Christian Characteristics

Our belief in Christ transforms us. It isn’t what we do, but what we allow the Lord to do in our lives. After we are forgiven by the grace and mercy of our God, something inside of us changes. Because we were humble and accepted the Lord in our lives, His blood covers our sins. In this process, our minds are renewed and are given over to do things that are greater and for His kingdom. Even what we do and say is different. It isn’t because we are working harder to achieve something, it is because we are listening to the Holy Spirit and allowing God to lead us. It is this experience that gives us the faith we need to carry on. We are no longer ashamed of our past but can keep our heads high as we live a life for Christ. Paul mentioned just a few of these qualities that are in a Christian’s life. And as I mention a few of these things, think about your own life and how you are doing in these things. He said, “fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” Showing love to one another is fulfilling one of God’s greatest commandments, 1“thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” He also said, 3“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” As we show love, we don’t lift ourselves up but others. Other people’s needs become our top priority. People are then cared for and God’s love is demonstrated.

The early church members are a great example of how a Christian ought to live a life for Christ. When I say ought to, it means desire to live righteously and get off of the path of wickedness. 2It isn’t us that leads us to do these things but the Holy Spirit, that comes when we are born again. Paul continued to share the qualities of Christians. He said, 3“look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” When we look outside ourselves, we can do a great matter of good for other people. We become less selfish and more selfless towards those in need. He continued, 3“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” So what type of person leads us to lives this way? A life in the Lord. As we seek Him often in His Word, the Bible, and through prayer, His qualities eventually become our own. What He loves and serves, we do also. This is because our hearts are knit with Him. As we abide in the Lord, His willpower is inside of us and we are able to do things we never thought were possible. Most importantly Paul taught them, 3“work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” It is vital to know where we stand with God and where He can improve upon, in our lives. Paul says it better here, 3“it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” As we come unto the Lord, He is then able to work through us. We are then able to 3“shine as lights in the world.”

Let us pray:
Lord, help me to continue to live out my life, while strong in the faith. Give me the strength to carry on. Help me to not be tempted and fall into sin. May my faith be continually raised up, that I may fight against sin and the ways of wickedness. Please send Your Holy Spirit to guide me. I need Your direction, God. Help me to continually look to You in faith and to love others as much as I love You. May Your love flow through my veins and into the lives of everyone that I touch. May more people be uplifted and cared for as You work through my life. Lead me to people in need. Help me to show kindness and compassion towards them. May I know their needs and love on them, as You love on me. Have Your way inside of me, that I may better follow You and treat others with respect. I pray that Your light will shine down upon me. May others see this joy in my life and seek it for themselves. I know that only You give us the happiness we need. What You give never ends and that is what I strive for. I love You. Amen.

Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.

1Matthew 22:35-40 (KJV)
35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

2John 3:1-7 (KJV)
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

3Philippians 2:1-18 (KJV)
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

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