You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. —2 Corinthians 3:3
A pastor once said that as Christians, we should live our lives carefully because we may be the only Bible some people ever read. St. Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the gospel ... use words if necessary.” While it is good for all people to read Scripture, our lives should be the first example nonbelievers turn to when exploring the Christian life. If others see us acting the way we say Jesus would have us act, they will be more likely to embrace the Gospel. Of course, this is easier said than done at times. We are human, so we are bound to do something sinful now and then. Additionally, many nonbelievers are hostile toward Christians and use every mistake we make as proof that we are not what we say we are. It is best not to listen to every angry word we hear, but the Bible teaches self-examination is a good thing. Periodically during your prayer and devotional time, ask God to show you areas where your Christian walk could improve. This does not mean questioning your salvation or engaging in legalism. It simply means opening yourself to the possibility of new growth. If God does show you an area to work on, ask Him what your first steps should be. For instance, if negativity is an issue, ask God to teach you to say positive things to others. If you spend too freely, ask God to help you make a conscious effort to save or tithe. No Christian will ever be perfect on Earth, but we do have the opportunity to be living Bibles. Our actions can make Scripture come alive for others. As Christianity becomes more relatable, more people will be eager to learn about and worship our God.
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