People who are attractive need to thank their ancestry. A pretty face is a gift from our DNA. Too many Christians believe that a beautiful Christian character is something that ‘just happens’ in the same way. They are quite certain that a person needs the ‘right’ parents and the ‘right’ church to develop the likeness of Jesus. Similarly, many think that failure and moral collapse results from some kind of bad ‘luck’ too. We speak of someone 'falling into sin' as though we have no idea how or why it happened, as though it is just fate.
Few things bring me greater joy than seeing a person who was mired in misery, living for Self, enslaved to self-defeating habits come to Christ, get saved, and start to become something beautiful! My grandfather, an immigrant with no regard for the things of God, met Christ in a tent revival and left his old life behind. He became a follower of Christ and was profoundly changed. Many in my circle of friends were on a dead-end road until they accepted the truth of the Gospel. They have continued to choose Truth, and their lives are transformed, a little each day! I love a good ‘testimony!’
God calls us to faith, equips us to please Him, and invites us to grow in grace. Then, it is our decision. We can become a great Christian, or we can flirt with temptation until we fall. That choice is ours! Am I suggesting that we can save ourselves by making good choices? No! The foundation of Christianity is the gift of grace that comes through Christ Jesus. But, being a follower, living a beautiful Christian life filled with spiritual fruit is a process in which we must be consistently engaged. There are daily choices we make that will open our heart and mind to the Spirit, which will allow the grace grow in us replacing sin’s dysfunction with Christ’s wholeness.
So, what are the choices for growth?
There is learning and living the Scripture's Truth. "Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do." (Joshua 1:8, NLT) Want to know why so many disciples are so wobbly weak, so inconsistent? They are on a spiritual starvation diet! They can recite sports stats with passion but have no working knowledge of the Scripture or what it means! They may know Bible stories, but they do not adopt Scripture as the rule for life. The Bible rearranges our mind- putting God at the center, making our purpose to know Him, and our destiny to live with Him forever. Those who own the Scripture, need not haul out their Bible at every moment, for the Truth is at work within them. "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. ... Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." (Psalm 119:11,105, NIV)
There is prayer, constant contact with the Spirit. "If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives." (Galatians 5:25, NLT) No friendship can flourish IF those claiming to be close do not speak to one another or do not make time to do things together, can it? If we only pray on Sunday morning or when we jammed up by life, how will we ever be a friend of God? He invites us to turn our thoughts to Him in the morning, through the day, and as the day closes. We sing to Him, we speak to Him, we think often of Him. Yes, this is not only possible, it is a wonderful way of life. Learning to live near to the heart of God is a key to becoming a beautiful Christian. Why? Because where HE is, sin is not!
A great Christian is not an accident of fate or DNA. He is one by pursuit of the Holy One, by pressing to stand near to His Lord, and putting the sinful nature to death by the power of God. So, we present ourselves to God. We learn the Truth and the Spirit reveals it to us. We engage with Him, letting Self die and the Spirit rule. We choose to learn, to serve, to pray, to love, to forgive, to give ... whatever He asks ... and we do so without complaint. That is the process by which God grows great Christians, and others seeing the quality of our lives give Him praise.
Here is a word from the Word. "Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is." (Romans 12:2, NLT) "And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more." (2 Corinthians 3:18, NLT)
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This Is Amazing Grace (listen and worship!)
Who breaks the power of sin and darkness?
Whose love is mighty and so much stronger?
The King of Glory, the King above all kings!
Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder?
Who leaves us breathless in awe and wonder?
The King of Glory, the King above all kings!
This is amazing grace.
This is unfailing love.
That You would take my place,
That You would bear my cross.
You laid down Your life,
That I would be set free.
Oh Jesus, I sing for all that You've done for me.
Who brings our chaos back into order?
Who makes the orphan a son and daughter?
The King of Glory, the King of Glory.
Who rules the nations with truth and justice,
Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance?
The King of Glory, the King above all kings.
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave.
Jeremy Riddle | Josh Farro | Phil Wickham
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Jerry D. Scott, Pastor
FAITH DISCOVERY CHURCH
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