Saturday, May 2, 2015

Christlike Living in a Sinful World # 6

To be a Christian

Consecration to God is nothing less than doing the will of Christ, rather than our own will — doing it always, whatever the cost, the sacrifice, or the danger. There is too much mere pretense in our religion. We say that we believe in Christ; but if we truly do, we must follow Him wherever He leads, though we don't know where. We say we love Christ, and from His lips comes the crucial test: "If you love Me — keep My commandments." 

To be a Christian is to be devoted utterly, and irrevocably, to Christ.

"And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple!" Luke 14:27
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What a shame!

Think of all the magnificent potential God has put into these lives of ours. He has given us minds . . .
  to think,
  to reason,
  to imagine,
  to roam amid the stars,
  to wander into the very borders of infinity,
  to climb the golden stairs of faith even into the midst of Heaven's brightness.

He has given us hearts to feel, to suffer, to rejoice, and to love.

He has put into our beings, the possibilities of the noblest achievements and the loftiest attainments. What a shame it is for one born to live in immortal glory, called to be a child of God — to become like Jesus — yet to be content with a poor earthly life and to live without reaching up toward God and Heaven!

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory!" Colossians 3:1-4
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Ladders of commonplace things

To find your mission in life, you have only to be faithful wherever God puts you for the present. The smaller opportunities which He gives you in the earlier years, are for your training, that you may be ready finally for the larger and specific service for which you were born. Do these smaller, humbler things well — and they will prove to be steps in the stairs up to the loftier height where your "mission" awaits. To spurn these simpler duties and tasks and to neglect them, is to miss your important mission itself in the end — for there is no way to get to it but by these ladders of commonplace things. You must build your own ladder day by day — in common, faithful acts.
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Divine assistance 

"As your days — so shall your strength be!" Deuteronomy 33:25

There is no promise of grace before you need it. God does not say He will strengthen our arms for the battle — when there is no battle. When the conflict is approaching — then we are given the necessary strength. He does not open the gates for us, nor roll away the stones — until we come to them. He did not divide the waters of the Jordan — while the people were still in their camps, nor even when they began to march toward the river. The wild stream continued to flow, even as the feet of the priests dipped in the water.

This is the continual law of God's help in time of need. Divine assistance is not given in advance. As we come to the need, the supply is ready — but not before. Do not worry because you cannot see the way clear and the needs supplied far in advance of your steps. God will always provide for His children.

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble!" Psalm 46:1
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Christlikeness at home

Keep the lamp of love shining day after day . . .
   amid the many home cares and duties,
   amid the criticisms, sarcasms, and thoughtlessness of others,
   amid the thousand little irritations and arguments of home life
 — which tend to break peace and disrupt a sweet temper.
Let your love at home be of the kind that never fails. Wherever else, far away or near, you pour the bright beams of your Christian love — be sure that you brighten your own home. No goodness and gentleness outside the home, will atone for lack of love at home.

"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble." 1 Peter 3:8
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Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows

Wherever Christ places us — we are to stay; and where He sends us — we are to go. In the heat of life's conflicts, obstructed by a host of things which tend to distract our peace — we are to maintain an unruffled calm, and the tenderness and simplicity of the heart of a little child. That is the lesson which Christ presents to us.

As the tender grass and even the sweet flowers live and thrive all through the winter under the deep snows, and emerge in the springtime in beauty — so our hearts may remain loving, tender, and joyous through life's severest winter, under the snows of trial and sorrow.

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world!" John 16:33

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Love's Ministry 

"Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her!" Ephesians 5:25

Love's quality is measured by . . .
  what it will do, 
  what it will give, and
  what it will suffer.
God so loved the world that He gave — gave His only begotten Son, gave all — and withheld nothing! That is the measure of God's love for us — it loves to the uttermost. If you are one of Christ's redeemed people, then . . . .
  every energy of your mind,
  every affection of your heart,
  every power of your soul,
  every fiber of your body,
  every element of your influence,
  every penny of your money —
is Christ's; and all of these are to be used to bless others and to make the world better and holier. If we love, we will give, we will suffer, we will sacrifice. If we would be like God, we must live to minister to others, giving our life, without reserve, to service in Christ's name!

"The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me!" Galatians 2:20
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Make the teaching about God our Savior attractive!

"Whatever things are lovely" Philippians 4:8

"So that in every way, they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive!" Titus 2:10

We become truly lovely, to the degree that we become like God. Human morality is not always beautiful. There are people who are good, but not lovely. Their "goodness" still has qualities which repel others.

But true holiness is always attractive. We ought to make our religion so beautiful, that all who look upon us shall be drawn to our Master! We dishonor Christ, when we claim to be His people, and yet show in our character, disposition, and life — things which are not in God's character. How will people of the world know what true religion is — if you and I do not show them its beauty in our lives? We should seek not only whatever things are just and true and honest — but also whatever things are lovely!

~J. R. Miller~


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