Are you being a good Christian Example?

 

I was going through some old papers a few days ago and found this that I wrote in January 2006. 

Are you being a good Christian Example?

"We all, like sheep have gone astray..."  Isaiah 53:6

What exactly does it mean to be "like sheep"?  Well, sheep, though adorable, are very gullible and will follow pretty much anyone anywhere.  As someone who calls him or herself a Christian, we should never be like sheep in this way.

 

"Speak the truth to each other...  do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not swear falsely.  I hate this, declares the Lord."  Zechariah 8:16-17

To listen to someone else's gossip and fall into their trap of lies (especially when the gossip is tearing down a fellow believer) is careless.  It is better to stop and consider all the facts than to blindly believe all you hear.  

Whether you are telling or listening to gossip does not matter.  If you publicly call yourself a Christian, you should not be involved with such.  Gossip is usually full of lies, almost always stems from jealousy, and is hurtful to the victim of gossip.  It creates hard feelings against the target even when the person is innocent.  If you truly have an issue with someone, then have the decency to go to him (or her) her and tell him (preferably in private) rather than talk behind his back!  The Bible prefers us to speak the truth in love, not gossip in lies and spite. 

Key to remember: if you're talking about someone who is not in the room, more than likely, it is gossip!  The dictionary definition of gossip is, "a report (often malicious) about the behavior of other people," & "a person given to gossiping and divulging personal information about others [syn: gossiper, rumormonger]."  Let me repeat that: "often malicious."

"I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior, and perverse speech."  Proverbs 8:13

Besides being caught up in the trap of gossip, Christians quite often become involved in raunchy conversation.  Whether it is a dirty joke, insinuation of sexual content, or outright saying what you mean, it is unacceptable.  Especially talking of such things with someone who is not your spouse.  I am not trying to be crude, but commenting on someone else's body parts is not only inappropriate, but displeasing to God.  Even if you're not involved in the telling of the joke or comment, but you laugh at what is being said, you are condoning the bad behavior. 

"Let us behave decently...  not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality, and debauchery, not in dissention and jealously."  Romans 13:13

I know there are countless more ways Christians allow themselves to be dragged along, as sheep with the crowd, but I will only bring up one more issue.  Alcohol.  True, the bible does not say you cannot drink, but it does say not to drink to the point of drunkenness.  Talking about enjoying any alcoholic drink implies that you do not have an issue with drunkenness and therefore, it makes you appear as if the rules of conduct in the bible are meaningless to you.  It's the reflection of your words others will assume are your beliefs.

"Now  this is what the Lord Almighty says: Give careful thought to your ways."  Haggai 1:5

Be careful of how you allow yourself to be portrayed.  Non-believers are waiting to tear apart every Christian they see and quickly sneer, "She calls herself a Christian?" as soon as you display one of these behaviors.  They don't care about your so-called good intentions. All they see is that you care more about following the herd than being accepted by them than you do in following the Shepherd himself.

So, please remember, if you use the word "Christian" when referring to yourself, be sure to walk the walk and talk the talk.  Otherwise, you are blowing your testimony, and you will be dubbed a hypocrite.  It only takes a second to turn someone off t the Christian lifestyle, but could take weeks, months, or longer to repair the damage to try and convince others you are a man/woman of God.

"By their hypocrisy... [he] was led astray."  Galatians 2:12

If you truly cannot remove yourself from gossip, filthy talk, and boasting about the alcohol you drink, then please do not label yourself a Christian, and turn others astray.

"Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies."  Psalm 34"13

I know no one is perfect, but perfection is not the goal.  Trying to be a good Christian example and trying to emulate and glorify Jesus Christ, in spite of your humanness, is the goal.  Controlling your tongue is just one way to achieve this.

And don't be a sheep and follow along just to be accepted.  Trust me, it is far better to be rejected because you removed yourself from an ungodly environment, than it is to be likes by people quick to stab you in the back as soon as it is turned.  Sheep are not loyal to one another, but the Shepherd gave His life for all His sheep.  Which would you rather follow?

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. Ephesians 5:1-10

The Prayers of Jesus Christ, Part 5

To be technical, one may not consider the last words of Jesus as a prayer.  However, He was addressing His father, so I would call it a prayer:

 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Luke 23:32-34

All the words and teachings of Jesus Christ are powerful, but none give me chills as much as the words, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” He was tortured in a way none of us can fathom, humiliated, broken hearted, and yet, He could look down at the men that had committed such acts and ask His heavenly Father to forgive them?  It did not take Him months or years to work through His issues of abandonment, no He was able tot forgive his abusers and forsakers, which included friends and family, that same day! I know we have all heard many sermons preached on this subject, but can we ever hear it enough? 

Jesus knew his abusers and betrayers were filling prophecy as well as fulfilling His destiny.  They were acting according to the plan of God the Father. They may not have realized they were murdering the Son of God and did not understand how their acts had to happen, but they must have known that causing another human being so much pain was wrong!  Jesus knew their hearts and I am sure He saw the blackness there, and yet, He still asked God to forgive them! Let me emphasize it again: He did not have to go through years of counseling to get over a rejection complex, He did not have to wait years for His memories to soften the hurt.  No, Jesus was able to forgive them while the splinters of the cross dug into his deep wounds in his back they had caused with their cruel whips. Even while in agonizing pain from the huge nails driven into his hands and feet and the thick thorns sticking into his skull, He could see His torturers in danger of Hellfire and feel compassion for them.

And yet, when someone hurts our feelings, we brood over it for weeks, maybe even months or years? Can we really be so weak and shallow?  We need to start praying that the Holy Spirit will enable us to see our fellow men through the eyes of Jesus Christ.  I have been praying, "God, please increase my compassion and decrease my criticism."  The more we can see people as souls in danger of Hell, and people hurting and in need of a Savior, the less we will hold onto our pride and hurt feelings.

Remember in my previous blog I said that Jesus' last words to His disciples were to remind them to love one another. We need to etch Jesus' words and teachings into our hearts.  The next time we want to curse a bad driver, or get angry when someone doesn't do a like on one of our Facebook posts, or doesn't say thank you, or some other trivial issue, picture Jesus humbly praying for His tormenters' souls, and maybe we can finally start learning to be less petty! We need to forgive all sins committed against us and move on, even the more serious offenses. We need to follow the example of the One who forgave the unforgiveable.

But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Mark 11:26

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. John 19:28-30

There are some people that love to misinterpret Jesus' last words on the cross (yes, one could also possibly call this a prayer).  They will tell you, "It is Finished" means we don't have anything more to do.  That the blood of Jesus was enough and we never have to repent. Jude, one of the half-brothers of Jesus Christ has this to say about such people who preach such a false message:

For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.  Jude, Verse 4

And Jesus, Himself, tells us in Matthew 5:20, "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." Notice, He says, "your righteousness?"  

In my blog, "Where will you build your house?" https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2020/05/where-will-you-build-your-house.html I wrote, "Think of it this way: When you have a job, do you just stay home, or do you go to work to earn a paycheck?  Have you ever called your boss and said, "I really don't feel like working, can you do all my work for me and still give me a paycheck?"  Of course not, you would be fired! Then why would you believe Jesus' righteousness alone is enough to join Him in Paradise? Do you really think Jesus will do all the work for you and still let you into His Kingdom? Even parents give their children jobs to do in order to earn an allowance. The love and grace of Jesus and salvation are free gifts.  Jesus will never stop loving us (Romans 8:39) but we can lose our salvation when we treat it carelessly.  We must work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12)!  We must stand on the rock of Truth to keep from toppling over when the waves hit."

When Jesus said, "It is Finished," He was referring to His time on earth as a man.  He had fulfilled what He had come to fulfill.  His final act as a man was finished.  Instead if using the words of Jesus Christ, the sacrificial lamb as an excuse to sin (Read all of Romans 6) we should be praising Him for such an amazing love. We can never truly fathom how much He loves His children! We should be on our faces in awe of such a love, not trying to wiggle our ways out of ignoring the 10 commandments (Exodus 20) and the sins of the flesh (Galatians 5:16-17)!

Praise God He gave His Son to endure such a brutal death so we can choose to live righteously and have eternal life with Him!  Praise Jesus for such a heart full of compassion that He still asks for forgiveness for those that had abuse Him - you and me! Praise the blessed Trinity that Jesus' acts on earth are finished, and yet have scarcely begun!  Someday we will be able to thank Him in person for such an awesome sacrifice and blessed future to come!   

The Prayers of Jesus Christ: Part 4

Right before Jesus was about to be cruelly executed, He wanted to spend one last night alone with His beloved disciples.  During their last meal together, Jesus again reemphasized His message to them on how it is more important to be a servant TO all than to be served BY all (Luke 22:24-27).  He takes it a step further to prove His point by washing their feet (John 13:4-17).  What a beautiful last message He gave to them!  I have always loved how Jesus' last moments with them as a man (before He appears to them in the resurrected form of God's Heavenly Son), is to remind them to love one another.  

In John 13:34-35 Jesus says, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Loving one another and treating each other with the love of Christ is so vitally important to our testimony that it was one of the last things Jesus spoke about before being crucified.  He did not tell them to become famous and seek wealth.  No, He told them to be humble servants and treat each other with love.  To help out one another and be kind so that people will be drawn to them by the spiritual fruit they bore.  Their love and humble attitudes were to shine the light on Jesus Christ and His love for us. When others see a heavenly light in you, it can lead them to asking you why you shine and you can lead them to Christ! 

After the last supper with his disciples, Jesus takes them to the Garden of Gethsemane.  In part because He wanted some time alone with them away from other people, but also because He knew this was where His destiny needed to be fulfilled; where He was about to be betrayed by Judas.  He had one last message for them:

Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”  Luke 22:40 

Remember in The Lord's Prayer from Matthew 6:5-13, when Jesus tells them to pray "And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one."  Again Jesus is reminding them to steer clear of temptation. You can read more about what I wrote on the subject of temptation in Part 1 of the Prayers of Jesus Christ at: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2021/08/the-prayers-of-jesus-christ-part-1.html May we also follow Jesus' advice and do our very best to avoid temptation of sin.  May we strive to truly be born again and daily seek to walk down paths of righteousness. (And he said to them all, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23)

Although we can try to imagine what Jesus was feeling a few hours before He was about to be tortured to death, we cannot fully grasp His emotions.  The best I can equate it to was the few moments before I was about to be rolled into surgery (I had an ovarian tumor and an ovary removed in January 2019).  I was willingly allowing myself to be cut open and have pain inflicted upon me. I was allowing this more so for my precious husband's sake than for my own because if that tumor was cancerous, I had to have it out.  I needed to live for him.  But I was fighting to live, not to die. I was unselfish for one person who loved me, not for billions that denied my name and betrayed me.  And, it was one small area of my body that would suffer pain, not head to toe. Oh, and though I felt pain afterwards, I had pain medication and I was unconscious while the pain was being inflicted.  See, my circumstance is not even a teeny tiny fraction of what Jesus willingly allowed Himself to go through.  Why?  Because He loves us and does not want even one soul in Hell.

And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:41-42

Can we be so brave and humble to pray those same words?  How often do we demand our own way?  How often do we scold God for not doing things our way?  How dare the Creator of the Universe and all things living past, present, and future, not listen to our plans?  How dare the King of Kings try to help us by choosing a different path we want to go down?  When I am on my knees, I try to make it a habit of saying, "Jesus, I surrender my whole life into Your hands. Do with me as You will." While there will be times in my life I will want to take those words back, I usually mean them with all my heart and soul. And will trust Him no matter what He chooses for me.

Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Luke 22:43-44

Some people may try to tell you that fear is a sin.  While I believe that fear is the opposite of faith, it is not a sin.  Jesus was sinless, and yet the above verse shows He was afraid.  Of course, He was, He was willingly allowing Himself to be led like a sheep to the slaughter.

It is a scientific fact that sweating blood only happens in extreme cases of fear.  You can read about it here: https://christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-t018.html Yet, Jesus still prayed that God's will would be done and He followed through on God's will for His life, but ours! I repeat, not for His life, but ours! 

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. John 15:12-14

And yet, He did not ask the angel to stay and fight for Him or to take Him away.  He stood His ground and let His mission to beaten, bruised, and murdered be fulfilled.

While I do not believe in getting so caught up in angels that we worship them or put more emphasis on them than on Jesus, they are vitally important to us physically and spiritually.  I will write more on this subject another day.

When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” Luke 22:45-46

Again, Jesus mentions falling into temptation.  It is so very important that we not fall asleep in our spiritual walk with the Lord.  We must pray every day that we do not fall into temptation. I am going to take this a step farther and mention that temptation to habitual sin is not the only trap of temptation into which we can fall.  Jesus knew His disciples were about to be tested as they never imagined and that they would be tempted to fall way from their faith.  In order to stay grounded in Christ, we must not fall into the temptations of television or movies, not just because it takes us away from pursuing the things of Christ, but also because it is detrimental to the condition of our souls (please listen to this entire David Wilkerson sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4Fn0yMSwQc).  We should not play computer games or reading fiction (which I am guilty of) or spend hours on any other activity that take us away from reading the Bible and praying.  Life is meant to be enjoyed, but let's not put playing before the Lord and neglect spending time with Him first.  

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness... Matthew 6:33

The Prayers of Jesus Christ: Part 3

In John 17, Jesus prays for Himself, His disciples, and for all believers. Today,  I will explore the middle prayer for the disciples (verses 6-19). 

This is such a beautiful prayer, and there is nothing I can add to it.  How can anyone add to the words of Jesus?  Well, no one can, but this is merely my commentary.  

“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me."

Notice first that Jesus acknowledges that the disciples were picked by His Father, God.  I take the phrase "out of the world" to be mean just as 2 Corinthians 6:17 states, “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.  Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.”  His disciples were to be separate from the world; to live pure and clean lives as an example to those they taught. 

Next, it states that the disciples "kept Your word."  They received the words for Jesus as Truth from God, and they believed that Jesus and God (along with the Holy Spirit) are one with God (although they are a trinity and not one being).  Their beliefs remained steadfast and their conduct honorable; a goal I pray to emulate.  

" I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are."

Here, Jesus acknowledges again that God chose the disciples for Jesus' mission and again reminds us that He and God are one.   

While Jesus is praying this heartfelt prayer, He knows He will soon be crucified.  In fact, right after this prayer, Jesus is arrested in Gethsemane.  Yet, in the midst of His fear, knowing what torture He was about to face, He takes the time to pray for His faithful followers.  He knows He is about to die when He says, "I am no longer in the world."

When Jesus asks God to "keep through Your name" the disciples, I believe He was asking God to bestow strength upon the mortal men to endure to the end.  Matthew 10:22 & 24:13, Mark 13:13 all state  that "he who endures to the end shall be saved."  In fact, when you finish reading this blog, look up the word "endure" on Bible Gateway or some other search engine and see how many scriptures remind us that we must endure, or  as Jesus also puts it, be kept in God so that we can become one with Jesus after we die.   

"While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled."

This section here is, of course, about Judas Iscariot, the man who betrayed Jesus.  Yes, Judas' betrayal was predicted by David in Psalm 41:9 "Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me."

"And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.  I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth."

These last sentences of Jesus' prayer are so rich and beautiful!  Jesus (as well as other writers of the Bible) reminds us many times over that we will be hated when we choose to follow Him.  However, Jesus did not pray that the disciples be removed to a separatist  colony to live in safe little bubbles.  No, instead He prayed for protection more so spiritually than physically, which is why He asks His disciples be kept away from "the evil one" (Satan), so they would not fall away from their salvation.  Again, we are reminded that the disciples are to be an example of sanctification (or holy living) while they are a part of the world.  I am sure you have heard the saying, "be in the world but not a part of the world."  

Consider also this quite from the late Pastor Leonard Ravenhill, "The greatest miracle that God can do today is to take an unholy man out of an unholy world and make him holy, then put him back into that unholy world and keep him holy in it.”  

The disciples were called to minister and set up churches after Jesus died and rose again.  They had missions that went on after Jesus ascended back into heaven.  One cannot be called to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15) if one stays hidden away from those in need of the gospel!

We should all try to imitate Jesus' disciples.  As a Christian, being a part of the world does not mean we act and dress like the world, it means we have the courage to be separate in our lifestyles and actions.  Then we can be like the disciples and, most importantly, like Jesus Christ, and "be sanctified by the Truth" and be a light unto those walking in the darkness. 

The Prayers of Jesus Christ: Part 2

While this blog is not based on a specific prayer, it is based on the very powerful fact that the Bible says that Jesus prays for us! 

Likewise the spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is in the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died , yea rather, that is risen again , who is even at the right hand of God , who also maketh intercession for us. Romans 8:26-28 & 34

It is difficult to put into words just how amazing these verses are. We see here how the blessed trinity work together on our behalf. Jesus himself prays for us with the aid of the Holy Spirit based on God's will for our lives. Who knows better the perfect will for our lives than the Almighty Creator of the Universe? No one!

He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he will divide the spoil with the strong because he hath poured his soul until death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:11-12

Consider this example from Luke 22:31-32. In verse 31, Jesus tells Peter, "Satan has desired to sift you as wheat." Satan wants Peter's soul for hell. In verse 32 Jesus goes on to tell Peter, "But I have prayed for thee that you fail not; and when thou art converted, [you will] strengthen thy brethren." 

Jesus desires our souls as well as longs for us to be strong in our faith and minister to others. With God on our side, we will win the war and devote our souls/lives to God for all eternity

We should also learn to pray for others. For those who treat us with kindness and respect this is an easy task, but for those that have wounded us, it can be difficult.  Satan would love for you to give up and quit praying, especially when your prayers are for the salvation of others.  Your flesh will want to quit praying for those who have rejected and hurt you, but Jesus Himself said in Matthew 5:44, "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."  When you can set aside your ego and keep praying for others, it can heal your heart and even if the relationship is not mended, you can still find power through the Holy Spirit to forgive.

 

Let us then follow the example of Jesus and practice interceding for those we love.  

Wherefore He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. Hebrews 7:25-26