BIBLE PASSAGE:
“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from Me,
or seen in Me – put it into practice. And the God of peace
will be with you.”
(Philippians 4:9)
MEDITATION:
How many times have you heard a Christian say,
“There is no peace in my life”
How do you respond to that kind of statement when you hear it?
Does it make you wonder about the amount of peace in your own life?
Some people have the misconception that when they are saved, they
will immediately have peace, joy and happiness in their lives. When
they discover it’s not exactly how they expected it to be, some will
decide to do nothing for the Lord to express their appreciation for
how He has rescued them from their destiny with everlasting pain
and punishment which includes separation from the Lord. Instead,
they sit idly by and wait for something to happen.
That’s not what God expects of those who are a part of His family.
He didn’t save us so we could sit around waiting for a “heaven train”
to pick us up. No, God wants believers to be busy about doing things
for His earthly ministry. He even gave us the Holy Spirit and at least
one spiritual gift to assist us in serving Him.
He calls some to full time ministry, but He calls every believer to some
task. It’s important for Christians to read the Bible, worship the Lord,
and pray so we can better understand what God wants us to know and
‘put into practice’.
Followers of Jesus should be easily identified by certain characteristics.
There are young people who expect to see things in believers like integrity,
honesty, truthfulness, faithfulness, and righteousness. As Christians, we
should want them to see in us what we would like to see in them.
God’s Word tells us that we have a responsibility to ‘put into practice’
the things He wants the lost to see in us. If we learn more about the
Lord and His desires for mankind but never incorporate it into our
lives, then all we have gained is some more information. God has told
us that we need to ‘experience’ what He has taught us if we expect to
fulfill His purpose for our lives.
Others should never see things like alcohol, drugs, profanity, rudeness,
promiscuity, etc. in our lives. Nor should they see a lackadaisical attitude
regarding our faith. If we ‘put into practice’ the things we learn from the
Lord, we will develop an enthusiasm for reading His Word and a desire
for worshiping Him. We will also be unashamed to talk about Him at
any time and in any situation or environment.
ACTION:
Questions to consider:
– If I were asked about the things I have learned from
the Lord during the last year, what would I say?
– If others were asked to describe the level of sincerity
and enthusiasm of my faith, what would they say?
– What things has the Lord shown me that I have ‘put into practice’?
– Are my habits and lifestyle having a positive or negative impact
on those who are new Christians, those who are lost, and/or
other followers of Jesus who have drifted away from Him?
– What changes do I plan to make in my lifestyle
and when can God expect to see these changes?
Pray,
“Heavenly Father, forgive me if I have been guilty of accepting
Your salvation but doing nothing for Your earthly ministry, and
failing to have a positive influence on those who are lost. I pray
that my life will show others that my faith and relationship with
You are more than casual. Help me put into practice the things
I have learned so others will know that You are very important
to me, and they can see it in my language, habits, and dedication
to worship. I want to live a life that will encourage others to have
a desire for a close relationship with You, and Your Son, Jesus.”
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