So we have a new shirt up. The world likes to brag about all the junk they do and get in to. Years ago Affliction was a huge shirt company and they even had a line for women called “Sinful.” Why in the world would you want to declare that about yourself? For the world, that may be true, but for the Christian – that’s far from the truth.
When we accept what Jesus has done for us, we accept His righteousness for us. Our righteousness is as filthy rags, but His righteousness makes us free. What is His righteousness? It’s our right standing with God. He’s justified us. What’s justified? Just as if we have never sinned.
Because of what Jesus has done, we can boldly declare that we are sinless! God calls us to be holy just as He is holy. That’s the kind of life that we are called to live (through His grace and with the help of the Holy Spirit of course). When we live our life for God, led by His Spirit – in a holy manner – it is sure to get the attention of those around us. They will notice.
When I was in college, I was living every moment that I could for God – not trying to be stuck up, not trying to be self-righteous. I was just living like the Bible tells us to do. And of all people, my friends who were Christians as well, thought I was being stuck up because of the way I was acting. Of course, just because they were Christians, that didn’t stop them from acting like the world. When one of them told me this, I was heartbroken. But the Lord told me that just like Noah, my righteousness (the righteousness we have in Him) and the right way I was living were convicting them of their sins. That blew me away. Made me feel better too after hearing that the majority of my friends thought I was self-righteous.
The thing is, you don’t need a t-shirt to declare to people that you’re a Christian. In fact, if that’s what you’re hoping is going to grab people’s attention, you might want to reconsider your next purchase. Yes, for the stranger and those that don’t really know you, a t-shirt will grab their attention. But for those that know you, and those you have a relationship with – the thing that will help them see Jesus the most is when they see Jesus through you – through the way that you live.
Check out the new shirt in the store, like it when it pops up on your social media stream, and share it with your friends. But most importantly, live your life For God. That’s a better testimony than any shirt. Stay blessed.