Christian, do you want to know what to do?
Now that I have your attention, let me make it clear the Bible is NOT a Self-Help book. If you approach the Bible attempting to make yourself better, imagining it will make you more Spiritual and thus graduating into God's graces---Forget about it!
Now let me now explain my title. Ever heard someone say "I wish I knew how to be a better Christian?" or "What is expected of me?" Maybe you've even asked this. Well, the small letter James wrote actually defines elements of what to do as a Christian. This is a very limited list. Serving God is limitless and you need to seek Him for full instructions but here are some basic 'steps' to your worthy goal.
1. A Christian must know God
As he opens his letter, James first acknowledges his personal standing and where his faith lies. This is fundamental to Christianity. God wrote the Holy Bible through the hand of faithful men, (2 Peter 1:20, 21). Your first step is become more knowledgeable about God, the Bible, and the world where you live.
2. A Christian needs to ask God how-to live every day life
James 1: 5 says ask for wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to use all your knowledge in everyday life. How simple a message--if you don't know--ask. The wisdom that comes from God helps you know how-to ask and what-to ask. This message also comes with an explanation in the surrounding verses 2-10. That is, verses 2-4, how-to get through hardships, verses 5-8 are how-to pray, verses 9 - 11 are how-to live within your social status and income.
3. A Christian is to not be deceived
Verses 1:12-18 are how-to avoid and resist temptation. The Christian life actually does draw distinct lines of right and wrong. The more you know about Jesus, the clearer these demarcations become. Temptation is not sin--giving into them is the sin that kills you. While you may not die from whatever you sin, you will certainty sever your line of communication with God. In that case, confess your sin (no excuses) and ask forgiveness, repent of them and see self-help #1.
4. A Christian must apply the Bible
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (1:22). Simple. Well not if you don't read the Bible. The Bible is loaded with instructions and lessons for Christian living in all things. The more you read it the more you understand it. If you neglect this task, you'll be left with a lot of unexplained questions about how to be a witness for Christ. After all, a witness is a person who tells what they have seen. Miss the first two applications and the prosecution, (Satan), will tear you to shreds on the witness stand. When things get hard to manage, return to self-help #2.
5. A Christian must study human nature and in most cases do the opposite of everything the world does toward their fellow man
James 2:1-13. Self-help in how-to be approved by all without offending God or man. Or how-to live among all your people, Christian and non-Christian, and still please God.
Chapter 3, verses 1-12 is all about talking. As representatives of Jesus, (2 Corinthians 5:20), we're to carefully speak about God diligently and knowledgeably. (see #1) But utilize self-helps #1 & #2 before you open your mouth. Get as much wisdom as possible about it all. Never stop studying about God, the Bible and your Christianity.
8. A Christian must constantly examine themselves
If you don't put yourself under a microscope you will never see the minute, filthy, ungodly specks stuck all over your humanness. James 3:13 through 4:12 spells out right and wrong. Get a good dictionary and look up all the words. Make a list of them in two columns, good and bad. Memorize the good as verbs--actions to live everyday. Think of the bad as murderers and sentence them all to death row. If you have to kill them every day---do it! "For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live" Romans 8:13. (note that 4:2 & 3 remind you to ask God for what you need and explains how-to ask it.)
9: A Christian must never ignore God's sovereignty
Make plans and conduct yourself with God's input. (4: 13-5:12) You want life insurance--get the best plan you can but always remember God is your ultimate life-line. Want to start a business--open the very best business you can--but always remember God knows your closing date. Want to raise a family--go ahead and raise the most beautiful and godly children in the world but always remember God loves them more than you do. Want to build a house--build the best house in the neighborhood but always remember God lives there too. Buy a car, buy a boat, take a world cruise, ski the Swiss Alps, climb Mt. Everest, learn a second language, sing in the choir, or go to a mission field? God's wants to help you achieve it all. Be shrewd in all you strive for. Seek all the professional help possible within your means, but always remember God owns it all, is over all, and controls all. Your behavior in your every day life is a reflection of your faith. For further instruction review self-helps #1--#8.
10. A Christian must remain integral to a body of believers.
No Christian is a lone ranger. James 5:13-19 is how-to bless and be blessed as part of a body of believers. If you neglect you're part of the church in Christ, you negate all previous ideas of how to serve God. The best Self-Help you can give yourself is to be an integral part of a Bible believing church. Your faith will manifest itself in how to treat your brothers and sisters, how you pray, how to seek God, and how to minister to other believers.
Now that I have your attention, let me make it clear the Bible is NOT a Self-Help book. If you approach the Bible attempting to make yourself better, imagining it will make you more Spiritual and thus graduating into God's graces---Forget about it!
Now let me now explain my title. Ever heard someone say "I wish I knew how to be a better Christian?" or "What is expected of me?" Maybe you've even asked this. Well, the small letter James wrote actually defines elements of what to do as a Christian. This is a very limited list. Serving God is limitless and you need to seek Him for full instructions but here are some basic 'steps' to your worthy goal.
1. A Christian must know God
As he opens his letter, James first acknowledges his personal standing and where his faith lies. This is fundamental to Christianity. God wrote the Holy Bible through the hand of faithful men, (2 Peter 1:20, 21). Your first step is become more knowledgeable about God, the Bible, and the world where you live.
2. A Christian needs to ask God how-to live every day life
James 1: 5 says ask for wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to use all your knowledge in everyday life. How simple a message--if you don't know--ask. The wisdom that comes from God helps you know how-to ask and what-to ask. This message also comes with an explanation in the surrounding verses 2-10. That is, verses 2-4, how-to get through hardships, verses 5-8 are how-to pray, verses 9 - 11 are how-to live within your social status and income.
3. A Christian is to not be deceived
Verses 1:12-18 are how-to avoid and resist temptation. The Christian life actually does draw distinct lines of right and wrong. The more you know about Jesus, the clearer these demarcations become. Temptation is not sin--giving into them is the sin that kills you. While you may not die from whatever you sin, you will certainty sever your line of communication with God. In that case, confess your sin (no excuses) and ask forgiveness, repent of them and see self-help #1.
4. A Christian must apply the Bible
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (1:22). Simple. Well not if you don't read the Bible. The Bible is loaded with instructions and lessons for Christian living in all things. The more you read it the more you understand it. If you neglect this task, you'll be left with a lot of unexplained questions about how to be a witness for Christ. After all, a witness is a person who tells what they have seen. Miss the first two applications and the prosecution, (Satan), will tear you to shreds on the witness stand. When things get hard to manage, return to self-help #2.
5. A Christian must study human nature and in most cases do the opposite of everything the world does toward their fellow man
James 2:1-13. Self-help in how-to be approved by all without offending God or man. Or how-to live among all your people, Christian and non-Christian, and still please God.
6. A Christian must prove their Christianity
A dangerous job yet unavoidable in every Christian's life. (James 2:14-26) Do all your work totally for Jesus. Your menial and extraordinary tasks should all be done in knowledge and acknowledgment of your recognition of God's ownership of you. The demons know God but they have no connection to life through Him. You do--so prove it! I am not going to list what to do. Go back to the previous self-helps for instructions in this area.
7. A Christian must very carefully teach all they know
A dangerous job yet unavoidable in every Christian's life. (James 2:14-26) Do all your work totally for Jesus. Your menial and extraordinary tasks should all be done in knowledge and acknowledgment of your recognition of God's ownership of you. The demons know God but they have no connection to life through Him. You do--so prove it! I am not going to list what to do. Go back to the previous self-helps for instructions in this area.
7. A Christian must very carefully teach all they know
Chapter 3, verses 1-12 is all about talking. As representatives of Jesus, (2 Corinthians 5:20), we're to carefully speak about God diligently and knowledgeably. (see #1) But utilize self-helps #1 & #2 before you open your mouth. Get as much wisdom as possible about it all. Never stop studying about God, the Bible and your Christianity.
8. A Christian must constantly examine themselves
If you don't put yourself under a microscope you will never see the minute, filthy, ungodly specks stuck all over your humanness. James 3:13 through 4:12 spells out right and wrong. Get a good dictionary and look up all the words. Make a list of them in two columns, good and bad. Memorize the good as verbs--actions to live everyday. Think of the bad as murderers and sentence them all to death row. If you have to kill them every day---do it! "For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live" Romans 8:13. (note that 4:2 & 3 remind you to ask God for what you need and explains how-to ask it.)
9: A Christian must never ignore God's sovereignty
Make plans and conduct yourself with God's input. (4: 13-5:12) You want life insurance--get the best plan you can but always remember God is your ultimate life-line. Want to start a business--open the very best business you can--but always remember God knows your closing date. Want to raise a family--go ahead and raise the most beautiful and godly children in the world but always remember God loves them more than you do. Want to build a house--build the best house in the neighborhood but always remember God lives there too. Buy a car, buy a boat, take a world cruise, ski the Swiss Alps, climb Mt. Everest, learn a second language, sing in the choir, or go to a mission field? God's wants to help you achieve it all. Be shrewd in all you strive for. Seek all the professional help possible within your means, but always remember God owns it all, is over all, and controls all. Your behavior in your every day life is a reflection of your faith. For further instruction review self-helps #1--#8.
10. A Christian must remain integral to a body of believers.
No Christian is a lone ranger. James 5:13-19 is how-to bless and be blessed as part of a body of believers. If you neglect you're part of the church in Christ, you negate all previous ideas of how to serve God. The best Self-Help you can give yourself is to be an integral part of a Bible believing church. Your faith will manifest itself in how to treat your brothers and sisters, how you pray, how to seek God, and how to minister to other believers.
Grace is God's gift and no one can ever be a self-made Christian
Read James for instructions on How-To live as a Christian, but don't stop there. Reading the entire Bible will help you know what you're to be doing.
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work"
2 Timothy 3:16, 17.
For your convience, please leave comments on my Facebook page linked here for the ease of comments. https://www.facebook.com/InterestSusanEstes
Thank you.
https://www.facebook.com/InterestSusanEstes
For your convience, please leave comments on my Facebook page linked here for the ease of comments. https://www.facebook.com/InterestSusanEstes
Thank you.
No comments:
Post a Comment