What Following Christ Really Means

 

If we have given our life to Jesus things should be different for us. If God has really taken the throne of our heart, we will see the following changes in our life.

Desire for Scripture. “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). The bible is our spiritual bread. It is our weapon to defeat the devil. It is our manual to show us how to live.

Different in standards. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Cor. 5:17). A real follower of Jesus is different in habits, actions and purpose; is different in word, thought and standards. No person really belongs to Jesus who is not trying and trusting to live like Jesus did.

Self controlled. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23). The Holy Spirit will begin to clear our life’s. He will keep dealing with us until our life is like that of His. “Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as he is pure” (1 John 3:3 also Matt. 16:24; Luke 3:11; 1 Cor. 9:25-27).

Despised by society. “You do not belong to the world…..that is why the world hates you. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:19-20). Real Christians are the only truly sane persons in a mad, selfish world. Our life is like a light in the dark pits of the world.

Going to church. “By this all men will know that you are my disciples; if you love one another.” We have to go to a church that preach true faith (where we feel the love of God and where truth is preached with compassion). Our aim is to be like Jesus. Never lower His standards to try to “fit in” with the crowd, whatever that crowd claims to be followers of Jesus or not. You cannot please Jesus and the crowd too (Rom. 15:5-6).

Only serving the Lord. “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). A true Christian is a witness! The task of world evangelism is not given only as a lifetime work to the preacher or evangelist; it is given to each of Christ’s true followers as a lifetime work. Every Christian is a missionary; every sinner is a mission field (1 John 3:16-24; 1 Pet. 2:21; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Matt. 10:32; John 14:12).

Stick to the task. A true Christian must be determined to stay true to Christ. The express teaching of the bible is that we live a life of habitual victory over sin out of love to God (Matt. 5:13-18).

Communication by prayer. Trough prayer we have direct communication with our heavenly Father and receive provision for our needs. As we pray we show our dependence upon and trust in Him.

 

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