Is my Offense Offensive?

I know what you are thinking...Offense???? Is this a blog about football? Actually no it isn't but there is a reality that the Bears offense has been offensive as of late!

Anyway...I am thinking more of the offense of being a Christian. I am wondering if my Christian example is offensive or am I working active offense, protecting the "name" of Christian? Am I protecting the reality of Christ by my actions? My prayer is to not be offensive in my walk but to create a hunger for others to have what I have. I wonder how I am doing and what I need to do differently.

Christianity is about action. It is about relationship. It is about living out Christ in such a way that others want what I have. My actions need to be grace filled, loving. I think that I am doing a better job of being active and alert for what God has for me. I am not perfect, but then, I am not called to be perfect. I have been created and called to be who God wants me to be and to plant a seed that encourages others to live out what God wants for them too. My actions therefore need to point others to Christ instead of turning them away, be offensive.

Many times I say the wrong thing, act the wrong way. I have been offensive, or at least not Christ-like. There are some clear times where my actions were offensive to God and to others. There are others who claim to be Christians and then participate in offensive behavior. This makes it very difficult for Christians that work very hard to live out Christ's example. My walk has been bumpy and I have wandered in circles in the dessert, thinking I knew the way. It is offensive to God to think I know better than Him or to only half listen to what He is saying to me. Reality is that God knows the way and is the only way. He is very patient and loving. He gently whispers the directions that I need to take, not leaving me in the dessert alone.

My prayer is that I continue to be on the offense, protecting the name of Christ. I pray that my life lives out the mercy and grace of God. I pray that my actions not be offensive. So which are you...on offensive living out, protecting the Name of Jesus; or are your actions offensive to God?