Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Dear Rev. Graham: Some of my friends are outspoken about their Christian faith, but they don’t always live the way they say they believe. It bothers me that they don’t see their own hypocrisy, but I’m afraid to say something to them for fear of coming off like a judgmental Christian. Isn’t one just as wrong as the other? – H.J.

Dear H.J.: Christians are imperfect, and some who claim to follow Jesus are far from His teaching. We cannot let hypocrisy divert us or keep us from Christ Himself. Christians will sometimes falter in their walk with Christ, but Christ never falters. We must not put our trust in people. The object of our faith is in Christ alone.
People will disappoint us, and we may disappoint others at times, but Christ never brings disappointment. We must grow in Him not by following people, but by following His Word – the Bible – and understand His teaching and examine His life. Being disappointed in others will distract us from our walk with Christ. God calls us to follow Him – not others. This is what He expects of His children. Do others see something of Christ – His love, His joy, His peace – in our lives?
Jesus Christ is the complete fulfillment, example, and demonstration of perfection, and He tells us to follow Him. While we will never attain perfection in this life, we are told to walk in His footsteps and strive to please Him in everything we do. This is only possible when we stay connected to the Source of all things good. The Bible says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit” (John 15:5, NKJV). When a true believer stumbles and sins, God’s Holy Spirit brings conviction and turns the individual to repentance. This is what restores our souls and clears the way for fellowship with Him.
————
(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)