My sister is a stellar athlete - an incredible track/cross country runner. She can run six miles without stopping (and I’m out of breath from just typing that). She has persistence and stamina like I’ve never seen. Last weekend, she ran her first track meet of the season at a nearby high school.

Around 2:30 on Friday, I received a text from a sweet, young girl that had previously attended my church and was in my small group before her family moved away; she now attends the school my sister was running at that day. The message read, “Hey Kelsi! Are you at the track meet? I see your sister is running, and I figured you’d be here.”

She saw Britni, and associated me with her- my life with her presence.

I replied to her sweet message and told her that I regretfully wasn’t able to make it, but in my heart, I felt a heaviness.

Do people look at me and associate my life with the presence of Jesus or the world?

This girl automatically thought of me when she saw Britni. No one had to tell her we were sisters.

Can people look at my life and automatically tell that I’m in love with the Savior of the world?

Thank goodness my sister is an incredible person. She’s kind, way smarter than I’ll ever be, pretty, and she’s athletic- I love being associated with her. I love that people know we’re related. And in that, I wonder if Jesus is proud to call me a fellow heir or a child of God. I wonder if Jesus is excited about His name being associated with my life.

There are many instances in Scripture where believers are commanded to look like Jesus and opposite of the world.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ. Philippians 1:27

And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator. Colossians 3:10

In all of these passages, the Word of God makes it clear that people will associate our lives with something, either Jesus or His opposite- sin. Recently, my BSU director made a statement that will forever impact my walk with Christ.

“You cannot be in love with a sin and be in love with the Savior.”

As Christians, we’re called to put away the earthly sins that once entangled us, put on a new self as God’s chosen ones, and do everything in the name of Jesus giving glory to God. Through this transformation, people are able to clearly see Jesus through our words and deeds.

Who are people associating you with- Jesus or the world?