Read: Titus 1:16 & Psalm 97:1-12
I worked in retail during high school and college, and my coworkers and I dreaded Sundays the most. It had nothing to do with missing church. Most of us didn't have a relationship with Jesus at that time. We hated working Sundays because church people had a reputation for being rude, impatient and unhappy. Not only did I not like them, I wanted to be the furthest thing from them. If that was what it meant to follow Jesus, I was better off on my own.
Not all churchgoers fit that description, and eventually I learned that the ones who did were not living like Jesus. Titus 1:16 says, "They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for anything good." The Lord wants His followers to be hospitable, self-controlled and disciplined. Our actions reflect how we feel, so when we claim to follow Jesus but fail to model His goodness, we tarnish the truth.
Christians should be the happiest people in the world. We have been rescued, redeemed and restored. We have great news to share! It shouldn’t be hard to convince people of Jesus’s goodness when they look into our lives. Psalm 97:11-12 says, "Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart." When those around you are watching, do they see your joy and desire what you have? Or, do you deny Jesus with your actions and lead others astray?