How Should We Live

As Christians, we have been redeemed and blessed by God’s grace and mercy.  We have committed to do God’s will.  How do we accomplish that day by day and year after year?  How do we live out this Christian walk and respond to God’s grace?
There’s a fairly large collection of topics that could shed light on that question.  Here’s a few.

• Make disciples and mature them. 
  • [Matthew 28:18-20a ESV] And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

• Act in love. 
  • [John 13:24-36 ESV] A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
  • [Luke 10:27-29 ESV, please see the full Good Samaritan in 10:25 - 37] And he (lawyer) answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”  And he (Jesus) said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”  But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”  [Jesus then gives an example of acting to help a stranger that is in need.]

• Do God’s will with faith and good works.
  • [Matthew 7:21 ESV] Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
  • [Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV] For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
  • [James 2:26 ESV but please review 2:1-26] For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

• Grow, subdue self, control thoughts, live by the Spirit.
  • [2 Peter 3:18a ESV] But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
  • [Galatians 5:22-24 ESV but please review 5:16-26] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
  • [Romans 12:1-2 ESV] I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
  • [Philippians 4:8 ESV] Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

As a summary, perhaps the concrete examples from Paul in Romans 12 would lead us to a good mix of correct attitude and correct practice.  The ESV entitles this section as Marks of the True Christian.

[Romans 12:9-13 ESV] Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.  Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.  Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.  Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
[Romans 12:14-21 ESV] Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.  Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.  Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.  Never be wise in your own sight.  Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”  To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

There are many facets to how we should live our lives so that we honor God and encourage those around us.  May the above verses encourage you and build you up as they give you something to think about.

What other verses came to your mind?  Was something important left off this list?  Please write it down and share it with the elders.