“Few things are more infectious than a godly lifestyle. The people you rub shoulders with everyday need that kind of challenge. Not prudish. Not preachy. Just cracker jack clean living. Just honest to goodness, bone – deep, non-hypocritical integrity.”

Charles Swindoll

I first came across this quote a couple of years ago, but it popped up in my inbox this morning. It prompts me to ask myself one question: Am I infectious?

Does how I live my life draw others to me, or does it push them away? I can personally think of some people that I’ve known over the years that fit the other categories of prudish and preachy. I can think of some Christians I’ve met over time that stick within their circle of other Christians and have zero desire whatsoever to step outside their circle. They have what they have, by grace through Jesus Christ, but feel as though reaching and witnessing to others should be left to someone else. They’ll support that person financially, if it were a missionary or outreach group, but somehow they feel witnessing themselves is below them. What a shame!

Then I know others that take witnessing and reaching others to a whole new extreme! They bring their Bible everywhere they go (not a bad thing), but they make it obvious to everyone that they’re a Christian (again not a bad thing). But they lack tact, gentleness, and grace. They are quick to open up their Bible and point to such and such verse that condemns whatever you’re doing, but they wouldn’t dare use the Bible in their hands as a mirror to examine themselves. They might even slap you upside the head with the good Book if you get tooclose. Do you know anyone like that?

I think a godly lifestyle is infectious. It combines truth and love with gentleness and respect.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

1 Peter 3:15

Meekness and fear is translated in other English Bible translations as gentleness and respect. Living a godly lifestyle should be done out of this gentleness and respect for others around us. To win souls and point others towards Christ is our main mission here on earth. It benefits nobody to find a circle of fellow believers, but then stay within that circle. It also is counterproductive to walk around with a Bible and call out others, but not use the same Bible to examine ourselves.

Live a godly life. Don’t be a hypocrite. Speak the Truth in love and keep yourself in check. I have to remind myself of this often.