Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Christian living is a call to
respond to a core of beliefs and values that are absolute – to live differently
than the world, and to do it decisively.
I am always troubled by my proclivity to wait, see which way the wind is
blowing, and then search for the Christian principle that will make me most
comfortable.
Decisiveness
is called-for in the Christian walk.
Otherwise we settle for adjusting to conditions, instead of bringing
Christlikeness to bear on a problem.
Paul says the
new creation God makes of us requires changes in FOUR DECISIONS about the way we live; these changes in our
character and thought life honor God:
1. Decide for TRUTH
Put on your
new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. So stop
telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors
the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. Ephesians 4:24-25(NLT)
Jesus said: I am the...
truth. Without speaking we can lie,
simply by allowing a false message to be received. A Christian who tells white lies has no moral
absolute regarding truth.
2. Decide for RECONCILIATION
And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still
angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. Ephesians 4:26-27(NLT)
Broken
relationships are the very description of sin.
It was the break of fellowship with God in the Garden of Eden that was
the prototype of all sin. God has given
to the Christian Church and all believers a charge, a ministry of
reconciling.
Most attitudes
and actions that separate people and causes division is not of God.
Unreconciled
minds are the seeds the devil uses to destroy churches, families and whole
nations. Decide for truth,
reconciliation, and...
3. Decide for Honesty
If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work,
and then give generously to others in need.
Ephesians 4:28(NLT)
The late
Ferdinand Marcos, then President of the Philippine government, was a terrible
golfer. But his score cards? Tiger Woods would love to have had those in
last week's tournament! Marcos couldn’t
bear to be a bad golfer, so he cheated whenever it came to writing down his
score.
Christian values means
you will lose out, rather than cheat or lie in any way. The size of the prize, or the reasons we
rationalize are simply not the issue – honesty is! And also...
4. Decide for Graciousness
Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so
that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Ephesians 4:29(NLT)
The
filthiness that tumbles unashamedly out of mouths today is bad. When it comes out of a Christian's mouth,
it is sin! What is it we are building up when we talk as if our
mouths were connected to the bottom of a commode?
For You Today
Moral
absolutes make Christians different from the world. Decisions for truth, reconciliation, honesty
and graciousness make us decisive. It
changes the way we live. That's the
bottom line...Christian values are better lived than talked.
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