We have a race to run while here on this earth. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 1 Corinthians 9:24 

John 17:15 records what Jesus said while talking to our heavenly Father: I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.  Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. These verses show us that we are IN the world but not OF the world and we will be set apart as we follow the Word of God, our manual for success (Bible).

So how should a Christian look, act, talk, and yes, smell! 

1.  A Christian says and thinks, “I am a light and salt in my community.”

You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:13-14

2. A Christian will be known by the fruit in their life — 9 of them.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

3.  A Christian should be using the gifts of the Spirit — 9 of them.

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

4.  A Christian will have power when baptized with the HOLY SPIRIT.

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8  

When we are saved, we receive the Holy Spirit, and with the baptism comes the power and the language of the Spirit. Tongues. Great commission signs will follow the believer!

5.  As a Christian, what aroma are we giving out?

We will have the aroma of life or death.

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. 2 Corinthians 2:14-15

6. As a Christian, we are to bring hope to those around us.

People need hope and we have the only sure hope possible. Biblical hope is to anticipate with pleasure that something is going to happen or change. You expect God to be God! It is impossible for Him to lie.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you. 1 Peter 1:3-4  

7.  As a Christian, what are we giving up to serve?

Jesus gave His life so we could have eternal life.

Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28

A Christian does NOT say or think, “What have you done for me lately?” We are to help others. We are about others’ needs. Do I want to help my brother or sister with things they need by giving of my time, talent, or money? Do we get burned or hurt at times? Yes! So did Jesus but He did not stop. 

8.  As a Christian, we are not to be afraid.

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4 

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7

We must remember if we are followers of Christ and call ourselves a Christian, we are the key to God’s plan so let’s behave like one. Let’s live as Victors, not Victims!

Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the SOUL, have your CONDUCT honorable among the Gentile, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may BY YOUR GOOD WORKS which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:11-12

Day of visitation is any time God comes in a special act of judgment or mercy. Salvation gets us to heaven and it is a free gift, but then we have work to do!

Jesus knew who He was. He washed the disciple’s feet. That task was relegated for the lowliest of all people. In those days, people walked in sandals and their feet were very dirty. Jesus came to wipe away the very dirtiest of feet. We live in a very dirty, dark world but we are the light and hope to bring them out of the dirt and darkness.

Let’s spend time and truly study the Word that God gave us and allow Him to make adjustments in our lives so that everywhere we go, those around us will know we are followers of Christ.

Come out from the realm of the ordinary into the realm of the extraordinary.