My topic today is “Love Makes Good Impressions.”
If you love someone and want to build a close and meaningful relationship with them, the first step is to make a good impression. Only when someone has a good impression of you will they be open to your love—and be more willing to accept the love of God that you want to share. I’d like to explore this topic from three angles.
1. Make Good Impressions on Your Family
1 John 3:18 says, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
When my wife was pregnant, I prayed to God. If the baby was a girl, I hoped she would have a beautiful voice to praise God, just like the sisters in our church. If it was a boy, I hoped he would become a pastor, preaching the Word of God.
So as my son grew up, I would often tell him, “When you grow up, don’t just work for people—work for God. He is the one most worthy of your service.”
I said this many times—until one day, he turned to me and said, “Dad, if you’re not doing it yourself, why are you asking me to do it?”
That hit me hard. I suddenly realized the impression I had left on him: “My dad talks a lot, but he doesn’t practice what he preaches.”
After that, I enrolled in an online Master of Biblical Exegesis program—for God, for myself, and for my son.
Not long ago, I overheard him telling someone, “My dad really studies hard. One night I went to sleep while he was studying, and when I woke up the next morning, he was still studying.”
That’s when I knew his impression of me had started to change.
Two weeks ago, he stood here and shared how he led one of his friends to Christ. He was so joyful that his friend believed that day. The same day I said to him, “You know, Jesus once said, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.’ God’s kingdom needs more workers.” He responded, “Okay, I want to be a worker for God’s kingdom!”
Sometimes, we complain: “My wife always argues with me,” “My husband doesn’t understand me,” or “My child doesn’t listen.” But often, the problem lies with us. Have we really made good impressions on our family?
2. Make Good Impressions on Strangers
Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
There was once a very well-known missionary in China named Hudson Taylor. When he first arrived China and began sharing the gospel on the streets—very few people were interested. He couldn’t understand why.
One day, a Chinese man stood near him for a long time, observing. Hudson Taylor went over and asked, “Are you interested in what I’m saying?” The man replied, “No, I’m just curious why you foreigners dress like that. Your buttons are in the front—isn’t that cold in winter?” (At that time, Chinese garments had buttons along the side.)
Hudson Taylor suddenly understood. From that day on, he began wearing traditional Chinese clothing and even grew a long braid—just like Chinese men of that era. When people saw him, they felt he was approachable and friendly, which made it much easier to talk to him.
His ministry in China eventually became remarkably successful. He led about 1,000 missionaries and helped bring 50,000 Chinese people to Christ, establishing churches throughout the country.
A few weeks ago, my family and I drove to the Denarau Port to enjoy the night view.When we arrived, we found that all the free parking spots were taken, so we prepared to park in the paid parking area.At the entrance, there was a sign that said: “First hour – 4 dollars.”
4 dollars? Are you kidding me?!
At the Nadi market, parking costs less than 60 cents. With 4 dollars, I could buy two long loaves of bread in Votualevu—enough to feed my family for a day!
Right next to the paid parking area, there was a row of parking spots for commercial vehicles.I thought, Maybe if I park there, no one will notice.It was a big decision. I told myself, Calm down. Calm down.After thinking for a moment, I decided to pay the 4 dollars.
Why?
Because I was afraid that one day I might meet a Chinese person and say,“God is so good! NGCC is a wonderful church! We even offer free English classes—come to our church!”And he might reply,“I remember you. I saw your car at the port once—it got clamped by security.”
3. Make Good Impressions on yourself
In this generation, many lies are being spread in the churches.
The first lie is this: The apostolic age is over. Christians in that era were deeply devout.We can only look up to them but will never reach their level.
This is a complete lie . Let’s look at what the Bible says. In Matthew 20:16, Jesus says, “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
It is clear that Jesus never placed any limits on today’s Christians, saying that we cannot surpass those outstanding believers in history.
Of course, I don’t believe anyone in our time is qualified to write new books of Scripture, but leaders like Peter, missionaries like Paul, and defenders of the faith like Stephen can still rise among us.
The second lie is: As long as we’re not worse than the people around us, we’re doing fine.
This is also a lie. 1 Peter 2:21 says, “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”
We have only one standard to follow — Jesus Himself. When we compare ourselves to others, we’re lowering our standards.
The third lie is: It’s too hard for Christians to live a holy life in this age.
That may feel true based on our experience, but it is still a lie. In Romans 8:4, Paul writes, “in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
We can live a holy life — if we walk in obedience to the Holy Spirit.
Many Christians today have believed these lies. They either look down on themselves or lower their standards and go with the flow.
Let us stop listening to what others say, and stop measuring ourselves by what others do. Let us return to the Bible.
As Christians, we walk on two legs: faith and obedience. If both are strong, we will get closer and closer to our goal of being like Jesus.
Do not doubt it — just as Jesus once transformed the fisherman by the Sea of Tiberias， He can transform you today in the same way!
Finally, let me end with a summary.
If you love your family and want to maintain a good relationship with them, then you must make good impressions—not just with your words, but through your actions.
If you love the lost and want to share God’s love with them, then you need to make good impressions on strangers.
And if you love yourself and desire to become more like Christ, then you need to make good impressions on yourself.