Be Like Christ

Christians are called to be like Christ.  This is actually what the name, Christian, means.

But when a Christian acts like Christ, it is a miracle.  Most Christians act like everyone else in the world.

Christ Jesus told us the Commandments of love to follow, and commandments are requirements.  When we do this, we stand out.

We, Christians, must love God first and everyone else second.  This type of love is unconditional, which means generous, with pure motives, no expectations, never critical, always encouraging and totally forgiving in thought, word and deed.

This high standard is impossible without Jesus leading our lives and when this miracle happens, everyone will notice.  Jesus Christ's help is only a prayer away.

Gift of Love

At Christmas, Christians celebrate the greatest gift ever received -- Jesus Christ.  After we receive Jesus and get His gift of salvation, we study His words for direction.

Jesus tells us to love, not as the world does but at a much higher level.  We must love everyone in thought, word and deed, no matter what the situation.

This Christmas I received a vehicle for free.  I was selling my car but the person was struggling to come up with the money.

When praying for direction, the Lord said, " Freely receive, freely give," so I gave the car away.  Only when we put the Lord first can we know how to love at the level He expects from us.

Christ's Powerful Love

Many people in this world try to become gods, either through religious beliefs or worldly gain.  This drive for power and control stems from their fear and selfishness.

Humans do not have the capacity to handle power and be loving.  Only one person in history could do this, Jesus Christ.

Jesus accomplished this amazing feat because He was both human and divine.  And, He still provides believers with supernatural support to fearlessly handle anything in life with unconditional love.

When Christians follow Christ's direction, they will miraculously stand apart from this world with their love, joy, peace, patience, faith and self-control.  This powerful love is only a prayer away.

Praying For Faith

As a Christian in a spiritual battle with evil, I'm often praying for faith building experiences. However, I always leave the what, where and when up to my Eternal Father.

While swimming in the pool one day, I tried to touch the bottom and could not.  Since this was impossible with my hands, I decided to quit swimming and sink down so my feet would touch bottom.

Then the impossible happened.  I did not sink but was lifted up waist high in six feet of water with me only being 5 foot 3 inches.

Then God said, "I will lift you up and never let you sink."  I started laughing and crying from His overpowering love and joy.

What a relationship!  Greater faith is only a prayer away!

My Real Father

Ever since I can remember my earthly father has taken his anger out on me.  These experiences have always made me feel afraid and worthless.

However, this changed after meeting my Heavenly Father.  He gave me out-of-this-world unconditional love and for the first time in my life I felt special.

This supernatural support continued when I visited my father and he yelled at me.  As I started to feel worthless again, my Heavenly Father came to me and said, "This is not your father, I am your Father."

With this declaration, He filled me with love, and I was reminded of the perspective I needed for a joyful life.  Our Loving Father is only a prayer away.

With Love and Joy

The Holy Spirit had told me many times that I must serve others with love and joy in my heart.  I tried and tried to do this but failed.

I finally prayed for help and received an astonishing experience.  Christ Jesus gave me a small part of His supernatural love for everyone and the horrible anguish He suffered for us.

These incredibly strong duel feelings melted my heart and gave me the desire to spread His love and joy.  The fastest path to change is just a prayer away!

Prayer Makes A Difference

As I struggled in my life to figure out how to bring together worldly beliefs and spiritual knowledge, my father had a massive stroke.  The doctors told us the damage was so extensive that he could not live.

Because he's an atheist, I went daily to his hospital room and prayed for his salvation.  

While my father did not become a Christian, he did miraculously survive and return home.  God gave him another chance for salvation, and I still continue to pray for him.

Prayer makes a difference!

Pray For Spiritual Growth

Jude wrote this letter to warn others about the godless men among them.  These abusers lied, deceived, complained, boasted about themselves, flattered others for their own advantage and denied Jesus Christ.  

Jude told the believers to keep themselves in God's love with faith and prayer in the Holy Spirit.

Like most of the letters in the New Testament, Jude addresses problems in the church that are just as timely today.  Why has nothing changed in almost 2,000 years?

Believing the truth is only the first step.  For spiritual growth to occur, the truth of Jesus Christ must be applied daily, which takes awareness and work.  To begin, help is just a prayer away.

Really Follow Christ

The third letter Apostle John wrote was to a dear friend, Gaius.  John praised his friend for walking in the truth and love of Jesus Christ with hospitality for other church members.

If Christians really knew the truth and love of Jesus Christ, they would act nice.  All Christians are called to stand apart from the world with their patience, joy, peace, love, self-control and kindness.

Unfortunately, most of us do not.  But help for spiritual growth is only a prayer away!

Be Christ's Ambassador

Apostle John wrote in his second letter about how Christians should love one another and walk in obedience to the commandment of love.  He warned about deceiving leaders and stressed the importance of learning both the Father and Son's teachings.

Even Christians about 2,000 years later still need Saint John's wise advice.  History repeats because humans do not change enough, which includes most Christians.

Our Lord Jesus Christ calls us to great spiritual growth in thought, word and deed.  This means we no longer follow worldly values, beliefs and expectations.

To follow Christ, we must step out in sacrificial love, faithful obedience and a clear knowledge of God's Word.  Pray to become Christ's ambassador!

Rise Above the World

Apostle Peter wrote to Christians on how to have holy lives by increasing their faith, knowledge, self-control, kindness, perseverance, godliness and love.  This spiritual growth would keep them effective and productive in their ministry for the Lord Jesus Christ.  

Peter, also, warned about the false prophets and teachers that introduced such destructive heresies that condemnation would result. Over 2,000 years later, Apostle Peter's advice is still relevant today.  

If all Christians grew spiritually by increasing their faith, knowledge, self-control and love, we would be such effective and productive disciples of Christ that this world would be very different.  However, it appears that the false prophets and teachers have won.  But Christ still calls His believers to rise above this world and follow Him!

Spiritual Maturity Requires Self-discipline

Apostle James wrote to the churches about joyfully accepting their trials because these tested the faith, developed perseverance and promoted spiritual maturity, so they could enter heaven.  

Followers needed self-discipline in speech and behavior to respond thoughtfully, listen carefully and avoid worldly influence.  If God did not answer their prayers, they needed to stop asking with selfish motives, like pleasure, gain, ambition, fame, coveting, anger, impatience, etc.

If Christians want spiritual maturity, they need to develop the incredible self-discipline and obedience that the Lord teaches.  

Only in a personal relationship with the Trinity can humans transcend the physical and worldly distractions to spiritually prepare for heaven.  Luckily for us, help is only a prayer away. 

Work Hard For Love!

In Apostle Paul's second letter to Timothy, he encouraged his spiritual son to be strong, confident, calm in all situations and prepared for any thing, because all followers of Jesus Christ will be persecuted.  

Paul advised him to turn away from worldly affairs, like godless chatter, resentment, foolish arguments and quarreling about words.  Also, Timothy needed to lead a holy life of righteousness, faith, love, truth, kindness, gentleness and peace.

This is excellent advice on how Christians should conduct their lives today.  If the followers of Christ exhibited these holy examples, their churches would be peaceful and filled with love.  

However, being loving requires hard work to accomplish, and it is so much easier to quarrel and blame.

Be A Role Model

In the first letter to the Thessalonians, Apostle Paul wrote how he thanked God and prayed for them.  He was delighted how the Gospel came to them in deep conviction from the Holy Spirit.  

Despite their persecution, they were a model for other believers, and he told them to pray continuously, always be joyful, remain thankful in all circumstances, value prophesies and test everything.

All Christians should have the Gospel from the power of the Holy Spirit.  With this deep faith, they could all become role models for the world and stand out in love.  

This can happen through continuous prayer and the joyous peace from Jesus Christ.  

Strive for greater things!

Message of Love

When in prison, Paul wrote the Colossians to praise them for their faith and love in Jesus Christ.  

For Christ filled lives, believers needed to have compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, love, peace and wisdom.  Along with a devotion to prayer, they should be watchful and thankful for any opportunity to spread the gospel with grace.

There seemed to be an ongoing theme of overwhelming niceness that described the early Christians.  While these requirements were hard to follow, this behavior defined the early martyrs and spread the gospel, until the religion went mainstream and corrupt.

However, Christ still calls His believers to be extra nice, even to the point of loving everyone.  This message of love has not changed!

Mature Spiritually

When Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians, he told them how pleased he was with their love and wanted them to be filled with the full measure of God.  

He urged them to reach spiritual maturity, so every wind of teaching and cunning by deceitful men would not corrupt them.  To do this, they must be truthful, faithful, humble, gentle, patient, loving, thankful, complimentary, peaceful, respectful, righteous, good and holy.

After people believe and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, then they must begin the work of spiritual growth.  Any Christian that follows the world with its violence, anger, greed, bitterness, slander, fear, etc. are immature.  

These immature Christians have caused horror and tragedy in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who said to love our enemies and turn the other cheek.

Equality Under God

Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians in defense of his ministry.  

Through their faith and salvation in Jesus Christ, everyone became equal.  As believers in Christ, they received freedom in the Spirit to serve one another in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness and self-control. 

Once people accept Jesus Christ and have the Holy Spirit, they realize everyone is equal under God.  

Then why so many violent Christians?  Using the Christian label does not make people Christians unless they live in step with the Spirit by showing their fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness and self-control. 

Grow Spiritually

With the second letter to the Corinthians, Paul addressed conflict, love and spiritual growth.  

He used his own life of suffering and danger to verity the truth he preached.  Also, Paul shared wondrous visions and revelations from the Lord that took him to greater spiritual heights.

When people reduce the conflict and raise their love, spiritual growth will result.  

The Lord will give anyone that qualifies with sincerity and truth amazing visions and revelations.  

Greater spiritual heights are available for all believers!

Be Loving

In the first letter to the Corinthians from the Bible, Paul explained about spiritual gifts.  While each member of the church had a gift, the most excellent one was love.

Love was patient, kind, always protected, trusted, hoped and persevered.

It was never envious, boastful, proud, rude, self-seeking or easily angered.

  

Love did not keep any record of wrong doings or delight in evil but rejoiced with the truth.

This list of important qualities is difficult to follow but absolutely necessary for spiritual growth.  The Lord calls us to be loving beings no matter what the circumstances, even with our enemies.  

As God is Love, so must we be!

Get The Power!

Investigator Luke, also, wrote the Bible book of Acts.  His report began with Jesus Christ's many after death appearances and final ascension into heaven.  

Then Luke proceeded to give the highlight's of how the apostles spread Christ's message of love and salvation.

The power to fulfill this important mission came from the Holy Spirit.  This powerful ability to spread Christianity despite impossible odds demonstrated the love of our Creator.

To feel our Heavenly Parent's Love and Spirit, we must sincerely pray to accept Jesus Christ into our hearts.  

What a small requirement to receive such awesome power!