Posts Tagged ‘ Lifestyle ’
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:23-24, ESV
Do you realize how central Jesus is to everything?
We not only serve for Christ, but in all we do we are serving Christ.
“Whatever you did to the least of these you did to Me.” (Matthew 25:40)
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Joshua 1:8, ESV
Joshua meant the Torah -the five books of Moses- here, but for the Christian we should be thinking about all of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation.
Our success, though, is not based on worldly goods or measurements. It is based on obedience to Christ.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
1 Peter 3:12, ESV
What you do matters.
What you think matters.
If you are consistently thinking impure and evil thoughts, if you are doing what you know God does not approve of, do not expect Him to answer your prayers nor rescue you from challenges.
Odds are, you created those challenges.
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32, ESV
As Chrisitians, we have been failing to be kind to each other.
Denominations are not the problem. Sects are not the problem.
We are the problem.
Forgive and be kind, as Christ did for us.
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
John 15:7, ESV
Jesus is not promising a “Name-It-and-Claim-It” kind of wishful thinking.
Jesus is following through on what many other parts of the Bible, including His own words, promise: When your character is becoming so in tune with His and you are living by the Holy Spirit, then you will ask for things according to His will.
And then your requests will be given.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9, ESV
God chose us.
His main calling for us?
Matthew 28:18-20. (Look it up!)
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:1-2, ESV
We tend to get too focused on what others do to us or do not do for us.
Instead, we should be more concerned with how we can serve others.
Sacrificially.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
1 John 4:11-12, ESV
One of the signs you are a saved Christian is a love for the Church. Just as Jesus was rejected by His own people, we may deal with rude, obnoxious people, or even those who are mean and reject us.
But we still love them.
“For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
John 3:20-21, ESV
Many avoid accountability with others, because, honestly, they love doing their sinful acts, even while hating that it is true.
To grow in Christ requires allowing His light to shine on all parts of our lives, revealing the embarrassing, sinful things we do, say, and think.
And we need each other in this, as well.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
James 1:5, ESV
How many times do we struggle because we do not ask for what we need? How many times have we asked by our actions that God will not help?
He wants to help! He wants to give us His good things!
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a simple man of God 