24 And they praised God because of me.
 

Has anyone praised God because of you?

I am certain Chris and Kelly and their family were praising and thanking God when Justin was born. It is easy to praise God for the birth of child. What about later in life? Aside from his grandparents, who will tell you he never does anything wrong, will anyone else praise God because of Justin?

Has anyone praised God because of you?

If not why not. Could it be that we are not living as we should?

In our study of Ephesians Paul calls us

“to put off your old self which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires… You must put off falsehood and speak truthfully… in anger do not sin… do not let unwholesome talk come out of your mouths… do not give the devil a foothold… Get rid of bitterness, rage, anger brawling, slander and every form of malice."
(Ephesians 4)

This is not the only list of qualities that should not be in our lives. In chapter 5 Paul states

“there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality
or any kind of impurity, or greed…
nor should there be obscenity,
foolish talk or coarse joking.”

Paul said,

“Be imitators of God…
You are the light in the Lord.
Live as children of light.”

Paul lists the fruit of those who walk in the light. Walking in goodness… growing in righteousness…exposing fruitless deeds of darkness… making the most of every opportunity… growing in understanding God’s will… being filled with the Holy Spirit… singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs… always giving thanks to the Father.

If you think this change of behavior is impossible, think again. Paul is the perfect example of what happens when someone submits himself to the will and love of God. He went from people fearing him, to people praising God because of him.

24 And they praised God because of me.

How would our families, our workplaces, our neighborhoods, our schools and our nation be impacted if we did those things; if we lived so others would praise God because of you?

This was not an original idea of Paul’s. It was a truth taught by Jesus. Jesus said, “You are the Light of the World… let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” If you read chapters 5 – 7 of Matthew you will learn what Jesus means by “You are the light of the world.” Sadly we have come to view too many of God’s teachings about the law, anger, lust, divorce, vows retaliation, loving enemies, giving to the needy, prayer, fasting, money, worry, criticizing others, as optional.

Could you imagine what it would be like if all our civil laws became optional? Paying taxes, optional. Stopping at red lights, optional. Drink and driving, optional. You get the idea. Making laws optional will be detrimental to the health and well being of you, your family, your community and the world. One only has to review the tragedies, the turmoil, the tribulations families, communities and the world are and you realize they are the direct consequence of people making God’s law optional.

In essence by baptizing Justin this morning, like in any baptism, parents, godparents, family and congregation have promised God that will do everything humanly possible with the help of the Holy Spirit to raise Justin up so that he will not see God’s law as optional. We will raise him to obediently love God so people will praise God because of him.

The only way this is going to happen is if Justin can praise God because of you. Then Justin will grow in the grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ and people will praise God because of him.