Column: New Christian, Living a Christian Life
Opinion:
Living a Christian life means following Jesus daily by changing how you think, love, and act. It is a lifelong journey of growing closer to God. One of the surest signs of salvation is that our love for God and neighbor grows and transforms us into the people God has made us to be. To many people think that all salvation is is a get out of hell free ticket, its not.
Here is how to live it, backed by Scripture:
1. Talk to God and Listen
Pray continually. Talk to God about everything. Open up your heart to God and share with Him your deepest thoughts and desires, your sins and failings. There is nothing you can’t talk to God about. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Read the Bible. It guides your choices and teaches you the truth. The Bible is God’s love letter to us, it shows the Father’s love for us through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the theme of the entire bible. He is concealed in the Old Testament, revealed in the New Testament and shows us all we need to know and believe to live the Christian life. Psalm 119:105
2. Change Your Mindset
Leave old habits behind. Jesus gives you a fresh start. Jesus has redeemed you, in Christ the old person is dead, and Christ now lives in you. You have a chance to start over, take advantage of it. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Focus on God’s desires: Stop copying the negative behaviors of the world. Keep your eyes set firmly on Jesus. Don’t look to the right or the left. When Jesus was walking on the water Peter called out to Jesus and called for Jesus to let him walk on the water also. As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus Peter could walk on the water also. When Peter took his eyes off of Jesus he started to sink. Romans 12:2
3. Love God and Others
Put love into action. Love is the ultimate proof that you follow Jesus. Words are cheap. Don’t just say you love people, actually get out there and do it. Serve the poor, feed the hungry, work with the homeless shelter, visit the sick, the old, and those in prison. Comfort the despairing. Don’t just claim the be a Christian with your words, actually get out there and be one. John 13:35
Forgive quickly. Forgive others because God forgave you. In the Lord’s Prayer we say forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Forgive others when they sin against you, let go of old grudges, let go of resentment, let go of anything that might be keeping you from being the Christian you are supposed to be. Unforgiveness hurts nobody but you, let the anger, resentment, and grief go and cling to Jesus. Ephesians 4:32
4. Find a Church community. You need other believers to encourage you. There is no such thing as a lone ranger Christian. You can’t be a Christian by yourself. We are saved to serve, join the church, go to worship and praise the Lord. Go to bible study and learn what God’s will is for your life. Cry with your brothers and sisters as they cry, laugh with them when the laugh. We are the body of Christ, and if you aren’t in the visible church, you aren’t in the body. Hebrews 10:24-25
