There is a way of living that accompanies one who has come to faith in God through Jesus Christ. Christians pray often the prayer Jesus taught, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). Why do we pray that prayer? We pray it because the ways and means of God are fundamentally in opposition to the ways and means of the world. Followers of Christ do life differently than does the world.

In the words of John the Baptist we “bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Luke 3:8). That is to say, we live in a way that reflects the life of God in us. We are truthful. We live in a spirit of giving and sharing. We are honest, and live with integrity. We don’t push and shove our way through life; instead, we reach out to people and love them in the name of the One who loves us.

Thomas Chisholm says in well in a hymn, “O to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art!” When we “bear fruit in keeping with repentance,” we find ourselves hungry to be like the One who has redeemed us and made us whole.

Truth be known the world needs followers of Jesus to step up and live redeemed lives. Someone needs to speak truthfully and live authentically and do works of mercy and love. If not Christians, who? If not today, when? There is no better time than the present to let the life of Jesus fill us and energize us to be like Him in our world. Is it possible that through us Jesus loves and serves and touches and restores? Could we be a voice of hope and forgiveness in His name?

May God help us to bear fruit in keeping with repentance and the life we live in Jesus.