1 ¶ Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us
in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath
suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2
That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the
lusts of men, but to the will of God.
The hardest thing about studying the Bible verse by verse is
when you realize you have completely and utterly failed in virtually all of its
admonitions and yet, feel compelled by God to warn others of the muck and mire
in which they are unknowingly treading.
The Christian must be willing to suffer in the flesh as
Christ was willing to suffer. We cannot continue to cling to our current flesh
and the lusts that emerge from it if we are to live in the will of God. As Paul
said;
Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal
body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make
not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
This, taking the rest of the letters written directly to
Christians with it, shows that there are certain characteristics of actually
being a Christian that are often overlooked. These include self-discipline and
self-control.
Like an athlete Paul wanted to exercise bodily self-control,
in the context of the following verse like a runner or a boxer.
1Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into
subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself
should be a castaway.
And mental self-control.
2Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high
thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
They also include a willingness to put off self-gratification
for a future reward. In life this willingness is characterized by being frugal
with money, investing in the future, and not being wasteful, putting off
pleasing one’s flesh. Spiritually, this involves storing up treasure in heaven,
not on earth. A Christian is not as concerned about a temporal reward for
something he or she does but is looking forward to an eternal reward.
On one level, the most temporal and earthly, the parable of
the talents in Matthew 25 gives us a pattern for investment and savings which
was once part of the so-called Protestant work-ethic in this country. We also
have an economic lesson in the parable of the unjust steward in Luke 16.
However we must remember that we cannot be slaves to the economic system and
still be God’s servants. Here, Mammon is the Syriac language’s personification
of wealth.
Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either
he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and
despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
We are warned even, even in the Old Testament, that becoming
wealthy is not the goal of any of God’s people, or rather, shouldn’t be.
Proverbs 23:4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own
wisdom.
And that greed will destroy a Christian.
1Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all
evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and
pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
This does not justify slothfulness or being a sluggard.
Proverbs13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath
nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
Proverbs 20:4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the
cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Romans 12:11 Not slothful in business….
But, for the Christian, this principle honors hard work and
gives it a purpose.
Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather
let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may
have to give to him that needeth.
And it is better for the Christian spiritually to produce
something with his own hands than making a living by being clever or
manipulative.
1Thessalonians
4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and
to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
Taking care of your family.
1Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and
specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse
than an infidel.
Always remembering where you are supposed to actually being
storing up wealth.
Matthew 6:19 ¶ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon
earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and
steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where
thieves do not break through nor steal: 21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Personal integrity and trustworthiness are essential to
being a Christian. A Christian’s word must be honorable and something you can
trust. This doesn’t just mean you have to do what you said you would do but you
must be careful in what you promise. Writing checks with your tongue that you
can’t cash with your actions is just as unprofitable to the Christian as not
doing what you promised.
Ecclesiastes 5:4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to
pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow,
than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
Deuteronomy 23:22 But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be
no sin in thee.
The things of the world the Christian must not honor.
1John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that
are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in
him. 16 For all that is in the world,
the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not
of the Father, but is of the world. 17
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the
will of God abideth for ever.
These are the three things that were presented to Eve by Satan
in Eden that encouraged her to defy God.
Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good
for food [lust of the flesh], and that it was pleasant to the eyes[lust of the eyes], and a tree to be desired to make one wise[pride of life], she took of
the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he
did eat.
And so it will be for you if you forget that what is adored
by the world that man has created, the culture, is not pleasing to God.
Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which
justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is
highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
And when we look at all of the things that Paul, Peter,
John, and James write about regarding how we are to treat others in the church
and in the world, plus the gospel record of Jesus’ own admonitions, we see that
this is also to be held in our own families as an example to others. How we
treat our spouses and children is a testimony of our faith to others. You are
not acting as a Christian when you fight with or curse your spouse in front of
your children. Indulging your anger and feeding your wrath all has its roots in
ingratitude to God and the covetousness produced, the dissatisfaction cultivated,
in your buying into the world system mentioned above.
Try practicing the following instructions within your family
as an example not only to them but to others and a testimony for Christ. Look
at this section of instructions for the church and see how it can be applied to
your family. What a wonderful testimony of your faith would it be if we treated
even those closely related to us this way and our family dynamics weren’t so
fraught with mean-spirited behavior that leaves a dreadful legacy for generations.
Romans 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and
curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do
rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16
Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but
condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide
things honest in the sight of all men. 18
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not
yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is
mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink:
for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil
with good.
1Thessalonians 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that
are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all
men. 15 See that none render evil for
evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves,
and to all men.
16 ¶
Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without
ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks:
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is
good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of
evil.
Imagine the testimony to the world if these things were
practiced within a Christian family. Too many times I hear of family being
treated by someone who considers themselves a conservative or a Christian as
being nothing more than something to wipe their feet on which legacy follows on
for generations. Ingratitude and pride are the bane of any Christian’s
testimony.
Let Christ’s mind be in you. Humble yourself.
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