If you haven't already - go back and read "Desire" and work your way to "Lifestyle". We begin with asking God for the desire, we intentionally take the first step, we do it with a joyful, humble, godly attitude, and then we go out and live the life. Today we look at lifestyle.
Let’s start with this – Does what we believe about God determine how we will live our lives, or does how we want to live our lives determine what we will believe about God? Many people have that backwards – even those who claim to be followers of Jesus.
I Peter 1:13-16 brings in so many of the words we have looked at. We are told to prepare our minds for action. The words “prepare” and “action” are linked directly to intentionality. And it isn’t just about action, we prepare our “minds” which also involves attitude. Then we get the exhortation dealing with our lifestyle – “do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do…”
There are countless verses dealing with living the life of a follower of Jesus. Galatians 5:16. Ephesians 4:1. Philippians 2:3. Colossians 3:5ff. I Thessalonians 4:1. Those are just a few, but there are hundreds of verses that encourage us to live a life for Him. You know the areas in your life where God wants to take control. Let’s simply submit to His desires and quit living to fulfill our own desires.
There’s a simple truth when it comes to lifestyle – and this is the key. A true follower of Jesus has a different standard. Our standard doesn’t come from the world; our standard comes directly from a holy, just, perfect God. Therefore, we don’t compare ourselves to others; we compare ourselves to God’s Word. And we realize that God’s Word isn’t full of rules to restrict our lives, but to enhance and protect our lives! To God be the glory!
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Posted on
Mon, October 12, 2009
by Jonathan Goeke