Hello fellow blogger, readers and friends! After a brief break from bogging, I am glad to say that I am back, and bring with me a fresh perspective of true and meaningful relationships. Most importantly….the relationship we are called to have with our Father!
It is my belief (and it stands to reason) that there are a few different belief systems out there on what it means to be “Christian” or a “Believer.” There are those (like myself once upon a time) that think that all it means to be a true believer is to accept that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Then there are those that profess that God is supreme Lord over there life, yet the lure of the worlds systems clearly show a stronger presence in their life than God does. Lastly, there are people that do believe in God and from the looks of it…they play the part very well. They value God’s grace, while completely misunderstanding His definition or the purpose of His grace in our walk. They continue to be disobedient while saying things like “ I am so glad my father is gracious!” His grace gives us the super natural power to walk in holiness….it was never meant to be a scapegoat for unchanged believers. Although these examples do not represent the believing nations as a whole, I feel that by bibical standard...they probably cover a larger portion of it than we would like to think.
You might ask…. “Well then, what is the key ingredient that is missing?” In one word the bible tells us.. “OBEDIENCE.” Let’s look deeper into His word for true perspective:
“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." John 14:21
And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. 2 John 1:6
Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 7:21
“Knowing the correct password—saying 'Master, Master,' for instance— isn't going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, 'Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.' And do you know what I am going to say? 'You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don't impress me one bit. You're out of here.' Mathew 7:22-34
To believe means to acknowledge that God exist, and to obey his commands! The bible contrast the meaning of Believe with the meaning of Disobedience. To believe in Him is to obey! Living a disobedient lifestyle is evidence of one of two things….a non-believer, or a “believer” that is gravely deceived. The later of the two will be those crying “Lord Lord” and standing in utter disbelief when they are denied entrance into the Kingdom.
I feel that in today’s world deception is all to easy. Many of us have conditioned ourselves to disobedience. It is easy to feel that we are doing the right thing, when compared to our ‘neighbor’. We fall into a trap of comparing ourselves to the worlds standards….and not the standards of our Heavenly realm. This kind of deception drives a wedge between us a Christ. It keeps us from reaching higher on the Mounting to hear and see God’s glory, as Moses did (Exodus). The longer we stay down and share the bottom of this mountain with the world, where we think it is the safest, the more disillusioned God’s image becomes in us.
“Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity. “ 1 john 2:15-17
It is not too late for any of us to re-confirm our commitment to walk in Gods standards. When we choose to fully walk in obedience, He extends us His grace to live a life full of light and holiness. Trying to keep up with what the world requires of us, is dangerously deceptive…not to mention, tiresome. True freedom comes from being a true believer, and having a true authentic relationship with our Heavenly Father. On the day that we find ourselves face to face with God in all His glory revealed....you won't want to be the weakest link!
It is my belief (and it stands to reason) that there are a few different belief systems out there on what it means to be “Christian” or a “Believer.” There are those (like myself once upon a time) that think that all it means to be a true believer is to accept that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Then there are those that profess that God is supreme Lord over there life, yet the lure of the worlds systems clearly show a stronger presence in their life than God does. Lastly, there are people that do believe in God and from the looks of it…they play the part very well. They value God’s grace, while completely misunderstanding His definition or the purpose of His grace in our walk. They continue to be disobedient while saying things like “ I am so glad my father is gracious!” His grace gives us the super natural power to walk in holiness….it was never meant to be a scapegoat for unchanged believers. Although these examples do not represent the believing nations as a whole, I feel that by bibical standard...they probably cover a larger portion of it than we would like to think.
You might ask…. “Well then, what is the key ingredient that is missing?” In one word the bible tells us.. “OBEDIENCE.” Let’s look deeper into His word for true perspective:
“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." John 14:21
And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. 2 John 1:6
Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 7:21
“Knowing the correct password—saying 'Master, Master,' for instance— isn't going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, 'Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.' And do you know what I am going to say? 'You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don't impress me one bit. You're out of here.' Mathew 7:22-34
To believe means to acknowledge that God exist, and to obey his commands! The bible contrast the meaning of Believe with the meaning of Disobedience. To believe in Him is to obey! Living a disobedient lifestyle is evidence of one of two things….a non-believer, or a “believer” that is gravely deceived. The later of the two will be those crying “Lord Lord” and standing in utter disbelief when they are denied entrance into the Kingdom.
I feel that in today’s world deception is all to easy. Many of us have conditioned ourselves to disobedience. It is easy to feel that we are doing the right thing, when compared to our ‘neighbor’. We fall into a trap of comparing ourselves to the worlds standards….and not the standards of our Heavenly realm. This kind of deception drives a wedge between us a Christ. It keeps us from reaching higher on the Mounting to hear and see God’s glory, as Moses did (Exodus). The longer we stay down and share the bottom of this mountain with the world, where we think it is the safest, the more disillusioned God’s image becomes in us.
“Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity. “ 1 john 2:15-17
It is not too late for any of us to re-confirm our commitment to walk in Gods standards. When we choose to fully walk in obedience, He extends us His grace to live a life full of light and holiness. Trying to keep up with what the world requires of us, is dangerously deceptive…not to mention, tiresome. True freedom comes from being a true believer, and having a true authentic relationship with our Heavenly Father. On the day that we find ourselves face to face with God in all His glory revealed....you won't want to be the weakest link!
Please feel free to post your thoughts, questions or opinions on the subject. I love learning and hearing about how God teached and moves in the lives of others!
To God be the Glory,
Kristen
Glad to see your back, and what a way to come out swinging. I think you hit the nail on the head. We must live in the world not of the world. I agree completely, and I think that there is a large group of believers that really couldn't tell you why they believe what they believe!!! Well said!!!
ReplyDelete