God's Principles to Live By

All of Christ's followers (no exception) are called to live by God's principles as follows:

• Be like-minded/be of one mind, the mind of Christ. "Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind...In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:2, 5) When we have Christlike mindset, we have the selfless, sacrificial, submissive, and serving mind. Christians should be in unity regarding essential doctrines, theology, God's truth & virtues, Gospel, and Jesus. "In essentials, Unity. In non-essentials, Liberty. In all things, Charity." (Archbishop of Split) Be united with the resolve to glorify and honor God!
• Be sympathetic. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn/weep with those who mourn/weep (Romans 12:15). "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." (1 Corinthians 12:26) Identify with others' pains and sorrows. Have a genuine concern for others. Carry one another's burdens.
• Love one another with brotherly love. Deeply. Sincerely. "Have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart." (1 Peter 1:22b) "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." (Romans 12:10) Love in action, not just in words. "Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters." (Hebrews 13:1)
• Be compassionate. Be kindhearted/tenderhearted. Show mercy. Deeply moved by others' afflictions/hardships and try to find ways to relieve them. Caring hearts that want to help and comfort the hurt, the sorrowful, and the distressed.
• Be humble. Be teachable. Don't be arrogant or prideful. Put others above selves. True humility is about self-denial. A truly humble person yields himself/herself to Christ to be a servant, to use what he/she is and has for the glory of God and the good of others. 
• Do not repay evil with evil. Do not take revenge. Overlook offenses. Forgive.
• Do not repay insult with insult. Imitate Christ who did not retaliate when insults were hurled at Him (1 Peter 3:23). Do you snap back at those who say unkind words about you or put you down? We are called to take the high road. Show patience and self-control. Forgive. 
• Repay evil with blessing. "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21) "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." (Romans 12:14) "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in Heaven." (Matthew 5:44-45a) "When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly." (1 Corinthians 4:12b-13a) Shine your light when you meet darkness. Share God's love when you face hatred. Do good when evil is done to you. "You are to give blessing to others because you have inherited so much blessing from Christ; your whole tone, temper, spirit, language, action should be the means of blessing to others." (Charles Spurgeon) 

You and I are called to live by these principles, reflecting the character of Christ, so that we may inherit a blessing. When we do what God tells us to do, we are doing His will and He will be attentive to our prayer and bless us.

 Prayer: "Give me a heart sympathetic and tender;
Jesus, like Thine, Jesus, like Thine;
Touched by the needs that are surging around me,
And filled with compassion divine." (Stephen Olford)

For Husbands

- "Likewise"-- Christian husbands are called to be Christlike just as Christian wives are called to be Christlike. And submission is to be applied to husbands, too. Submit to God and submit to one another. "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." (Eph. 5:21) Same selflessness and holiness are expected from both Christian husbands and Christian wives.

This is an instruction for husbands.

• "Live with your wives in an understanding way"-- Be understanding, instead of demanding. Be considerate/thoughtful toward your wife. Seek to know and to meet your wife's needs, concerns, and desires. A husband should care about his wife's feelings. A wife feels loved when she feels understood by her husband. Make the intentional effort to know and understand her more and more on a deep level. Do you know her personality, her likes and dislikes, her strengths, her weaknesses, her fears, her joys, her hopes and dreams? Does she feel loved and accepted unconditionally by you? Practice at noticing your wife. Encourage and edify her. Be a faithful & faith-filled provider and protector. Take good care of your wife. Be patient with her. Avoid being domineering, discourteous, arrogant, and self-seeking. Be her best friend. Provide loving leadership in the home. Consideration, chivalry, and companionship are truly appreciated by wives. Be intentional/take initiative/be active in developing and maintaining togetherness/oneness in your marriage. Promote emotional, physical, and spiritual closeness.

• "Showing honor to the woman"-- Treat your wife with respect. Honor your wife who is the weaker vessel (referring to physical strength, not mental, intellectual, or spiritual strength), instead of taking advantage of her because she is weaker. Cherish her, your precious treasure. Speak well of her (including behind her back) and speak respectfully, kindly, and lovingly to her. Your wife is not to be treated with neglect, harshness, and contempt. True manliness is being tender toward women. Do you (husband) criticize everything your wife does or drive your wife like a slave or use/abuse your wife as an object of pleasure? Do you always have to get your own way? Do you put your career, hobbies, friends, entertainment, etc. above your wife? Do you take your wife for granted? Show your wife that she is precious to you by spending time with her, talking with her and listening attentively to her, praying with her and for her, protecting her, and loving her as Christ loves His Church. "If you have children, it is your job as head of the household to make sure that they honor their mother. You model it by treating her with honor, but you enforce it by disciplining them for disrespect toward her." (Steven Cole)

- Christian women/wives, just the same as Christian men/ husbands, receive and experience God's grace. "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male or female, for you are all one in Christ." (Galatians 3:28) They equally share in eternal life, inheritance, and blessings of grace. God does not show favoritism.

- Disobedience/disregard to God's instruction concerning husband-wife relationship hinders one's spiritual fellowship with God and prayer life. "I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing." (1 Timothy 2:8) A Christian husband ought to honor God in the way he treats his wife. Simply put, you can’t ignore your wife, be angry with your wife, have an unresolved dispute with your wife, or mistreat your wife and expect God to be on your side and answer your prayers. The communication line between you and God is broken down when you fail to treat your wife as God intends. You cannot enjoy close communion with God.

Note: To read my post written for wives, click here.

Effective Ways to Win Your Husband Over to Christ

"Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the Word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives." (1 Peter 3:1-2 NIV)

Peter was saying that in the same way believers are to submit to governing authorities and slaves are to submit to their masters, and as Christ gave us the perfect example of humble submission, wives are to submit to their own husbands. 

A wife chooses willingly to place herself in a position under the headship of her husband so that there can be order and function in the family. This submission does not allow dictatorship by the husband and in no way implies superiority of the husband over the wife. Submission is necessary for oneness in marriage. Wives submit out of love for God and selfless love for their husbands, even the difficult, unsaved ones.

Effective Ways to Win Your Husband over to Christ:
1. Be cheerfully and lovingly submissive to your husband. Have a humble attitude that honors your husband as the leader of your home.
2. Be morally pure. Be prudent and self-controlled. Live in obedience to God. Your husband should see Christlikeness in you. Purity not just in conduct but also in thoughts/motives and desires. Examine your heart if you're being manipulative. Manipulation is not a pure motive.
3. Be reverent to God and be respectful to your husband. Honor, esteem, appreciate, adore, admire your husband. A wife is to speak respectfully to and about her husband (including when he is not present). A wife is to listen attentively to her husband when he talks. A wife is to respect her husband's opinions, decisions, and actions. Even when she disagrees, she must treat him with respect. No sarcasm. No belittling. No condescending tones. No contempt. No eye-rolling. Quit criticizing his decisions or the way he does things. When a husband keeps hearing critical comments from his wife, he feels disrespected. We wives can have a powerful influence on our husbands and marriage by simply choosing words that encourage and edify, words that build our husbands up, not tearing them down. Our husbands need us to be their greatest supporters/cheerleaders. 
4. Do not nag or be preachy or argumentative. "A quarrelsome wife is like the constant dripping of a leaky roof." (Proverbs 19:13b) "Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife." (Proverbs 21:9) Living with a nagging or quarrelsome wife will drive any husband crazy and likely drive him further away from the Lord. Peter was saying that the unbelieving husbands may be won over without words as they observe the pure, reverent, submissive behavior of their wives.
5. Have a gentle and quiet spirit (verse 4). This kind of inner beauty is precious/highly valued in God's sight. Inner beauty is highly valued by and attractive to your husband, too. Outer beauty fades but inner beauty is unfading. Gentleness/ meekness is strength under control. Being considerate, pleasant, and peace-loving in disposition. Not harsh or violent. A wife can show her husband gentleness in many ways: a soft embrace, a sweet smile, a kind deed, a caring tone of voice, and a patient understanding. Does your husband think of you as a gentle, refreshing, soothing breeze or a brute, destructive, ruthless sledge hammer? "Quiet" doesn't mean mute. A quiet woman is calm and not combative. She is confident in her role and secure in who she is in Christ. Her soul is at rest.

6. Do what is right (verse 6). If your husband yells at you in anger, do you yell back? "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." (Proverbs 15:1) Do what is right by responding in gentleness, kindness, patience, grace, and love.

Christian wives' exemplary conduct and character will be more influential than their words/arguments to their unregenerate husbands who are disobedient to the Word. The husbands will see the difference (transformation) that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has made in the lives of their wives. Live the Gospel before your husband (and children). Your husband may not care much about what you say regarding Christianity, Bible, or God but he cannot deny seeing Christ in you. As you abide in Christ, the fruit of the Spirit will be evident in your life. Your husband will take notice and be drawn to the source of your Godly character and behavior--your relationship with Jesus Christ. "I ask each wife, even if your husband is a believer, to take a look at your behavior in this spiritual mirror and ask, 'Is it attractive? Does it make my husband want to follow my Lord Jesus Christ?'” (Steven J. Cole)

"In our daily life and service
Let us true disciples be;
Being meek when others hurt us,
Lord, in us may they see Thee!" (Bosch)

"Sometimes our witness will be spurned

And nothing's left to say;
But if our lives are true to Christ,
His love we will convey." (DJD)

Note: To read my post written for husbands, click here.

Christ Is Risen!

"He is not here; He has risen, just as He said!" (Matthew 28:6a) Rejoice! He is risen! Happy Resurrection Day, everyone! The empty tomb gives hope to empty lives. Jesus gave His life to give us eternal life and abundant life. God is not dead; He is alive! "I AM the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever!" ~Jesus (Revelation 1:18) 
Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is the Living God, I AM, not "I was". 
"God will credit righteousness--for us who believe in Him Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." (Romans 4:24b-25)

Resurrection Day (Easter) is not about a new dress; it's about new birth!
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." (1 Peter 1:3)

"Outside of the cross of Jesus Christ, there is no hope in this world. That cross and resurrection at the core of the Gospel is the only hope for humanity. Wherever you go, ask God for wisdom on how to get that Gospel in, even in the toughest situations of life." (Ravi Zacharias)

"Believing the right things about Jesus isn't enough. You're not adopted as God's child until you confess and turn away from your wrongdoing and receive the freely offered gift of forgiveness and eternal life that Jesus purchased with his death on the cross. Until you do that, you'll always be on the outside looking in." (Lee Strobel)

"Because I live, you also will live!" ~Jesus (John 14:19b)

The resurrection of Jesus assures us of God's tomorrow. The glorious hope of living eternally with Him in Heaven enables us to live joyfully now regardless of life's sorrow. Because Christ is risen, we can have assurance of eternal life and resurrected bodies. We can have confidence that He is actively involved in our lives. He is interceding on our behalf. He is preparing a place for us in Heaven and He will return one day to bring us to our everlasting home. He always keeps His promises. He promises that those who abide in Him and do His will would bear much fruit for God's kingdom, enjoy spiritual blessings, and receive guidance from the indwelling Holy Spirit, Who is ever-present.

Death Defeated

Death was not in God's original plan when He made Adam and Eve; He wanted them to walk and talk and live with Him forever. But because of their disobedience/sin, death became certain for everyone. "The Lord God commanded the man, 'You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.'" (Genesis 2:16-17) We cannot avoid physical death but we can avoid spiritual death (being separate from God for eternity in Hell). God offers the gift of eternal life in Heaven to all who trust in Jesus and His finished work of redemption at the cross.
"Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:54b-57)

Jesus has defeated death by dying for our sins in our place. He paid the debt we could never pay. He died the death we deserve. 

"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." Colossians 2:13-15

No powers or authorities can come against Jesus. He conquered death and Satan. Ironically, Satan thought he defeated Jesus by crucifying Him but in reality, it was God's plan for redemption and triumphant Christ defeated His enemies through His death and resurrection. The powers holding mankind captive were defeated; therefore, in Christ, we have victory over sin and death. "By His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--and free those who all their lives were held  in slavery by their fear of death." (Hebrews 2:14b-15) The redeemed need not dread death. Death has no power over us who are alive in Christ. Because we are one with Christ, we have risen above its misery and finality. "I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" ~Jesus (John 11:25-26) 
Christ's resurrection changes everything! It proves that Jesus is truly Who He said He is, that His words are always true, that we have been completely forgiven and justified (His death for the payment of our sins was accepted), that our God is not dead (He is indeed omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient), and that there is certainly life after death. What you believe about Jesus matters! In fact, it's a matter of life and death!

"Very truly I tell you, whoever hears My Word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." ~Jesus (John 5:24)

For Christians:
"Life is your business--not death! 
Your only concerns are . . .
  living on Christ; 
  living for Christ; 
  living like Christ; and then, 
  living forever with Christ!" (James Smith)
 
"And so we will be with the Lord forever!" (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain!" (Philippians 1:21) 

"For the Christian, death is but the messenger of Christ to fetch us home to Himself!" (William Nicholson)
"My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better!" (Philippians 1:23) 

"Death for the Christian is the doorway to Heaven's glory." (Billy Graham)

"To me, as a believer in Jesus . . .

  death has no sting,
  the grave has no terrors,
  eternity awakens no alarms!

My sins are pardoned, for His name's sake,
my soul is justified, by His blood, and
my person is in eternal union with His.

To die is gain!

To die is to be perfectly holy and happy!

To die, is simply to go home to my Father's house--to inherit and inhabit the place that Jesus has prepared for me!

"I am dying." Shall I regret it? Shall I dread it? Oh, no! May the Lord give me grace, to hail my dying day with pleasure, and to rejoice in the thought of being absent from the body, and present with the Lord!" (James Smith)

Confidently Entrust Yourselves to the Just Judge

- Though Christ was insulted/ reviled/verbally attacked, He did not retaliate. Though He suffered, He never threatened to get even. Though He was sinned against, He never sinned in response. Instead, He entrusted Himself to His Heavenly Father who judges justly. He left the vindication in His Father's hand. We are to do likewise. He is our Example to imitate. Instead of retaliating or threatening, He prayed to the Father to forgive them. When we humbly submit to God's will and entrust ourselves to His care, we are less concerned with what others say about us or say to us. We can be still/silent and know that God will take care of us and the situations. It is best to look over offenses and look to the One who loves us with infinite love and watches over us with perfect wisdom. "He (Christ the Messiah) was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open his mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth." (Isaiah 53:7) His silence in the midst of suffering shows tremendous forbearance and self-control. May we confidently entrust ourselves to our Father who is the Just Judge to the point that we become unshakable and unoffendable! "That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know Whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day." (2 Timothy 1:12)

- It is natural for flesh to insult back when insulted. We demand fairness & the right to defend ourselves and insist on having the last word. Do you care more about being right or doing what's right (in God's eyes)? It takes supernatural strength, love, humility, gentleness, and self-control, empowered by the Holy Spirit for us to not just hold our tongue but also have the right attitude of the heart. We may be silent but still be fuming inside. We need God's help in fixing our heart/attitude. To return good for good is commendable and even natural. To return good for evil (to love our enemies) is Christlike and supernatural. "If you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live." (Romans 8:13)

"Our profession of faith in a just, sovereign God meets the acid test when we are opposed for taking a stand for the truth. If we strike back, we stand in our own strength. If we follow Jesus' example, we stand in the power of God. When the heat is on and we put our confidence in the Lord, we will be able to do what's right even when we're wronged." (from Our Daily Bread)

"We can endure life's wrongs because we know that God will make all things right." (Unknown)

- Christ's submission led to His crucifixion which brought salvation to the world. He who knew no sin bore our sins in His body on the cross to make atonement for our sins. "Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:4-6) Our sins were imputed to Him and His righteousness is imputed to us (to all who trust in Him as Lord and Savior and trust in His finished work of redemption at the cross). The greatest exchange of all time! He endured great pains, sufferings, and sorrows for sin so that we will be saved from sin and spiritual death. By His wounds, we have been healed from soul sickness caused by sin. He suffered and died so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. "Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to Him as an instrument of righteousness." (Romans 6:11-13)

Be Like Christ

There is no credit or commendation to believers for enduring a justly deserved punishment for wrongdoing/sin, but God is pleased when we endure and persevere through suffering for doing good...doing His will.

Christians are called to patiently endure suffering, persecution, and injustice. Christ is our Example as the suffering Servant-Savior. He's sinless yet He willingly suffered (unjust punishment) for us/for our sins. We, Christ's followers, should be willing to suffer for the sake of Christ and His Gospel. We are called to endure so that others may see Christ in us. "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him." (Philippians 1:29) "Join with me in suffering for the Gospel, by the power of God." (2 Timothy 1:8b) Our loving endurance and Christlike responses to mistreatment from others can be used by God to draw them to Christ. "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in Heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:10-11)

Jesus has no sin in His nature, nor does He commit any in His life. There's no deceit/falsehood in Him. He is perfect in every way. He is our Ultimate Role Model. Be like Christ! We are to imitate/copy Him in grace, love, humility, servanthood, submission, gentleness, forgiveness, kindness, holiness, long-suffering/patience, courage, and obedience. "Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did." (1 John 2:6)

Prayer: Father, I am so grateful that Jesus suffered and died for my sins so that I may live with You for eternity! Please be glorified in my life, even in my sufferings. Please empower me with Your Holy Spirit to react and respond to injustice and ill treatment in love and Christlikeness. Please mold me to be more and more like Christ in every way. Please enable me to patiently endure and persevere, come what may. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.

"If Christ be God and died for me, there is nothing too great that I can do for Him." (C.T. Studd)

As Servants of God

- It is God's will for us to do good to others (which includes submitting to authority)...to do what is right in His eyes. We are to live according to God's Word and obey the human laws so far as they are consistent with and not contrary to the commands/laws of God. Christians should certainly be law-abiding citizens.

- It is God's will that we should live so honorably and above reproach that the unbelievers will have no basis/reason for accusation. Live in such a way that those who don't know God (foolish people) shall have nothing to say against you. Ignorance is to be silenced by good deeds. Let our actions speak louder than our words and their words! "Live such good lives among the pagans that though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us." (1 Peter 2:12) "The world will not care about my testimony with the lip--unless there is also a testimony in my daily life for God, for truth, for holiness, for everything that is honest, lovely, pure and of good report." (Charles Spurgeon)

"There is no argument like a holy life!" (Robert Murray M'Cheyne)

"Men may refuse to see the truth of our arguments--but they cannot evade the evidence of a holy life. Live a holy life, brethren!" (J.C. Ryle)

"One of the best ways of meeting the accusations of our enemies is to lead a life of strict integrity. It is not easy for the wicked to reply to this argument." (Barnes)

- We are free because Christ paid the price for you and me with His precious blood. He frees us from sin, its power & punishment and from the curse & condemnation of the law. This liberty is not a license to sin or to do whatever we want. Do not use your freedom as a cover-up or an excuse for evil/a cloak of maliciousness. Do not abuse grace and freedom. We have been set free to live as God's slaves/bondservants. True freedom is found in freely submitting to God and living by His Word. We only want to do our Master's will. Living under God's authority gives us the greatest freedom of all. It gives us protection, direction, and security. "But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness...Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness and the result is eternal life." (Romans 6:17-18, 22) "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love." (Galatians 5:13) "A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all.  The key to that paradox is God. Freed by God from slavery to all human institutions; and sent by God freely and submissively into those institutions -- for His sake!" (Martin Luther)

- Show everyone the proper respect that is due to them according to their worth as those made in the image of God. Honor others above selves.

- Love (with agape love) all brothers and sisters in Christ around the world. We are one Body, belonging to the same family/household of faith.

- Fear (Revere) God. Make sure that God is the Center of our lives and is honored above all else. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7) "Fear the Lord and shun evil." (Proverbs 3:7b) "To fear the Lord is to hate evil." (Proverbs 8:13a) "Through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided." (Proverbs 16:6b)

- Honor the emperor/king/ruler. Most likely, the emperor at that time was Nero who was evil, cruel, and hostile to Christians. Yet, Christians were to honor him. By doing so, they ultimately honored God.

Called Out

 

- We are a chosen people. "For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight." (Ephesians 1:4) We are God's choice. 

- We are a royal priesthood. "The offices of royalty and priesthood were jealously separated in Israel, but Jesus, who is our King and Priest, has brought them together for His people." (Guzik) Because of Christ, we have full access to the Father. "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

- We are a holy nation. "'You will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.'" (Exodus 19:6a) God sets apart His children from the world to serve Him in wholehearted devotion. We're reborn to stand up and stand out for Christ. 

- We are God's special possession. We are the people belonging to God. "For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession." (Deuteronomy 7:6)

- We are saved to proclaim the praises/excellencies of Him Who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. "Giving joyful thanks to the Father, Who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light." (Colossians 1:12) "I will praise You, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders." (Psalm 9:1) We, the redeemed, are no longer under the dominion of darkness but under the rule of Jesus Christ. We are now children of light living in the kingdom of light. In the Bible, light represents truth, holiness, love, and life. We've been rescued to reflect our Redeemer, the Light of the World! Show and tell the world about God! The Greek work for church is "ekklesia" which means "called out". The Church/the Body of Christ are made up of those who have been called out of the world and darkness (sin) to love and serve Jesus Christ.
"You are called with a holy calling
The light of the world to be;
To lift up the lamp of the gospel
That others the light may see." (Unknown)

- Do you see yourself as God sees you? You are loved by God, chosen by God, treasured by God, called out by God, royal, priestly, and holy in God's eyes!

- What a contrast it is between life without Christ and life with Christ/in Christ! "You were redeemed from the empty way of life" (1 Peter 1:18b) Without Christ, life is empty with no hope, meaning, or purpose. "How the apostle delights to set forth these contrasts between the past and the present of the Lord’s chosen people! By remembering what we were, we are made to appreciate and enjoy more what we now are. We may well praise Him who has wrought this wondrous change in us. We were not His people, we were sinners of the Gentiles, not the chosen Hebrew race. In times past, we were not worthy to be called a people, but we are now the people of God. We had not obtained mercy, we had not even asked for it; some of us were so blinded by our self-righteousness that we did not know what we needed God’s mercy, or did not want it; but now we have obtained mercy." (Charles Spurgeon) Though we once deserved condemnation because of our unbelief, we are no longer under the sentence of judgment. "Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:4-5)

Living Stones

- Born again as a new creation in Christ, we have purified ourselves by obeying the truth so that we have sincere love for each other (see 1 Peter 1:22). When we obey God's Word and sincerely love each other, there's no room for malice (vice/viciousness), deceit (falsehood/craftiness/dishonesty/ trickery), hypocrisy (pretense/insincerity), envy (jealousy/ resentful discontent/coveting), or slander (hurtful talk/malicious speaking/evil speech/defamation/gossip/backbiting).  "Malice delights in another's hurt; envy pines at another's good; guile imparts duplicity to the heart; hypocrisy (flattery) imparts duplicity to the tongue; evil-speakings wound the character of another." (Augustine) As we are enabled by the Holy Spirit, God gives us the desire and power to put away these attitudes and action, but we must still carry out the "putting away"--that's our responsibility. It's a matter of obedience.

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness...Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen...Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love." (Ephesians 4:22-24, 29, 31-31; 5:1-2a)

- God is building a spiritual house/temple using living stones (Christians), those who have come to Jesus Christ, the Living Stone (rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to Him). We serve the Living Lord who is the Source of life. "In Him (Christ) the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit." (Ephesians 2:21-22) Christ is our Foundation. "So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: See, I lay a Stone in Zion, a tested Stone, a precious Cornerstone for a sure Foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.'" (Isaiah 28:16) To ponder: Are we living stones that build our lives on the Living Stone? Are we being lively memorial stones that are visible and stand out as monuments of God's goodness, grace, and faithfulness...to help ourselves, our children, and others remember what God has done? "You were full of sin. Far from being stones that were white with purity--you were black with defilement, seemingly utterly unfit to be stones in the spiritual temple, which would be the dwelling-place of the Most High God. And yet, He chose you to be trophies of His grace!" (Charles Spurgeon) "True believers are stones full of life, so joined to Christ as to be part of the live rock, instinct with spiritual vitality. God has quickened them from the dead. The Holy Spirit has come to take possession of them. Whereas once they were dead in trespasses (Ephesians 2:1) and sins they now live by the living seed that God has put into them, and the life that they live in the flesh is the life of Christ within them. “I no longer live,” said the apostle, “but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Can your eye of faith see that temple of God made up of living men and women, not alive through the life of the First Adam but alive through that Second Adam, of whom it is said, “The last Adam became a life-giving spirit” (1 Corinthians 15:45)." (Charles Spurgeon) "To really live we need passion for Jesus and purpose to serve Him...We represent hope to people who may have given up on finding real life. We are stones rolled away, giving them a glance into the empty tomb. We provide evidence that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life...Share what God is doing in your life and commit to be a living stone before your friend." (Beth Moore)

- Because Christ's sacrifice gives us direct access to the throne of God, we Christ's followers become holy priests, set apart for His use. Each one of us is to function as a priest whose purpose is to serve God, our King. Aside from living a holy life in a close relationship with God, our main duty is to bring others closer to Him. We are to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. "Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor Me." (Psalm 50:23a) "My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, You, God, will not despise." (Psalm 51:17) "I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship." (Romans 12:1) "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that openly profess His Name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." (Hebrews 13:15-16)

"WHAT ARE BELIEVERS? "Stones," for every Christian has that in him which is solid, durable, and ornamental. 

The grace of God gives a man solidity--he cannot be as light, trifling, and vain as he used to be. He has solid and settled thoughts upon high and holy subjects; he has solid hopes and joys. He is not carried about with every wind of doctrine--but becomes established and settled in the faith. 

He is durable too. Others fall away--but he endures to the end. Once fixed on the foundation, once really united to Christ, he remains built on Christ forever. 

He is ornamental too. Some stones are capable of taking a very high polish, and so is the Christian. The polished stones in God's temple will catch the rays of His glory and reflect them; and in every stone, the great Builder will see His own lovely likeness reflected. 

They are living stones. They are living, each one being quickened by divine grace, and made new creatures. They are lively, made so by divine communications, and kept so by fellowship with Jesus, the life-giving stone.

These living stones are not thrown together in confusion--but each one is fitted for his place before he is put into it. Every separate stone is laid on the foundation, which bears the entire weighs of the whole building. All the stones are united to the foundation, by a cement so strong, that nothing can ever separate them. The Holy Spirit acts as the cement in this spiritual building. He . . .
  brings us to Christ, 
  lays us on Christ, 
  unites us to Christ, and
  keeps us in eternal union with Christ!

These living stones are a holy priesthood.
Being stripped of their natural and carnal coverings, 
being washed in the laver of regeneration, 
being clothed with the garments of salvation, 
and covered with the robe of righteousness, 
and being consecrated by the application of the blood of atonement, and the holy anointing oil, the unction from the Holy One--they are prepared and qualified to officiate in this living temple. 

These living stones are to offer up spiritual sacrifices. This they are to do continually, the sacrifices of prayer and praise, which like holy incense, ascends as a precious perfume to God." (James Smith) 

The Word of the Lord Endures Forever

- This is a quote from Isaiah 40:6-8. All people are like grass; they eventually die. Life (flesh) is fragile and short. All the glory of people is like the flowers of the field; they can flourish and look beautiful for a while but they eventually wither and fall. Wealth, health, beauty, strength, fame, power, accomplishments...are fleeting and passing away. All earthly things perish. You cannot take any of it with you when you die. That's why we should be eternally grateful to God for our new birth, living hope, & imperishable inheritance and live in humble submission & utmost reverence to Him. "The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and His righteousness with their children's children--with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts." (Psalm 103:15-18)

"The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power,
And all that beauty, all that wealth e’er gave,
Awaits alike the inevitable hour,
The paths of glory lead but to the grave." (Thomas Gray)

- But the Word of the Lord remains forever! The Gospel of Jesus Christ will never pass away. "Amidst all the revolutions on earth, the fading glories of natural objects, and the wasting strength of man, God's truth remains unaffected. Its beauty never fades; its power is never enfeebled. The gospel system is as lovely now as when it was first revealed to man, and it has as much power to save as it had when first applied to the human heart." (Barnes) Focus on what matters. "Lord, stamp eternity on my eyeballs." (Jonathan Edwards) It is indeed foolish to put our trust in anything temporal. Trust in God and trust what God says for His Word is trustworthy, living, active, and enduring/indestructible.

"Before the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947, the oldest Hebrew manuscripts dated about A. D. 900. The Dead Sea Scrolls, in startling agreement with the Masoretic text, dated to about 150 B.C. But now archaeologists have discovered a pair of tiny silver scrolls that date back to about 600 B.C.! While digging at the site of a fifth-century church in Jerusalem, researchers found a Roman legionnaires' cemetery. Exploring still deeper, they found a small burial cave containing the scrolls. Very carefully, less than a hundredth of an inch at a time, the scrolls were unrolled. On each of them appeared an excerpt from the book of Numbers that included the word Jehovah. And these scrolls date back to the days before the exile to Babylon, earlier than liberal scholars supposed that the Pentateuch had even been written! The Bible has been wonderfully and accurately preserved. Copies of portions of the New Testament, dating to within fifty years of the original manuscripts, have been found, and they coincide with what we have today The Bible can be trusted as the inspired, inerrant Word of God." (D. C. Egner)

"THIS BOOK contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners and the happiness of believers.

Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.

Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe and practice it to be holy.

It contains light to direct you, food to support you and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword and the Christian's character.

Here paradise is restored, heaven opened and the gates of hell disclosed.

Christ is its grand object, our good is its design and the glory of God its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.

Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully.

It is given you in life and will be opened in the judgment and will be remembered forever.

It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labour, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents." (Unknown) 

I wrote a Haiku based on these verses:
People like grass die
Their glory is like flowers
They soon fade and fall

But God's Word endures
Focus on what truly counts
Share the Gospel, y'all