|
|
|
|
Bible studies: As a diligent student of the Bible, you will want to make sure the Bible really says what this study says. Always remember to test all things with God's word - as the Bereans did. They "received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11). First, read the study all the way through, without looking up the Scriptures. Then read the study again, this time looking up the Scriptures. Highlight or mark each verse you look up so you can easily find it later. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24). But how can you rejoice in the day unless you know the Lord; and how can you possibly know the Lord unless you serve Him? How can you possibly serve Him if you do not know how to serve Him? How can you serve Him if you do not know His Ways? And if you knew His Ways, how could you serve Him if you did not keep His Ways? How can you imitate the Way God lives daily if you do not read your Bible to find out how He lives and how He thinks (Eph. 5:1, 10)? How can you serve the Lord with all your heart, soul and might unless you know exactly how that is done (Matt. 22:37)? "Teach me Thy Ways, Oh Lord, that I may walk in Thy steps" (Psalm 86:11). God the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior and example, that we should walk in the same manner as He walked (Col. 1:10). When we live as He lived, then and only then do we abide in Christ (1 John 2:6). Jesus was our perfect example. He came to show us how to live as He does. We are not to put Him up on a pedestal and claim we could never live like He is, as many people do. Jesus said His Ways are very easy and pleasant, not complicated or impossible to keep (Matt. 11:30). "Return to Me so that I may return to you," says the Lord of hosts (Zech. 1:3). How do you return to God? Repent! Turn around! Stop practicing evil and begin to practice righteousness daily to please and glorify God (Matt. 5:16; 6:1). The Lord has told you what is good. He requires you to practice justice and honesty in all your dealings with your fellow man, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8). You are to walk as He walks, talk as He talks, and live daily on earth as He lives in heaven (1 Peter 4:11; Eph. 5:1; Matt. 6:10). You are to serve others daily by practicing righteousness (doing good toward others) until God makes it come from your heart. Then you will be a new creature in Christ, having His nature formed in you (Eph. 6:6; Matt. 5:20; Gal. 6:15; 4:19). You are going to have to strive and persevere (Luke 13:24; 21:19). You are going to have to make your body your slave if you are ever going to cease being a slave to sin and be a happy slave of righteousness (Rom. 6:17-18; 1 Cor. 9:27). True disciples of Jesus Christ are happy, contented and blessed. They experience a stable change in their lives for the good, and not by the "zap" experience. They are peculiar because they are fighting the good fight of faith, and they are purified because they are zealous in doing good works for God’s glory in Christ’s name (2 Tim. 4:7; Titus 2:14; Col. 3:17). (Feel free to give copies of this study to others who want to know God’s truth. You will be doing God’s Will when you show and tell others how to live this special Way.) Bible studies:
|