If you are a crime drama connoisseur like I am, you know that it doesn't get much better than CSI. Whichever version you prefer... they're all suspenseful, detailed, and baffling, all wrapped up in 60 minutes. It's one of my favorites. The entire episode I am always trying to figure out who committed the crime. By the end of the show, when I think I have it all figured out - I am almost always surprised to find out it was actually the crazy next-door neighbor. Through intense observation and investigation throughout the show, the main characters are always able to prove the truth.
When we look at our lives as ambassadors of the faith, I often wonder if I am able to show the love of God as truth to others. When someone investigates and observes my life, what is it they see? Does the love of God spill out and become apparent to them? Do they find the truth of God lived out in my life with love and grace?
There are ways we can be more intentional about how we live out our lives as Christians. How do we prove the love of Jesus to both believers and unbelievers every day? Using the idea of CSI, I have three words that can help us in our mission.
COMMIT
- Commit to God that you are going to love the way He loves.
- Commit to yourself that you will always be conscious of your actions.
- Commit to yourself that starting today, you will always put Jesus' reputation first, before your own.
- Commit to being a living picture of Jesus to everyone, believers and unbelievers alike.
SACRIFICE
- Sacrifice your ways for God's ways.
- Sacrifice "winning" an argument for the sake of showing the love and grace of Jesus.
- Sacrifice what you want for the needs of others.
- Sacrifice always being "right" so others can find the ONE who is both RIGHT and RIGHTEOUS.
INVOLVED
- Be actively involved in His plan to win the world.
- Be involved for good in your circles of influence.
- Starting today, be involved in the lives of those you go to church with.
- Involve yourself in the lives of those who don't yet know Jesus where you work, where you live, where you play, and in your house.
