The Bible speaks of the people of God as “Servants”. What does it mean to be a servant or a slave to God and to our fellow brethren? Our actions should convey that we are willing to serve each other. As we grow, we will learn to serve more.
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Kalon Mitchell
Boldness
The Chrisitan life is not an easy life. But our attitude is paramount in how we handle situations. One of the major things that we can have is boldness. Boldness needs to be a part of how we live. The boldness of Christ should work through us strongly, allowing us to make the right choices at the right times. Choices have to be made and once we are making choices with the right type of boldness, we will do well.
Humility
Keeping the Feast of Unleavened Bread helps us to look at sin in our lives. This in turn should lead us to realize that we are not without sin. Therefore we cannot be proud. Often times, sin comes from an attitude of pride. Instead, we should remain humble in the fact that God allows us to repent and be cleansed from our sins.
The Parable of the Mustard Seeds
Our faith starts out small, like that of a small mustard seed. But it is required to grow to become a large tree. Looking at the various iterations of this scripture, we can see just how important it is for us to be growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Hope
How do we view hope as Christians? Do we hope as the world does, with out much faith? Or do we hope like any other attribute, which needs to be exercised and stretched? Our hope must not be in the world or the things in the world.
Eternity
What is our take on eternity? How do we think about it? Is it something that we long for? Take for granted? How can we be assured that we will make it to the point where we can be in eternity?
The Golden Rule
Growing up, I remember learning the “golden rule” from my parents, which is based on the Bible: “… whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them…” (Matthew 7:12). These words uttered by Jesus Christ Himself were, as He stated, the very essence of what was taught by “the Law and the Prophets.”
Christians should use this Scripture as a catalyst. In our daily lives, we should be actively looking out for the welfare of others—in our thoughts, in what we say and how we treat each other. When we scratch, bite and claw each other, we will be devoured, as it says in Galatians 5:15.
And yet, we have a continuing command to show the love to others that God shows to us (compare verse 14). It is not a self-serving kind of love that God shows, but is an all-encompassing love that does no harm to others.
How do we respond when wrong is done to us? Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 and Matthew 5:38-44 give us valuable direction. Life is full of situations when people in the world are going to use and abuse us. They are going to say mean things. They will try and get at us. But if we pay back in kind, then we are no better then they, and our Christianity becomes meaningless.
Are we asking ourselves: How important am I? How important are my emotions, my well-being, my self? Do we see how easy it is to fall into these traps of self-deceit, self-aggrandizement and self-centeredness? This is how Satan fell. The deception of pride crept into his heart. It rooted out ALL godliness. It became the very contradiction to God’s Way of Life.
Claiming to be a “Christian” does not mean that we are Christians, as 1 John 2:9-11,15-17 states so powerfully. So instead of engaging in deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness, we should instead be taking the extra care and diligence that is required to be focused on others. Philippians 2:1-5 says (in the New International Version): “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than [above] yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude [mindset] should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…”
Being a Christian demands action. It takes care and concern. It takes using the “golden rule” in our lives so that others around us can see that we live by what we say. And in turn they (in time) will perhaps learn to glorify God. There is no passing the buck when applying this rule. It is our individual duty that each one of us apply it in our lives for the benefit of others.
Constant vs. Change
When we look at our lives we see the flux of things that change vs. things that stay the same. God is a God of constants. He does not change from one day to the next. We can have confidence if we search out how God wants us to live in this world of change.
Buildings
When we think about buildings, do we realize that God actually cares about buildings? Just how specific was He about certain buildings in the Bible? What can we learn by studying these buildings? What about what the buildings were made of? And finally how does this tie in to our spiritual lives?
The Purpose?
One of my favorite activities in times past has been to sit and engage in people watching. There is something unique about observing others without actually interacting. I think at times that this is how God looks down on mankind in general. Sometimes I’ll be in my car and I’ll watch people even then, and it occurs to me: I am a God being, and all these people have the same exact potential! MIND BLOWING!
Of course, I am not really a God being yet, as I still bleed and such. But I am a God being in embryo. I am still in training. Does this make me any better than all those with whom I am around? Not at all! This present existence, and all the evil that surrounds us, is truly a life-long trial. When we stop and think about the trials that we go through, what stands out for us?
Do we take the time to ask questions of ourselves? Do we blame others? Do we shuffle off responsibility? We read in 2 Corinthians 13:5: “Examine (prove, test, understand) yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?- unless indeed you are disqualified.” Do we follow Paul’s admonition and take the time to do these things? This is not a two-minute drill. This is an intensive, ongoing process. Trials should lead to action, which is truly what matters.
So what actions do we take? There really are two important pieces: Love for God and love for man.
That’s it, plain and simple. Do we see the magnitude? It’s not love for self, it’s not love for things in this world. It’s love for God and others. Being willing to lay aside our own feelings and thoughts for the good of others. Whatever we struggle with, whatever we go through, it has the purpose of changing us—from thinking about our own selves to looking for the good and the benefit of others. After his conversion, it was Paul’s goal to serve others—to help and to edify them!
When we go through trials, we are being refined and made purposeful and useful to God. 1 Peter 1:7 gives this purpose for trials: “… that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it be tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Action! This is what it means to grow and bear fruit. Action! To step out on faith and do what God commands. Action to leave behind old feelings, thoughts, fears and frustrations, and to instead walk in holiness, peace and love.
Action is what will set us apart. I read something recently that really brought this point home for me: “To be humble-minded, meek in spirit – but BOLD in thought and action; to be truthful, sincere, generous; to be pitiful to the poor and needy, respectful to all and to be thankful for our lot and to envy none – this is indeed be gentle after the best model the world has ever seen, and is far better than being genteel!” (Samuel Wells).
“To be humble-minded, meek in spirit, but bold in thought and action; to be truthful, sincere, generous; to be pitiful to the poor and needy, respectful to all men; to guide the young, defer to old age; to enjoy and be thankful for our own lot, and to envy none—this is indeed to be gentle, after the best model the world has ever seen, and is far better than being ‘genteel’.” (1868, H. Friswell, The Gentle Life, p.13.)
We will become God beings, in time, if we learn to take action from the things we go through. We should do this for the purpose of helping others to become God beings as well! One day soon this will become our reality! Are we ready for that now?
