A Christian is one who follows Christ. Notice I didn’t say one who believes in Christ. Even Satan believes that Jesus is the son of God. Following Christ is quite different from believing in Him.
We follow Christ by incorporating His teachings into our everyday life. Jesus said, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46) If I claim Jesus as my Lord, then I need to do the things He taught us to do.
Webster’s defines Lord as, “1: one having power and authority over others.” That makes me ask, “Have I allowed Jesus to have authority over me?” If I answer yes, then I should be doing my best to make sure His teachings govern my conduct in life. If I answer no, then He’s not truly my Lord.
Being a Christian is more than just going to church, it’s doing the things our Lord taught us to do, i.e. it’s the way we live our lives. “Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” (Matthew 7:20)
I’m free to choose whether I’ll govern live my life according to Jesus’ teachings or not, and I make that choice every time I choose whether or not to gossip about someone, every time I decide whether to honk my horn at that guy that just cut me off in traffic or not, and every time I help a person in need, or not. Each choice I make in life tells the world around me whether I’ve chosen Christ to be my Lord or not. And believe me, those around you do notice.
In short, we are what our choices in life make us. Are you a Christian?
