Die for Christ/Live for Christ

In the Bible and throughout the history, we see many people who were martyred for their faith in Christ. The stoning of Stephen in Acts 7 often comes to mind.    If it came down to it, would you die for your faith in Christ?  Believers overseas are often facing perilous conditions because of their faith. May we be mindful in our prayers of those who are persecuted for their faith in Christ.  At first thought, one might say "Yeah, of course I would die for Christ" And that would be an honorable thing.

However, an important question to ask is  not only will I die for Christ, but will I live for Him.   Are you looking for ways to glorify God in your daily living?  

Be Diligent

I saw this posted on a blog and it reminded me at how easily we can "drift away"

 spent many summers on Kentucky Lake. Peepaw had a boat and Jet Ski.  Numerous memories were made on the water.  We would take the boat out almost daily. My job was to tie the boat to a tree whenever we returned.

It was a small job, but important. If the boast was not tied down it would drift away.  It would hardly be noticeable really. Given enough time though and the boat would drift out of sight.

Drifting away is used by the writer of Hebrews. This imagery of a boat drifting into the sea was to remind Christians of what can happen when we are not diligent.

For this reason we must pay careful attention to what we have heard, unless we drift away (Hebrews 2:1).

Notice it is not willful sin. It is not stubborn rebellion. Instead it is a lack of urgency and diligence. The point is we must be intentional about our faith. Going through the motions is disastrous. You drift, drift, and drift until you cannot see the shore. Today decide to be diligent.  Decide to be urgent.  Decide to pay attention to what you have learned.  Decide to pay careful attention.

Who is guiding your life?

I often struggle in giving up control of different areas in my life to the Lord; it is so scary. But when I do, I am continually amazed at why I resisted for so long.

We often have a high regard for ourselves. Our dependence on ourselves or our possessions often leads to a prideful heart. 1 Corinthians 10:12       However, we see in John 15:5 ...apart from Christ, we can do nothing.    We are called to live our lives in TOTAL dependence upon Christ. Philippians 4:13 "I can do EVERYTHING through him who gives me strength."


It is important that we not trust ourselves; Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"    We need to surrender our lives and follow God's revealed plan for us. God gives us specific instructions (Bible) on how to live our lives.

Who is guiding your life? You or God?

No God?

If there is no God, then there is no TRUE standard of right and wrong..........only preferences.

An illustration

A while ago, I read an illustration that is similar to this; I thought it was a cool thing to visualize. 

Picture an unbeliever or professing Christian (person who says they are Christian but are not living their life for Him) walking down the path of life without a care in the world, worry free, high on life. It is pitch dark, but they been on this path their whole lives so their is no reason for concern in their minds as they continue their walk. 

When a person accepts Christ in their lives, it is like a light has been turned on during their walk. They then see that they are and have been surrounded by lions ready to devour them. They were walking straight into the lions den and did not even realize it. The light that Christ has shown allowed them to see that they needed someone to save them, they needed a Savior. 

We need Christ to save us. 

Beach

My wife had a conference in Palos Verdes for work. We spent the weekend at a hotel on the beach. I was able to fit in a round of golf with my sons, Mikey and Tyler, while she was at the conference. The hotel and golf course was overlooking the ocean. The views were amazing.  

I was just awestruck at God's creation. It really made me realize how little we are and how big God is.  I am thankful that God has allowed me to see His creation and to be humbled by its magnificence.  May God be glorified in every way.

Ephesians 4:17-24

Recently I was reading through my wife's favorite book of the Bible; Ephesians.  As I was reading through chapter 4, verses 17-24 really stood out to me.

Paul is urging the believers in Ephesus to no longer to live like the Gentiles(unbelievers).  How do unbelievers live?  As we look at the text, we see that, in the futility of their minds they are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of their ignorance due to the hardness of their hearts. They have become callous, given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

Paul then goes on to tell the believers that they did not learn those things from Christ. Paul tells them that they are to lay aside the old self that was corrupted with deceit. He further says that they are renewed and  are to put on the new self which is in the likeness of God created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Have you put aside your old self?  Can people around you see the new self, which is in the likeness of God.

If you are having difficulty putting aside your old self, continue to pray that  the Lord will change the hardness of your heart, and then surrender to His will.