|
Walking in the Light and fighting against darkness, we
sometimes struggle to make godly choices.
In this article, we review four principles we can apply
to strengthen ourselves to make godly choices and obey God.
Be a Faithful Christian
Most importantly, we must be godly to make godly choices.
As Christians, we make mistakes, but our "practice" of
life is righteousness rather than sin, as we strive to make
godly decisions (1 Jn. 3:4-10).
Therefore we are "strengthened with all power,
according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all
steadfastness and patience" (Col. 1:11). And we "walk in
a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects,
bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in
the knowledge of God" (Col. 1:10).
As faithful Christians we have the strength and courage
to make godly choices. And when we make mistakes, we quickly
repent, turning back to God (1 Jn. 1:8-2:2).
Walk By Faith
Without faith, it's impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6).
Faith is total and complete trust in God that results
in obedience. Thus, as faithful Christians we walk by faith.
Paul says, "For we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor.
5:7).
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God
(Rom. 10:17).
The strength we have as a Christian comes through the
knowledge we obtain from God's word.
- "For this reason also, since the day we heard of it,
we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you
may be filled with the knowledge of His will in
all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,
to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every
good work and increasing in the knowledge of
God; strengthened with all power, according to
His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness
and patience; joyously" (Col. 1:9-11).
So, God's word performs its work in us, because we believe.
- "For this reason we also constantly thank God that
when you received the word of God which you heard
from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for
what it really is, the word of God, which also performs
its work in you who believe" (1 Th. 2:13).
Love
Faith works through love. In other words, love is the engine
of our faith.
- "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision
means anything, but faith working through love"
(Gal. 5:6).
Since love motivates our faith to action, a person with
a loveless faith has a dead faith, but a person with a loving
faith has a living faith (Jas. 2:14-26).
- "What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has
faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If
a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of
daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace,
be warmed and be filled,' and yet you do not give them
what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even
so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself."
Faith, hope, and love are three driving forces in our lives.
Faith is our confident trust in God. Love drives us to obey.
And hope is our confidence in God as we look to the future.
- "But now faith, hope, love, abide these three;
but the greatest of these is love" (1 Cor. 13:13).
Hope
Hope is our confidence in God as we look to the future.
It motivates us to continually walk in faith and love, throughout
all our days upon the earth.
Paul's hope was in God, and the resurrection He tells
us about in His word.
- "But this I admit to you, that according to the Way
which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers,
believing everything that is in accordance with the Law
and that is written in the Prophets; having a hope
in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there
shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous
and the wicked" (Acts 24:14-15).
Therefore as Christians, our hope is in eternal life.
- ". . . the hope of eternal life, which God,
who cannot lie, promised long ages ago" (Tit. 1:2).
- ". . . being justified by His grace we would be made
heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Tit.
3:7).
Hope is a result of an obedient faith motivated by love.
- "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing
salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness
and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously
and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed
hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God
and Savior, Christ Jesus" (Tit. 2:11-12).
Therefore, our hope does not disappoint (Rom. 5:4-5). Because
it is a result of obedience to God.
Summary
As faithful Christians, we walk by faith, hope, and love.
Therefore we are strengthened to make godly choices, and
obey God.
|
