1 Corinthians 8:9 (NASB) But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.

Growing up, my mom would always take me to church. My dad would attend, but on rare occasions. For the most part, it was just my mother and I. We were Catholics. I remember my first communion, praying over a rosary, and going to a priest to confess my sins. My mom wanted me to grow up with moral values. She was a strict and conservative woman who wanted her daughter to stay on the right path, make good choices, and not get involved with the wrong group of people. My mom loved me, and I knew in my heart, she was looking out for my best interest.

Then I became a young adult. At the age of 18, I had already graduated from high school and was attending college. I was still living at home, but I felt a sense of freedom. I never lost respect for my parents, but there were certain limits on following their strict rules and conservative values. I could have a boyfriend if I wanted to, I could go places with my friends, I could buy my own clothes and so forth. Although I had this freedom, I still continued to go to the Catholic Church by choice, but I felt there was something missing.

In college, the Lord began bringing Christian girls into my life. One young lady invited me to her church where the preacher shared the Gospel and explained what it meant to have a personal relationship with Jesus. In the weeks to follow, I had made a first-time commitment to accept Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. Making this decision was life changing. However, I didn’t want to change my lifestyle and adapt to a new way of living. I was comfortable where I was at and I didn’t want to give up all to follow Jesus. So I was a half-hearted Christian living with one foot in the world and one foot in church. I wanted the best of both worlds with no true commitment. So I lived a double lifestyle: I partied with my friends, I drank, I lied to get my own way, I cursed, I gossiped, I cheated, dressed provocatively, played games all while going to church on Sundays. People were watching me and unfortunately, I lost the respect of some of my closest friends whom eventually walked away from our friendship. I was a hypocrite in their eyes as I tried to invite them to church while living like the devil. In a recent conversation with my cousin, she said, “You are either winning people for Christ or loosing them”. Well said! In that season of my life, I was definitely not winning anyone for the Kingdom; instead, I was loosing them to the devil. I was a hypocrite, a liar, and a stumbling block. I continued to live like that for years until the tables were turned and I received a dose of my own medicine. At that time, I was being lied to, cheated on, and games were being played on me. This was very painful and devastating! It was a wake-up call and I was reaping the consequences for my former actions. Sadly, I continued to live a life of sin and eventually, I got involved in a relationship that left me broken-hearted in the end. However, this was the beginning of another life changing moment. I didn’t know it at the time, but the Lord was using my experiences to draw me back to Himself.

As most of you know, I rededicated my life to Christ at the age of 33 and PRAISE God, I’m no longer living in two worlds. My commitment is real this time! I’m fully surrendered to Christ serving Him and bearing fruit for His kingdom. I’ve been walking with the Lord for a decade now and as I grow much closer to Him, He’s teaching and molding me to be a faithful witness for Him. If I want to represent Him well, I must watch everything that I say and do. I’m not to compromise my Christian standards in order to please myself or other people. I guess you can say, now I really appreciate my mom’s conservative values except it’s not Catholicism, it’s 100% Christianity. It’s about having a personal relationship with Jesus! The Lord continues to speak to me over and over again in His Word that I am to please Him first, foremost, and always.

Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 

1 Corinthians 7:23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

I do not want to draw people away from Christ or become a stumbling block like in past times. I must take careful steps to ensure all my actions and words are pleasing to the Lord. This should be evident in my personal relationships with family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and in my sphere of influence. I should be a shining light for Jesus at all times.

We’ve all heard the phrases, “Birds of a feather flock together” or “Show me your friends and I will show you who you are”. I’m not to be unequally yoked, not just with unbelievers, but those inside the church who live compromised lifestyles. If I spend quality time with a non-believer or a half-hearted Christian, I will eventually learn their ways and veer off in the wrong direction. Instead, I need to guard my heart (Proverbs 4:23). My goal for the non-believer is to win them to Christ (Romans 1:16 & 1 Peter 3:15). For the Christian who is not living according to God’s standards, I need to gently rebuke them in love (Galatians 6:1). However, if they refuse to listen, I’m to involve 2 or 3 witnesses, and if they continue to blatantly refuse, my obligation is to take the matter to church leadership (Matthew 18:16-17). Also, I need to exercise godly wisdom and discernment and separate myself from that particular individual(s) less I fall too.

Ephesians 5:8-11 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

1 Corinthians 9:27 (NASB) But I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Ladies, “Are you winning people for God’s Kingdom or loosing them to the devil?” I highly encourage you to live for and please the Lord at all times, not when it’s convenient for you or when you feel like it, but in all your ways. Do not live or engage in a compromised lifestyle. Remember, what you do in the dark will come to light. People are watching. You and I may be the only bibles they may ever read. As my cousin said, “You are either winning people for Christ or loosing them”. And if I might add, when you win people for the Kingdom, you win too. You are storing up treasures in Heaven and God is well pleased. When you lose people to the prince of this world due to your actions, you lose much more in return. Not only are you sinning against them, you are sinning against the Lord. Also, you ruin your witness for Christ, your reputation is tarnished, you lose respect and people’s trust, & your integrity goes out the window.

1 Corinthians 8:12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:2-3 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

Ladies as I encourage you, I’m encouraging myself too. Remain faithful to Jesus until the very end, live for Him only, run your race well keeping your eyes on Him at all times, don’t compromise, and finish your race strong. Jesus is watching and He will gladly and faithfully reward you!

2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 

Matthew 25:21 His lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”