Tag: lifestyle

Live as Christ Lived

Live as Christ Lived

Do you think that you can live as Christ lived?  What do I mean by that?  Let’s review some passages from the Scriptures.In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.  (Phil 2:5 NIV)This verse of Scripture advises us to have the same outlook or convictions that Jesus had.  Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest.  (Mt 11:29 CEV)Jesus calls us to wear the same “yoke” that He wore. He says in so doing, we will find rest for our souls.To whom or to what are we yoked (or coupled)?  Once we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we are linked to Him.  This means that we humbly do His will and allow Him to guide and to direct our lives.The one who says that he abides in him must live the same way he himself lived.  (1 Joh 2:6 (ISV)We must live the same way that Jesus did.  He lived in obedience to the will of the heavenly Father, and He operated in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus was our example.For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.  (Joh 13:15-16 NKJV, emphasis added)

We are called to the same lifestyle, and to the same love for and obedience to our Father God that Jesus had.  And God has given us the necessary grace that we need to empower us to do so.  Hallelujah!

Be Generous

Be Generous

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.  (Lk 6:35 NIV, underscoring added)

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.  (Pro 19:17 ESV, underscoring added)

It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.  (Ps 112:5 ESV, underscoring added)

Justice means fair play, impartiality, objectivity or neutrality.  The Scripture verse shown above (Ps 112:5) talks about a person who deals generously, lends to others, and conducts his affairs with justice.  All of these character traits are traits of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our example.  (See Phil 2:5; 1 Pet 2:21)

The Lord challenges us to test Him with our generosity just so that we will learn that we cannot out-give God!  (Mal 3:10-12)  It is the only area in which the Lord has instructed us to test Him.  Just ponder that for a little while . . .

The Lord demonstrated His love for mankind by GIVING His only begotten Son to become our Savior.  That was sacrificial love and sacrificial giving on God’s part, and anyone who is a parent understands that completely.

The focus of this article is about the call to believers to be generous—to live a generous lifestyle.  And it’s crucial for us to understand that God the Father gave generously, and Jesus Christ gave generously, also. 

And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’  (Ac 20:35)

When we live a generous lifestyle while here on earth, in obedience to our heavenly Father, the Lord sees it and He places treasure in heaven aside for us as a reward.  (Mt 6:19-21)  God is most pleased when we share what we have with others, especially with those who are needy.  (Mt 10:8; Heb 13:16)

Live generously and with joy!  We believers are being transformed daily into the image of Christ, and this is simply one way in which we may cooperate with the Lord in our own transformation.  (See Rom 8:29-30; Phil 2:13; 3:21; Col 3:10; 2 Cor 3:18)  Blessings upon you!

Ears to Hear

Ears to Hear

The sower sows the word.  (Mark 4:14)

But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop:  some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear!  (Matt 13:8-9, emphasis added)

The phrase ears to hear explains the critical need for a teachable, hearing heart if the seed of Kingdom Truth is to be received and become fruitful in each one of our lives.

A teachable, hearing heart is one that is humble and contrite before God.  It’s receptive to the Lord and able to be corrected, so that a complete lifestyle change may result.  It values the Word of God above all else and desires to live in obedience to it.

You know your own heart!  You know if you will listen and receive correction, or if you will get offended and turn away from God.  Only you can make a change in your attitude, if you recognize that a change is necessary.  Only you can say, “Yes, Lord, I hear and obey.”  The choice is yours, alone.  Our loving God will give you the grace and strength to turn your heart around, if that is necessary. 

If you already have a teachable, hearing heart, then God rejoices over you!  He will continue to enable you to fulfill your calling here on earth. (1 Tim 1:12) 

It is by His grace that you are YOU!  (1 Cor 15:10)  Hurrah!