Tuesday 9 August 2016

Ten Points Christians Should Live by

Ten points Christians should live by.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.  
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  
Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  
Romans 12:9-18.
The apostle Paul says it all when it comes to how a Christian must act.
1. Our “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
Sincere love is essential in the Christian life. The apostle Paul defines love when he writes,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”  
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.
This is the kind of love we must practice at all times.
2. “Honor one another above yourselves.”
Sadly too many in the church do not honour those around them above themselves. They put themselves ahead of their brother in Christ. This should not be so. We must build each other up and not be exalted above others in our own eyes. As Jesus humbled himself so should we.
3. “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”
Everyone who serves the Lord has their spiritual fervor ebb and flow. Thus we should be pressing into God. Studying the scriptures, and praying continually especially when we are in a low spot in our walk.
4. ”Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Prayer here is the key. We will go through many things in life good and bad but if we are faithful in our prayer life God will help us and sustain us even through our worst days on this earth. Keeping our hope alive.
5.  “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
As Christians we should be doing all we can to help our brethren who are in need. We should also be practicing hospitality. Inviting people to our home showing love to them.
6. “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
Here is a true trait of a Christian to pray blessings on our persecutors and love our enemies.
7. “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
As Christians it is important that we show sympathy to those around us in whatever circumstance they are going through be it good or bad.
8. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 
We as Christians must never be conceited or proud. Never be unwilling to associate with anyone. We must as far as it is possible live in harmony with those around us. If we do not we will not be able to reach people for Christ.
9. “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.”
We must live a good life. Never repaying evil for evil. But doing our best to always do what is right, morally, ethically and legally.
10. “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
The Writer of Hebrews states,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.
These are ten points Christians should live by.

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