. We should
be a better reflection in this earth of allthat He has done.