God's Direction

People who have received Christ as personal Savior need to build their life on godly principles. To build a life that is godly, one must carefully follow biblical guidelines. God wants the best for each person, so He has made sure that specific instruction is provided to help people live a life that is pleasing to Him. The following bible verses suggest God’s direction for godly living.

Scripture says ⁹“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.  ¹⁰By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.  ¹²For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  ¹²If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. ¹⁴ If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.” (1 Corinthians 3:9-14). Godly living involves:

1)  Collaboration with God.  God calls us to work together with Him. Without God’s divine help we cannot live the way He wants us to live. That is why we are called “God’s fellow workers” (1 Corinthians 3:9). We cooperate together with God to develop and maintain godly living.

2)    Establishing a Firm Foundation.  A firm base is necessary for constructing a building that is solid and stable. For an individual the only foundation that is completely stable is that “which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). When we build on Christ, we have an unmovable foundation.

3)    Being careful in How the work is done.  Some people approach life haphazardly, while others spend time making precise plans for living. The scriptural instruction is “be careful how we build” (1 Corinthians 3:10). To be cautious takes much godly wisdom.

4)    Using Quality Materials.  “You get what you pay for” is a saying that applies to a godly life because “the fire will test the quality” (1 Corinthians 3:13). People easily recognize when the highest value is used to build one's life.

5)    Obtaining Results that have Enduring Worth.  A godly life that is built well will stand the test of time. That life will stand secure and continue to make a difference for the cause of Christ by experiencing lasting results. It can then be said, “What he has built survives” (1 Corinthians 3:14).

Will the things that you do to build your life reap benefits for Christ and His kingdom? Will God look at you one day and say, “Well done good and faithful servant?” Let us make sure we are following God’s direction for godly living.

Strategy of Planning

In the past, all of us have often been given a project to complete – at school, at work, at home, in the community, or on a team.  When we start working on a project the first thing we need to ask ourselves is, “Where should I begin?”  The answer to that question is simple – we should begin at the beginning; and of course, the beginning should include a plan. The plan should answer additional questions such as: (1) What should the completed project look like? (2) Who are the people who might help design and work on the project? (3) What resources are available for me to use? (4) What will be expected of everyone who participates in the project? (5) Is there a timeline identified to check progress? (6) How will the final project be presented and promoted?

The Bible identifies things that plans should include such as:

 1)    Progress: Plans should help propel the project to accomplishment. “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5).

2)    Guidance: Plans need the counsel of others. “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22).

3)    Spiritual Dimension: Plans made with God in mind point to success. “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” (Proverbs 16:3).

4)    Completion: Plans should include finishing the project. “Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means” (2 Corinthians 8:11).

Do you have a project to complete? Have you put together plans for that project? Have you included God and other counselors in your plan? Are you ready to give God the glory for His guidance and help as you proceed? The Bible reminds us, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Old and New

Depending on our age we have different perspectives about what is “old” and what is “new.”  When we were young, old things seemed irrelevant, outdated, and invaluable. As we matured, older things appeared meaningful, were accepted as antiques to enjoy, and were items to be conserved and cherished.

Actions, attitudes, and physical things from the past may be old but they are good and should be valued. For example, wisdom comes from those who are older. “Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?” (Job 12:12). Good things that are old need to be valued. “Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you” (Deuteronomy 32:7).

Jewish religious leaders enjoyed their old oral traditions, so they added others to the written law. Of course, it is not surprising that the religious leaders wanted to keep these traditions because they had great meaning for them. However, when Jesus came on the scene, he brought something new – a personal relationship with God. That meant that certain old traditions should be set aside because the new had come and it was much better.

The new is exactly what Jesus came to offer including a new life. “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:4). In addition, freedom in Christ was now possible. “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin” (Romans 6:6).

The Apostle Paul pointed to the new when he identified a lifestyle with Christ. The new begins with being “in Christ.” He said, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here” (2 Corinthians 5:17). With faith and trust in Christ we can enjoy a new life through the power that God gives us. That means that we can do away with the old self and become a new and different person in all that we think and do. It is time that we become “new” in Christ because it will make a tremendous difference in the way we live. With a personal relationship with God through faith and trust in Jesus Christ we can become involved in a companionship that empowers us to live for God by the power of God’s Spirit.

Where Has the Time Gone

As another year passes, you might ask the question, “Where has the time gone?”  You look at your children, and it seems that just a brief time ago they were in elementary school. Now they are adults with children of their own. You have an important home project to complete, but a year has passed, and the project is still incomplete. Your home needs remodeling and you think you have all the time in the world to get the project completed. But you know that it is not going to happen. You are close to retirement, but you have no plans for what you will do when you step away from your work. So, the question keeps coming up – “How has another year passed so quickly?”

The Bible notes that a lifetime is just like a mist or a shadow that is present for an abbreviated time and then fades away. Scripture says, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14). It also says, “Man … springs up like a flower and withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure” (Job 14:1-2). The psalmist summed up his thoughts on time when he said, “Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away” (Psalms 90:10). Where has the time gone and what can we do about it? Here are ways to address the quick passing of time.

 1)    Recognize the brevity of life. “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is” (Psalm 29:4).

2)    Live your life in a godly way. “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15).

3)    Wisely use the time allotted to you. “Making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).

4)    Determine that you need a personal heart change regarding time. “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

5)    Plan ways to influence others. “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders” (Colossians 4:5).

The brevity of life should cause each of us to evaluate how we use the time God has given us. Soon, time will run out for us. We need to make an impact for the cause of the Lord before it is too late. Make sure your life counts for Christ, for family, and for eternity.

God-Gifts of Christmas

We enjoy receiving gifts any time during the year, but we especially enjoy them at Christmas. Most of the time the wrapped gifts we receive include physical things, but other gifts, not wrapped, may come as intangible things like love and care by family members, good health, Christmas music, beautiful decorations, and celebrations with special friends or family. Did you know that the Bible tells us that God has given gifts to people? The phrase, “Gift of God,” occurs several times in the Bible and here are some of these God-gifts.

1)    The Gift of Salvation. The Bible says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation is God’s deliverance of people from the power and effects of sin through the work of Jesus Christ dying on the cross to pay the penalty of our sin. Salvation is the sinner's rescue from death to life with God.

2)    The Gift of God’s Grace. The Apostle Paul tells us, “I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power” (Ephesians 3:7). Since all of us are sinners, we must rely on Jesus’ death on the cross on our behalf to receive forgiveness of sin and enjoy eternal salvation.

3)    The Gift of Eternal Life. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). This gift is available to anyone who believes in Christ and trusts that he died to pay the penalty of sin which we deserved to pay. Without Jesus Christ, it would be impossible for us to live with God forever.

4)    The Gift of Righteousness. Scripture explains, “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!” (Romans 5:17). When anyone puts their faith and trust in Jesus alone, they step into righteousness, which is only available because Jesus died on the cross for each of us. We become righteous, not because of anything we have done, but on what Christ had done.

5)    The Gift of Life. The Bible says, “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers” (I Peter 3:7). Marriage is a blending of two lives, and when a man has found a virtuous woman to marry, she becomes a precious gift – the gift of life.

Obviously, these God-gifts originate with God himself. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father [God] of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17). We can enjoy these God-given-gifts all year long, but they are particularly precious during the Christmas season. Have you personally received these gifts from God? They are yours for the receiving. Take time to thank God for what he has given you. Do not let Christmas slip by without showing your appreciation to God for the wonderful gifts he has provided for you.

What is Needed

Has someone ever done something for you which you appreciated but you failed to respond to them?  Maybe you just forgot to thank them.  Have you ever done something for someone who seemed to appreciate what you did, but did not respond to you?  Maybe they just forget to respond.   Obviously, there is something that is needed in these situations which is sorely absent.  That something is an expression of thanks from a grateful heart.

The Bible tells us that Jesus came upon 10 individuals who had a communicable disease.  They stood to the side (as they were required to do) but they called out to Jesus for help.  Jesus told them go show themselves to the priest.  When they did, each of them was completely healed.  Scripture goes on to say, “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice” (Luke 17:15).  What a gracious response this was.  Jesus asked him, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?” (Luke 17:17).  Good question.  For the nine men, thankfulness from a grateful heart was missing.

When we have been helped or encouraged by someone, we need to be thankful, express our thanks to them, and give God the thanks that he deserves.  During this November and December let’s not get so busy that we forget to express our thanks when someone does something for us. The Bible says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). This verse suggests several things:

1)    We need to be Thankful.  “Give thanks” implies that we should be active in our expression of thanks.  As soon as an act is completed, we need to say, “thank you”.

2)    We need to be Thankful in all Situations.  “In all circumstances” means that whether times are good or bad or even if thankfulness does not seem to be the right thing to do, we need to gratefully respond.

3)    We need to Remember that it is God’s Desire for us to be Thankful.  “God’s will for you” suggests that when we show appreciation, God is pleased and we are doing the right thing.

What about you?  Do you need to be more expressive in giving thanks to God and to others?  Let’s follow the example of the individual in the biblical story who came back to express his thanks.  Each day this month try to take time to express thanks to God for at least one thing he has done for you. Then, find one other person with whom you can share your gratefulness.

Put a Smile on Your Face

Have you ever thought about what a smile can do for you and for others?  Dr. Mark Stibich has written about smiling and has documented his writing with the research others have done on the subject.  Among other things, smiling helps relieve stress, elevates your mood, and even helps you live longer. It may also lower blood pressure, reduce pain, boost your immune system, and help you stay positive.  In addition, smiling is contagious.  A person’s brain automatically notices and interprets other people's facial expressions—which they sometimes mimic.

The word “smile” is not mentioned in the Bible, but the following verses suggest that a smile is connected to:

1)    Source.  A Smile comes from a happy heart. The Bible says, “A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit” (Proverbs 15:13).

2)    Nourishment.  A Cheerful Heart not only brings a smile, but it is something that nourishes people.  Scripture says, “All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast” (Proverbs 15:15).

3)    Health.  A Cheerful Heart brings a Smile, but it also provides health to the body. In the Bible we are told, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22).

Smiles are a great way to do a lot of things.  For example, a smile will provide a warm welcome for people, bring encouragement to them, and let them know they are important.  In addition, a smile reveals love and shows kindness.

Leo F. Buscaglia said, “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”  Let’s think about smiling more.  A smile is good for you.  A smile is good for other people.  A smile will please God.