LIVING FOR GOD: INFLUENCE

We continue our examination of six principles/characteristics we should exhibit in our lives as we live for God. Each of these begins with one of the letters in the word living: Lord, Imitation, Vigilant, Influence, Not ashamed, and Growing. We have previously considered three of these. If we want to live for God we must make Jesus Lord and ruler of our lives; we must imitate Christ as our example; we must be vigilant in our preparation for His return.

INFLUENCE
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:13-16). Salt and light have a powerful influence on their surroundings. Salt is used to add flavoring to food. When you add salt to food, it has a distinct impact on the taste. Light has a powerful ability to dispel darkness. One small light bulb can bring light to a dark room. Both of them penetrate their environment and their influence spreads. Jesus tells us we are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We are to have a powerful influence on our world. Too often, it works the other way and the world influences us. As Christians, we should be examples to the world. You can live your life in such a way that people look at you and say “There is a Christian.” Or, you can live and cause them to say, “There is a Christian?”

Paul tells Timothy, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). Even the young are instructed to be examples. The question arises, “How young is young?” Timothy was at least in his late 20’s if not in his 30’s when Paul wrote this to him. In our society, middle age is usually thought of as beginning at 40, or thereabout. Youth could then be classified as anything under that. However, youth is also relative. There was a time I thought 30 was old, now it seems much younger. At one time, 50 seemed ancient, but it is looking younger everyday. I guess what I am saying is do not let your age be an excuse not to adhere to the admonition of this verse. We all have a responsibility to be an example to others. Older Christians should certainly be examples to the younger, but the younger Christians can also have a great influence on the older.

In writing to the church at Corinth, Paul admonished them, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). We discussed last week that Christ is to be our supreme example, but Paul tells the Corinthians to imitate him. He does qualify the statement by adding “Just as I also imitate Christ.” Can we admonish our fellow Christians and fellowman to follow our example? We can if we are following the example of Christ.

If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?
--Lamar

LIVING FOR GOD

Last week, we began a series of articles looking at our theme for 2010: “Living For God.” An acronym was giving for “Living” to encourage us in this: Lord, Imitation, Vigilant, Influence, Not ashamed, Growing. We discussed the first of these in the fact that we must accept Jesus as Lord and Ruler of our lives. We must submit our will to His in order to live for God. Today, we will consider imitation and vigilant.

IMITATION
Webster defines imitate as “to follow or endeavor to follow in action or manner.” If we are going to live for God we must decide to imitate Christ. Peter writes, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:” (1 Peter 2:21). Peter then goes on to give us a specific example of how we are to pattern our lives after Christ: His crucifixion. When He was mistreated, Christ did not return in kind. We must copy this in our lives.

We should also follow Jesus’ example in humility. In John 13:1-17, we read of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. Can you imagine the Son of God washing feet? That was a job for the lowest servant. It was the usual custom to have a servant available to wash the feet of your guests after they entered the house. No servant was available at this time. Why didn’t one of the disciples offer to wash everyone’s feet? Scripture does not tell us, but I think we can have a pretty good idea. Considering the discussions they had about greatness and being first in the kingdom, they probably thought foot washing was beneath them. Jesus displayed a great attitude of humility by doing it Himself. In verse 15 He says, “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” He is not saying specifically that we are to wash one another’s feet, although we should if that is what is needed. He is telling them, and us, that we need to adopt an attitude of humility and service toward one another. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:5-7).

Finally, we should imitate Jesus’ desire to do the Father’s will. In the Garden of Gethsemane just before He was arrested, Jesus prayed, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39). He was willing to do whatever it took, even dying the horrible death on the cross, in order to do the Father’s will. Considering that, is anything the Father asks us to do really all that hard?

VIGILANT
We must be vigilant in resisting Satan and sin. 1 Peter 5:8 – “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Satan is constantly on the prowl looking for victims and we must always be watchful. The moment we let down our guard, there he is. The psalmist writes, I said, “I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the wicked are before me” (Psalm 39:1). We can slip so easily, not just with our words but in so many other ways. Be vigilant and ever watchful for the trickery and temptation of sin.

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matthew 25:13). Jesus admonishes us to be vigilant and watchful for His second coming. He compares His return to a thief in the night (Matthew 24:43-44). Since we do not know when He will return, we must be prepared at all times. It is through vigilance that we can do this.

Are you vigilant in your imitation of Christ?
--Lamar

LIVING FOR GOD: LORD

Our elders have chosen “Living For God” as a theme for 2010. This is more than a catchy phrase, but should be a description for the life of every child of God. Paul reminds the Roman Christians, “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16). Jesus tells his listeners, 24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). You do not have a choice of whether or not you will be a servant; you have a choice of whose servant you will be. You do not have a choice of whether or not you will have a master; you have a choice of who will be your master. You are either living for God or living for Satan. There is no neutral territory or middle ground. You cannot straddle the fence. I would like to suggest to you six principles to keep in mind as you face 2010 and living for God.
Lord
Imitation
Vigilant
Influence
Not ashamed
Growing

These ideas will direct our thoughts in these articles for the next few weeks in discussing how we can be “Living For God” in the coming year.

LORD
Vine says of kurios (the Greek word for Lord) that it is used of an owner or one who has the disposal of anything, a master one to whom service is due, an Emperor or King. He also states that it is the New Testament representative of Jehovah (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words). Webster says “a person who has dominion over others (Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language). In his sermon on Pentecost, Peter stated, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). There is a sense in which the word is used as a name or title for God. There is also the sense in which it is used as described by Vine and Webster. It is this usage that I want us to consider.

One thing that is absolutely necessary to begin living for God is to establish Jesus Christ as Lord of your life. You will never be successful until you give up your will for His will, your way for His way, your life for His life. Jesus makes self-denial a condition of discipleship in Matthew 16:24. In John 4:34, Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” Many other times in His ministry He said similar things indicating that His purpose was to submit His will to the Father’s will. We must be willing to do the same. We need to lose ourselves and our wills to the point that we are able to say with Paul, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Do you want to live for God? Begin now by making Jesus the Lord and Ruler of your life.
--Lamar