1 John 4:1-6

1 John 4:1-6 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  The issue of authenticity is huge in our culture. It’s one thing to go on eBay and buy a fake handbag that’s made in China – it’ll give the impression of a brand name, but it likely won’t last as long. You can save real money buying imitation sunglasses and other products, but the name brands hate it because the imitators cheapen the reputation of the name brand.
  In Christianity, the reputation of the church is damaged by those who go out into the world and proclaim the name of Christ but don’t live with love in their actions and grace in their words. People lump us all together and assume the church isn’t for them, and they never get a taste of the actual mercy of God, because they’ve been turned off by the imitators.
  So every evening, take a deep breath and think about whether your words and deeds have matched your faith. Thank God for grace and strength where they did, and give thanks for mercy where they did not. Every morning, pray for the courage and wisdom to align your life with the peace and selflessness of Christ, and may we point to the genuineness of Christ in everything.