Jesus wants us to live for Him. Thankfully, we can do this because we live in Jesus, and He in us,
each one .. this is one of the great themes of the New Testament.
Living for Jesus is a big thing, Paul makes it plain what Jesus is asking of us: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship" (Romans 12:1).
This can only be a spiritual action from our heart.
Here is the same verse from the Message Bible: "So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, [your family time], and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him" (Romans 12:1 Message).
Since the Covid pandemic, (March 2020 until May 2023), our Western world has become completely new. Governments are implementing laws and societal changes which would have been unthinkable just a decade ago. Everybody is talking about this, even people who normally would say nothing at all are alarmed and speaking out - they are deeply afraid for their children and grandchildren. The popular media seem to have little time for reporting truth, rather they promote their ideas for "liberal" or "progressive" change, which represent the opposite of what is truly liberal or progressive, and the opposite of what would come from a traditionally Western or Christian worldview. Big businesses are operating with a shocking degree of disregard for their customers, their employees, and the laws (and tax systems) of the various countries where they operate, (though they ensure that their lawyers and advertisers say that they are compliant and "good neighbours".
The Bible warns us: "We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one". And goes on: "We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life" (1 John 5:19-20).
".. the whole world is under the power of the evil one ..". Have those words always been in our Bibles? Yes. The Bible is truth; these words are true, many of us are just beginning to see this truth now .. Praise Jesus that the Bible goes on with another, hope filled, thought: ".. Jesus Christ, He is the true God and eternal life .."
God is relational, three persons yet one God: our Father,
His eternal Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit, our counselor and comforter. We were
each created in the image and likeness of God. It makes sense then, that we are
most complete when we lead relational lives; relational vertically by loving
God and following Him, and horizontally by being in relationship with our
natural family and our Christian family, and with our neighbour (Matthew 22:37-39).
In living for Him, Jesus wants us to care for one another:
In living for Him, Jesus wants us to care for one another:
" .. love one another .." (John 13:34)
" .. encourage one another" (Hebrews 10:25)
"Don't grumble against one another .." (James 5:9)
" .. pray for one another" (James 5:16)
" .. live in harmony with one another .." (1 Peter 3:8)
"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling" (1 Peter 4:9)
"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another .." (1 Peter 4:10)
" .. clothe yourselves with humility toward one another .." (1 Peter 5:5)
" .. love one another" (1 John 3:11)
He wants us to be His home here in the world, His temple:
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
He wants us to not be afraid:
"He said to them, 'It is I; do not be afraid'" (John 6:20).
"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32).
"So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known" (Matthew 10:26).
He wants us to be strong and courageous in Him:
"My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ" (Colossians 2:2).
"I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong - that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith" (Romans 1:11-12).
He wants us to follow His leading:
"For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; 'he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes'" (Revelation 7:17).
He wants us to follow His way:
"Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy" (1 Corinthians 14:1).
Zechariah prophesied that John Baptist would go before Jesus who would "guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:79).
He wants us to keep our minds sharp and focused:
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2).
He wants us to see that we stay free in Him:
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1).
"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority" (Colossians 2:8-10)
He wants us to be servants, to Himself, and to our brothers and sisters, and to our neighbour:
"Jesus called the Twelve and said, 'Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all'" (Mark 9:35).
"Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant" (Mark 10:43).
"Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me" (Acts 26:16).
He wants us to be united, that is, together:
Not just conceptually and not just Sundays. He wants us to be alongside, truly as brothers and sisters. Alongside in joy and also when trouble comes, or persecution which is much more likely today, in the West, than for generations.
"For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body - whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink" (1 Corinthians 12:13).
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2).
He wants us to be separate from the world:
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2).
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever" (1 John 2:15-17).
He wants us to avoid close links with unbelievers:
"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14). For many Christians these links are already firmly established, then we must go on as we are, in Jesus and with love and humility. This struggle may be life long and require love, sacrifice and perseverance.
"When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose" (Acts 11:23).
Knowing My Need
When my life seems tough I love to reflect on how blessed I am. I "count my blessings", (a very old English expression). I have learned that the greatest blessing anyone can receive is to encounter Jesus and to love Him and grow and live in Him (John 15:1-17).
It was just before my 43rd birthday that I became Christian. I had led a happy and blessed life, and had taken this for granted while I was a kid growing up in New Zealand in the 1950s and 60s. There was not much prosperity there, (as we know material prosperity today), but there was hope and freedom and light.
World War II was past, freedom from a terrible tyranny had been won. The world was recovering from the costs of war. Democracy was flourishing and the economic principle of a buoyant middle class was well established and successful. New Zealand had become very egalitarian; there was not much difference between the rich, the professionals and managers and the trades people and workers. Even the dispossessed were cared for in a workable welfare system. Health care and education (even university) were almost free and also world class.
We children knew that the future needed bright, enthusiastic people, just like us, even though we came from a tiny and mostly rural island nation at the bottom of the world.
After much living and growing, and many adventures, there came a time when I saw that the world is not enough, (this was long before James Bond reached the same conclusion and made a movie about it). I thought that my need was for a life partner and our own family. I met, fell in love with, and married Trish, this was a whole new series of adventures; now, many chapters later, our book is still being written.
But we quickly found that the God who was somewhere in our consciousness was real and wanted us to come to Him. It was only then that the vacuum which was in both of us could be filled. Trish was much quicker at grasping Jesus and Christian life, I struggled for years, then when I had taken myself away camping so that I could truly seek Jesus, Father God revealed Him to me. At last I was born again (1 Peter 1:23). Our Lord Jesus brings us peace and many joys.
Who We Are In Jesus
The go-to place for me when I feel weak and useless is Paul's letter to the Ephesians. Here he makes plain the wonder of the spiritual changes that Jesus brings to every believer. He starts by affirming that we are to receive "Grace .. and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 1:2), and quickly assures us that our Creator God has: ".. blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless in his sight" (Ephesians 1:4).
".. every spiritual blessing ..", now that is something to ponder!
The whole Ephesian letter is as affirming and encouraging as these early lines. It is no wonder we feel "whole" and our friends, (and even strangers), see that there is "something different" about us. At the end of Acts Chapter 2 we see that the lives of the early Christians were so attractive that people willingly came to them and joined them in what they then called "The Way". There were no evangelistic crusades or tent meetings or "out-reaches". Jesus' people simply led authentic Christian lives, and thus were seen as remarkable, and blessed, in their community.
God is constantly at work: "But Jesus answered them, 'my Father is working until now, and I am working'" (John 5:17). Jesus will accomplish His goals in each one of us: "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).
We will reach His goal for us, each one: "until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature adulthood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love" (Ephesians 4:13-16).
Our Father and our Lord Jesus, I cry out for help and pray that you will speak and reveal your will for us so that we know how to follow you, even in these days.
I am so aware that many people who would never speak out or complain about the world are declaring their alarm at the increasing evil and darkness being brought to us by governments, businesses and the media. I bring their fears to you Lord, you who are our "Rock" (Psalm 18:2) and our "Anchor" (Hebrews 6:19-20) in the storms of life.
I also pray for the many church leaders who seem to be inclined to simply "go along" and "not be controversial" ..
My understanding is that throughout history evil has come to the world, and that once it has a foothold it seems to gain momentum and become a tsunami, overwhelming everything in its path, and then lasting for years or even decades.
Our political leaders now have the votes and support of millions, they keep getting re-elected despite their policies of destruction of the family and our children and grandchildren (and school systems and more); they act as do totalitarian regimes.
Everywhere I see Christians praying that you will come like a flood and restore good, benign governments and laws. They remind us, and you Lord, of how you have stepped in for your people and righted wrongs.
But I also see that you often seem to wait until your people turn back to you. Israel were in captivity for seventy years, then they walked in the wilderness forty years until a generation died; only then they could enter the lands you promised them.
The Nazi era lasted twelve years before Hitler's rule was stopped, and the Soviet Union lasted seventy years, (a familiar number). How long for us Lord? How then should we live? Help us to be aware and to pray. Come Lord Jesus (Revelation 28:20).
I am so grateful Father that you hear all our prayers, each one is placed in one of the bowls of incense before your throne (Revelation 5:8).
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Are God's words for Israel for us today? "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a pestilence among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place" (2 Chronicles 7:13-14).
Faith, Hope, Love
Remember "faith, hope and love"? Jesus died and rose again so that we could live free in faith and in hope and in love. Paul wrote: "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God's people - the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel" (Colossians 1:3-5).
We each live our own unique life and none can tell another how to live. We are assured that Holy Spirit will "teach us all things" (John 14:26), so are assured that He, who always reveals Jesus, will help us to lead a life of the Spirit (Romans 8:11) which centres on Jesus, regardless of the our present circumstances, (Hebrews 11:37).
Jesus brings peace. After He had been crucified the disciples were frightened; their beloved leader, their rock, had been unjustly killed, they were suddenly alone among hostile people so had locked themselves away. Jesus miraculously appeared to them and the first thing He said was "peace be with you" (John 20:21). He will do no less for us as we keep Him in our heart.
Bless us all as we greet each new day. Amen.
Favourite Bible Verses
".. I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-control" (2 Timothy 1:6-7).
"We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek" (Hebrews 6:19-20).
"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold"
(Psalm 18:2).
AND .. so many "in Jesus" verses. See John 10:38, 14:17, 14:20, 15:4, 17:21, 17:23-26; Romans 6:23, 8:1, 8:39, 12:5; 1 Corinthians 1:30, 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:6,10, 2:22; Colossians 1:27, 3:3, 3:16-19 and more.
Bless Jesus, Amen.
Permalink: https://www.psalmsofjohn.com/2023/06/how-then-should-we-live.html
