Each of us at one time or another wore an article of clothing because we either wanted to be seen or we liked the style and how it looked. Whether we are wearing those new Jordans, that brand new suit on Sunday morning, or that beautiful dress at a special event, these items make us feel beautiful or handsome like we own the room. Nobody could tell us anything. But how do you wear Christ? Let me show you the magnitude of being a Christian.

Matthew suffered torture in Ethiopia, killed by a sword wound. John faced martyrdom when he was boiled in a huge basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution in Rome. Even though he was miraculously delivered from death, John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison island of Patmos. He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully. Then we have James, the brother of Jesus (not officially an apostle) who was the leader of the church in Jerusalem. He was thrown from the southeast pinnacle of the temple (over a hundred feet down) when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his enemies beat James to death with a club. Bartholomew, also known as Nathanael, was a missionary to Asia. He was martyred for his preaching the Gospel in Armenia, being flayed to death by a whip. Andrew was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Greece. After seven soldiers whipped Andrew severely, they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. He continued to preach to his oppressors for two days until he died. The apostle Thomas was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips to establish the church there. Matthias,the apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas, was stoned and then beheaded. The Apostle Paul was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero in Rome. 

The apostles represented Christ and all he stood for. They believed that He was the Messiah even to the death. Yeah, they were willing to die for the Gospel. What are you willing to die for? Are you only wearing Jesus on Sundays or when it is convenient? Or does your life as a Christ follower mean everything? There is a saying that I heard several years ago that resonated with me and how I view Jesus, being a Christian, and the culture. It says Jesus over everything. This means that I identify with Jesus as a Christian first over my skin color, over what the culture is telling me, over what my friends think and over what my family says. The word of God is supreme in my life! So, is God’s word supreme in your life as well? This is a challenge y’all on today and where we are right now. If you are not agreeing with the truth of the Gospel of God’s word, then you got a problem. If we are catering or swaying our viewpoint to agree with the culture, to agree with our friends, or to agree with a particular political affiliation, we are not representing Christ, and it means that you and I are not wearing our identity as a Christ follower. So, let’s go to the Bible and see how as a Christian we should wear our identity that of Christ.

First, it’s all about love. God’s love for a believer is unwavering and unconditional, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that guaranteed us eternal life. As I have previously stated in other videos concerning love that it originated with God because He is love. (We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 1 John 4:16) We cannot love others if we don’t love God. Jesus was very clear when he said this in John 13:34-35, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” Love does not mean catering to. Love does not mean to compromise God’s standards. You and I can love like Jesus by following His example of unconditional forgiveness, speaking truth and showing selfless compassion, as taught in the Scriptures.

Here’s that word: Holy Holy Holy! No one wants to be holy nowadays not even some Christians. As you and I both know that we must wear holiness if we are to be a Christ follower. The Apostle Peter was very clear when he said in 1 Peter chapter 1 verses 15 and 16, “But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, ‘You must be holy because I am holy.'” Holiness is not easy y’all. However, as Christians we can be holy in our daily living by yielding to our flesh and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us.

How are you sharing the Gospel? I’m not talking about preachers or teachers or evangelists. Just the everyday run of the meal Christian. We share the gospel first and foremost by how we live our lives. So, are you being a light in this world of darkness? (In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16) Does your life resemble one that is set apart? Peter again reminds us in 1 Peter 3:15 by saying, “Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.” So, talk about Jesus to your family and friends, encourage someone at the grocery store, wear a Christian T-shirt as a great conversation starter, or post a scripture on your social media platforms. When you and I can effectively represent Christ in our daily lives and point others to Him, this is spreading the Gospel.

You and I must wear obedience. Jesus followed God’s will in all of His actions during His time on earth. (For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. John 6:38) Jesus is our model of full obedience. The Apostle John wrote this in first John chapter 2 verses 3 to 6, “And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, ‘I know God,’ but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.” When you and I obey God’s word, we are demonstrating our love for God. This obedience strengthens our relationship with God and enhances our witness to the world.

Finally, we must be willing to die for the sake of Christ just like the Apostles and so many other Christians did before us.  Luke 9:23-24 says, “Then he said to them all, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.’” The only way we can surrender our lives to Jesus is to allow the Holy Spirit to adjust our priorities.

Remember, that we should STAND OUT as a Christian. When we wear, mirror, and live like Christ we are embodying His compassion, truth, humility, obedience, and love in every area of our lives.