Cat and Dog Test
Hudson Taylor said: “If
your father and mother, your sister and brother, if the very cat and dog in
the house, are not happier for your being Christian, it is a question whether
you really are.”[1]
Home To Fit Picture
We read of a wealthy man who
purchased at high cost a famous painting of Jesus. He sought, with difficulty,
an appropriate place for it on the walls of his home. At last he called in an
architect who, after carefully examining the house and the picture, said:
“Man, you cannot fit this picture into your home! You must make a home to
fit it!” Just as surely we must so order our home life that it would be
appropriate to invite Jesus to abide therein. —Evangelical Messenger[2]
“Which Kind Are You?”
A lot of Christians are like
wheelbarrows—not good unless pushed.
Some are like canoes—they
need to be paddled.
Some are like kites—if you
don’t keep a string on them, they fly away.
Some are like kittens—they
are more contented when petted.
Some are like a
football—you can’t tell what way they will bounce next.
Some are like balloons—full
of wind and ready to blow up.
Some are like trailers—they
have to be pulled.
Some are like lights—they
keep going on and off.
And there are those who
always seek to let the Holy Spirit lead them. —Christian Inde[3]
Scripture
Text:
1The 4:1 (NIV) Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in
order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in
the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we
gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 It is God's will that you
should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of
you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable,
5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6 and that in
this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord
will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you.
7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore,
he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his
Holy Spirit. 9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for
you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you
do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to
do so more and more. 11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind
your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so
that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not
be dependent on anybody.
“Our business is
people and
Our reason is Jesus
Christ.
Our purpose is to
personally live Jesus Christ.
Because of His love for
us,
We can love Him and one
another.
We believe in the
absolute necessity of conversion to Jesus,
The absolute reality of
eternal life now in Jesus,
And the absolute need
of each other in the fellowship of believers.
Our desire is to
present Jesus Christ In compassion and understanding
To every individual who
does not know Him,
And to encourage and
develop every individual who does know Him. “
By Gerry Hickman
How do we personally live
Jesus Christ? We would live to
please God as Jesus did. Live to
please God more and more. How?
Here are the top 10 ways.
1.
Be Sanctified. Be
set apart and dedicated to God’s work.
2.
Be Sexually pure. Remember
to follow God’s design for Human Sexuality (one man and one woman equals one
life time.)
3.
Be Self-Controlled (Holy and Honorable).
Controlled by the Spirit so that
we can be under control.
4.
Be Sin Free against your brothers.
We try to not sin against
others.
5.
Be Holy. Live
holy as God is holy.
6.
Be Willing to Follow the Holy Spirit.
As the Spirit teaches we must be
ready to follow.
7.
Be Loving to each other more and more.
8.
Be Mindful of your own business.
9.
Be Working with your own hands.
Don’t rely on others to
provide for you.
10.
Be Winners of the respect of outsiders.
Respect is earned not given.
Why?
Our business is people and our reason is Jesus Christ.
Living with Jesus means
living for others. What did Jesus
do? Would you?