3 Spiritual-Life Essentials

While growing up, my family often vacationed out west. We would go to church with a favorite Aunt and Uncle. As a youngster, I always found it interesting when the priest dismissed the service by saying, “Go out and live for Christ.”

Over the years, I often thought about that. Six little words, but what do they really mean? I’m sure we all have our own responses; however, what does Jesus expect?

This week, I paused in the Book of Luke as I noticed an answer to that question.

They were simple words with deep meaning, noteworthy because Jesus was speaking. He said, “If anyone wants to come after (follow) Me: (1) He must deny himself, and (2) take up his cross daily, and (3) follow Me” (Luke 9:23-24).

Let’s think about this:

(1)        What does it mean to “deny” himself, or herself? For one thing, it means turning from a self-focused life to decisively following the teachings of Jesus. It would mean “Thy will,” not “my will.”

 

(2)        What does it mean to “take up your cross?” It means accepting the fact that living for Jesus can mean mockery or rejection. Carrying a cross physically makes one noticeable, as does trying to live by Biblical principles in a sinful world. Jesus gives no promises of an easy life; however, He does promise never to leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6).

          Did you notice that He said, "Take up your cross daily?" That's life! Every morning, we get up, clean up, and get dressed for the day. Yesterday's decisions are gone. Even The Lord's Prayer recognizes that life choices are daily: "Give us each day . . ." (Luke 11:3) 

(3)     What does it mean to "follow Jesus?" A true follower believes in someone enough to listen to their words, obey, and follow their example. Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:15). Question: (1) How many of Jesus' teachings do you know? (2) Are you feeding yourself daily from God's Word?            

There is nothing automatic about these three spiritual-life essentials. They're personal . . . your choice . . . each day!

Pixabay: List, Checkbox; OpenClipart-Vectors.

 

What Am I?

A passing comment this week caught my attention and wouldn’t fade away. By the time you finish reading this, you might ask yourself the same question.

I don’t remember who said it, but here’s the comment: The word “disciple” comes from the word “discipline.”

I had always thought of discipline as a verb: Action taken to train, control, or punish those who didn’t see any need to obey/follow certain rules.   

Now I was reminded that discipline could also be a noun, meaning: Mental self-training or preparation, while developing a system of obedience to rules of conduct.

Here’s where it becomes personal! Jesus said the Holy Spirit would come and lead us into all truth (John 16:12-14); however, it is always our choice to follow what we learn, or not.

Why do I say that? For two reasons:

(1) Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24 and Luke 9:23).  

(2) Jesus’ final instructions were to “make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey all I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Words tend to change meanings over time. For example: (1) In Acts, disciples were all who believed in the risen Lord, (2) Then, with the Great Commission, disciples became those who responded in faith to Jesus Christ for salvation, and (3) Eventually, “disciple” became an equivalent to the word “Christian” (Christ One).

In our time, the Great Commission resembles a Great Evangelism program. I really appreciate the ministries that: (1) Not only call people to salvation through faith in Jesus, but (2) Also offer materials and further teaching on how to become a committed “disciple,” learning/obeying Jesus’ teachings.

So, I’ve asked myself, “What am I: A Christian, or a Disciple?”

I’ve always considered myself a Christian, believing in Jesus as my Savior. Now, I’m going deeper and identifying as a disciple.

By God’s grace and the help of the Holy Spirit, I desire to: (1) Continually learn and obey Jesus’ teachings, and also (2) Try to encourage others with what I learn.

How about you?

Pixabay: Screen, TV, Watch TV; geralt.

Part Three: What Does It Mean To Be A Christian?

To be a Christian means to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).

It takes twelve years to earn a high school diploma, and more degrees beyond that. Why don’t we consider that our spiritual learning also requires that type of consistency?

You can believe Hebrews 4:12 when it says God’s word is lively and active. I’ve been reading the Bible since middle school, and though I have re-read scriptures many times, I’m always learning something new. The Bible, for me, is a life-satisfying adventure.

New Testament instructions guide our spiritual growth. Once we were in darkness, but now we are in the light of the Lord (Ephesians 5:8-10). God’s light consists of goodness, righteousness, and truth.

We are to put off our old corrupted self and put on our new self, created to be like God in righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22-32).  As Christians, we should live to please God and bring Him glory, not making provision to satisfy earthly lusts and evil desires (Colossians 3:1-17).

In fact, we are to detest what is evil and cling to what is good (Romans 12:9). Paul said, “Whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). As we have opportunities, we are to do good to everyone (Galatians 6:10).

The difference between our old life and new life in Christ is quite clear. Read it for yourself in Colossians 3:1-17, Ephesians 4:17-32, and Galatians 5:16-26.

Don’t be put off by these scripture references. If you’re not familiar with the Bible, check the Table of Contents. Become familiar with it.

Take time to learn about other spiritual blessings: (1) The Fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22-23, (2) Our Spiritual Armor – Ephesians 6:10-18, and (3) The Value of God’s Word - Psalm 119.

Remember, Jesus said we are to love God with: (1) all our heart, (2) all our soul (mind, will, and emotions), (3) all our mind, and (4) all our strength (Mark 12:28-31). It’s not a half-hearted commitment.

He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6). For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose (Philippians 2:13).

Our daily desire becomes “Thy Will,” not “my will.”

Pixabay:

The Choice is Yours

Have you ever thanked God for the ability to think and make choices? Many daily choices seem routine. But there was a time we had thought about them and made a choice.

From the beginning, God gave humans a choice, and from Genesis to Revelation, His will is made clear. However, the choice is ours: (1) Will we believe His word, and (2) will we obey His word?  

Psalm Chapter One is a favorite. Six powerful little verses contrast the righteous with the wicked. People in our day tend to downplay the meaning of wicked, but God’s word is eternal.

What do the righteous DO? They delight in the law of the Lord and choose to keep it in mind day and night. The Psalm calls this meditation.

What do the righteous NOT DO? By focusing on God’s word, they don’t: (1) walk in wicked or ungodly counsel, (2) follow the way of sinners, nor (3) sit with mockers.

In our modern day, we need to apply this to our entertainment and social media choices. But mockery doesn’t have to be outright ridicule of God. We can also mock by simply brushing Him off with our choices and actions as if He doesn’t matter.

How’s this for contrast? Psalm One says the righteous are blessed, but not so the wicked. The righteous are rooted and bear fruit, but the wicked are blown away like chaff (Psalm 1: 1-3, 4-5).  

Have you heard of the broad way and the narrow way? Jesus said there’s a broad way that leads to destruction. It’s full of people who want big and easy.

On the other hand, there’s a narrow gate and a narrow way that leads to life, but compared to the broad way, only a few find it (Matthew 7:13-14).

There’s an old joke that says, ‘When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” But the reality is that choices matter.

The choice is yours. God’s way or your way? The broad way or the narrow way?

It takes more effort to stay on a narrow path, but with eternal values in view, it’s worth the effort!

Pixabay: Decision, Choice, Path; Waldryana.

  

Personal but Pertinent

A friend and I attend a weekly non-denominational international Bible study. It’s called *CBS, or Community Bible Study. I had heard of it for years, but I was always busy in ministry with my husband.

We begin and end in a large group, with breakout groups in between. Discussions are based on the workbook lessons we have answered by reading the scripture references; however, sometimes questions require personal answers.

Here’s a personal question I enjoyed:  **Christianity is sometimes criticized as being exclusive…how would you respond to that criticism?

There are two sides to every story, so my first answer is no, then yes. Many scriptures could be shared, but my space is limited:

SIDE ONE:  I do not believe Christianity is exclusive because God Himself extends an invitation. John 3:16-17:  For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

Jesus gave His disciples an assignment: Matthew 28:19-20: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you.

SIDE TWO:  Invitations require a response. John 3:18: Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Jesus issued a personal invitation. Revelation 3:20: Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.

If we choose to receive God’s gift of Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins: (1) We are cleansed from our sins (1 John 1:9), (2) begin a new spiritual life (2 Corinthians 5:17), and (3) become members together in the Body of Christ (Colossians 3:15).

Any group with membership has its own requirements, values, and loyalty. Christian commitment means knowing and doing what Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:20).

That requires daily reading your Bible and asking the Holy Spirit to help you understand how to apply it to your life (John 14:15-17).   

*www.communitybiblestudy.org

**CBS: The Book of Psalms: Volume Two; Lesson 16: God’s Kingdom Expands; Day 5, Question 20; p. 6.

Pixabay: Bible, Christian; charlotte_202003.

The Best Bread

In my early years, I lived in a town with a major bakery distributor. On certain days, the sweet smell of freshly-baked bread was strong. To a bread lover like me, the aroma was a pleasure.

Bread has been called “the staff of life” for good reason. Just think of how many ways bread is prepared and eaten around the world. It’s such a life-sustaining basic that some even use the word as slang for “money.”

When I pray the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), I’m thankful for my daily food, but today God impressed me to value it differently.

Let’s consider a couple of Jesus’ dealings with bread.

During His forty days of temptation and fasting in the wilderness, Satan tried to tempt Jesus to prove He was the Son of God by turning stones into bread (Matthew 4:1-4). Jesus replied, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD” (Deuteronomy 8:3).

He was concerned with people both spiritually and physically. Take Luke 9:10-17, for example. He was trying to get away with His disciples, but crowds followed them.

Jesus taught spiritual principles for hours and healed many people. As the day was ending, the disciples said, “Send them away so they can go find lodging and provisions.” But, Jesus said, “You feed them.”

"With what?” they asked. "What do you have?" They found five loaves and two fish. After Jesus blessed their meager findings, all the people were fed.

You might eliminate bread and live on a low-carb diet physically. But spiritually, the same principle does not apply. We are to live a balanced life in both areas. 

Healthy spiritual values require taking time to read God’s word.

Some do it in the morning and others in the evening. The issue is not the time of day; the important thing is commitment.

Find time to get deeper into God's word than just a daily devotional. That's more of a snack to keep you going until you can sit down for a meal.

Make it your goal to say like the psalmist, “With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments” (Psalm 119:10).

Pixabay: Bread, Candy, Pies; aureliofoxrj.

The Value of Tenacity

A vineyard full of grapes ready to harvest is a beautiful thing. It’s amazing how one vine can support many branches full of fruit. Living in central California gave me a special appreciation of this.

Grapes have been valued since ancient times. They are tasty fresh off the vine, dried in the sun for raisins, or pressed into juice and made into wine.  

Jesus used this valuable resource to illustrate a Biblical principle. It is found in John 15:1-11. I hope you take time to read those verses. But He starts by saying God is the keeper of the vineyard, Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches (v. 1, 5).  

We must cling to Him if we want to bear good fruit. Apart from Him, we can do nothing of spiritual value (v. 5).

We cling to the vine in various ways. First, by faith we believe He is the Son of God. Then we continue in faith to receive Him as our Savior (John 3:16-18).

By faith, we then show our love to Jesus by commitment to obeying His commands and lovingly relating to other believers (v. 10, 12). In Him, we are fruitful in good works which glorify God (v. 8).

Abiding in Christ can keep us level-headed. In times of hardship or trial, we need not despair. When we’re down and our joy seems gone, abiding in Christ will give us the victory. Paul said, “We live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). It’s also wise not to live by our fluctuating emotions.

To abide in Christ is to trust in Him. We submit to Him, follow His ways, and pursue a lasting relationship with Him.

"Tenacity" is a valuable character trait. Somebody who is tenacious keeps a firm hold on something they don’t want to lose.   

When God prunes us by allowing challenging or hard times into our lives, tenacious people hang on by faith. Careless, unproductive followers fall away and become worthless branches good only for fire (v. 6)

Don’t be a worthless branch! Be tenacious and enjoy a fruitful, eternal relationship with The Vine!  

Pixabay: Purple, grapes, grapevine; MARINOPHUC.

  

Keep On Walking

Don’t lose momentum! Serious walkers and runners stay focused. Standing or sitting around does nothing to enhance their consistent daily discipline to achieve their goal.

Psalm One talks about the gradual decline of momentum from walking to standing to sitting, but let’s look at the context.

Things worth pursuing require some kind of effort. Paul not only encouraged us to fight the good fight of faith, but at the end of his life, declared that he had also done it (1 Timothy 6:13; 2 Timothy 4:7).  

Psalm One, in only six verses, contrasts the godly and godless. Consider some of the differences:

The Godly are Blessed as They: (Verses 1, 2, 3, and 6)

• ·         Do not walk in the counsel, plans, or purposes of the ungodly.
• ·         Do not stand submissively or inactively in paths where the ungodly walk
• ·         Do not sit down to rest and relax with the ungodly who mock and scorn morality and spirituality
• ·         Desire God’s word, studying and meditating on it, keeping it in mind day and night
• ·         Prosper spiritually and are blessed as a healthy, maturing, fruit-bearing tree
• ·         Are fully known by God in all their ways, judged righteous before God

 The Godless, Wicked, or Morally Evil Are: (Verses 1, 4, 5, and 6)

• ·         Capable of doing great damage morally and spiritually
• ·         Disobedient, living without any consideration of God
• ·         Like chaff, worthless, no substance, easily blown about
• ·         Will not be able to stand before God’s righteous judgment
• ·         They and their ways will perish

Do you desire to be blessed by God?

Remember: Spiritual momentum is never lost all at once. It’s a gradual decline.

We let our choices get lax in things like Bible reading, prayer, church attendance, Christian fellowship, or moral purity.

To be blessed:

• ·         Choose wisely and keep on walking in God’s ways.
• ·         Choose to stand after you’ve fought a good fight of faith, wearing the armor God has provided (Ephesians 6:10-18).
• ·         When you choose to sit, remember to be careful about your choices of relaxation---where you go, what you see, hear, or do.

Pixabay: Walkway, Sidewalk; Openicons.

 

A Meaningless Re-do

A MEANINGLESS RE-DO

It never would have happened if my husband had not insisted that we must cooperate.

What was the problem?

His and Her Wedding Rings

Our Pastor had decided to have a day to honor marriages. No problem there. I’m fully in favor of celebrating commitment.

I was fine until I heard the plan for ending the service.

Not only was the pastor going to ask all married couples in the audience to stand, he was going to call the staff to the platform. We would all repeat our vows after him.

There was the problem.

I said, “I love you, Honey, but I can’t do it.”

He said, “I know you love me, but we have to do this.”

“Maybe I can be gone that Sunday,” I said, knowing full well I would be there. I thought I’d probably feel worse as a deserter than a target on stage.

Daily routines kept me busy. I tried to forget that Sunday was coming. I usually enjoyed going to church because the people were very friendly and accepting.

Make a List -- Get It Done

Working with this pastor and his wife was a joy to me, too. But I couldn’t ask to be excused because of loyalty to my husband.

The dreaded Sunday arrived. As planned, the pastor concluded his sermon and called the staff forward.  On the platform, as we faced each other, my husband quietly said, “We’ll be OK.”

I had always said, “I meant my vows the first time and I don’t ever intend to repeat them.” I strongly felt that for me it would take something precious away from the original.

As we started to repeat the vows, I started crying. How embarrassing!

I was happy in my marriage, but what would people think? I was thankful my husband kindly escorted me off stage. I wished I could disappear.

My father-in-law saved the day. As I tried to slip out the back door he said, “Well, Dar, it was just like the first time.”  He smiled and laid a hand on my shoulder. What a relief. I knew Dad understood and life could go on.

Love and Understanding Help A Day Go Better

No one ever mentioned my tears, not even the pastor. And I’ve never again been asked to repeat my vows. I’d have to be true to myself and refuse.

I'm sure my husband would agree for a couple of reasons: 1) It would be nice to avoid another embarrassing moment, and 2) he knows repeating my vows would be, for me, a meaningless re-do.

Any couple choosing to repeat their vows has my full support. We all need to be free to choose what means the most to us.

Solomon had some good advice: When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it (keep your word) . . . Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 NKJV).

It doesn’t matter if it’s the first time around, or a re-do.