As a Christian I believe it’s important to read and study the Bible daily. Because it’s here we learn God’s ways, the reason Jesus came in the flesh, who He is and the reason He died for us. It provides valuable insight into His crucifixion, His death, His resurrection and the reason we need to follow Him while living a Christian lifestyle.
But have you ever asked yourself, Is my lifestyle reflective of a Christian and what Jesus taught?
We’re told throughout scripture, those who follow Christ do not follow this world and it’s one of the recurring themes throughout the New Testament. Because those who follow Jesus will be hated since their thoughts, actions and deeds are not of the world, but, are inline with His. We’re told;
John 15:18 – If the world hates you, remember that it hated Me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.
1 John 2:15,16 – Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.
James 4:4 – You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.
But what does a worldly lifestyle look like?
This morning as I continue my journey through the scriptures, I realized by replacing the word worldly with a more modern translation, sinful nature, the scriptures become easier to comprehend and understand. It also adds a modern feel and makes you question, if you’re really following the Christian lifestyle. The verses I’m referring to read;
Galatians 5:19,21 – When you follow the desires of your sinful youth, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Colossians 3:5,7 – So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world.
Colossians 3:8,9 – But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.
As one reads the scriptures, it’s extremely easy to comprehend exactly what Jesus was referring to. Because as followers of Christ we know we are to abstain from the sinful nature. Our thoughts are on the things of heaven and not the things of this earth.
So, if you find one or more character traits listed above, it may be time for a self-evaluation. Pray to God asking for His help with the issue and remember;
Those who belong to Christ Jesus
have crucified the flesh with its
passions and desires.
Galatians 5:24
Jesus the Righteous Path 