Doing the Right Thing – Be more “Christ-like” and let Him increase!

Commentary By:  Gordon King

Doing the right thing can sometimes seem like the wrong thing to do!  In a world which relies on the reasoning of man, we as believers live in a society which most often leads us away from biblical teachings.  Morals and values in our culture are changing, and not for the better, they are moving further and further away from the righteous laws and principles of God Almighty!

And even if we do not follow the ways of the world, it can still be difficult for us to do the right thing and make sound and godly decisions in life.  We come from a sinful nature, with a sinful heart, and more often than not we make the wrong decisions.  This may not be true for all of us, there may be those of you out there who believe that most of the time you make all of the right decisions.  However, when I look back at my life, I have made some horrible decisions in my life, and I am paying for the consequences of those decisions.

Being a believer isn’t just about accepting Christ as our Savior, it’s also about living as Christ wants us to live, bearing the fruit of the Spirit!  By doing so we glorify our Father in heaven, we become a light unto the world, and we lead the lost to salvation, Amen.

And although as believers we are not condemned under the law, we are to follow the law.  We are not saved by following all of God’s commandments, if we were then none of us would ever get to heaven!  But we should live our lives according to the commandments of God, we should follow His laws and His principles, this is godly, wise, and righteous.  By following the law we are walking in the Spirit of God and not following the lusts of the flesh!  When we do not follow the law, then we are fulfilling the lusts of the flesh.

Galatians 5:16-21

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.“

Those governed by the flesh cannot follow the laws of God.  It is the Spirit of God which leads us to follow His laws!

Romans 8:7

“The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.“

The bible is written for us as an instruction manual on how God wants us to live our life.  It gives us what we need to live as Christ lived, to understand what God expects from us, and to lead us in the right direction.

Holy scripture is full of things we should not do such as do not worship other gods and idols, do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not lie, and do not covet.

The Ten Commandments

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make idols.
3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet.

It also tells us how we should not act such as being prideful, arrogant, haughty, lovers of ourselves and of money, unholy, unloving, and unforgiving. 

2 Timothy 3:1-5

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ⁴ traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!“

It also speaks about who will not inherit the kingdom of heaven.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.“

The bible also tells us how we should act and how we should be living our lives.  The following is not a comprehensive list of what the bible teaches us, yet it is a good list to get started with.

First and foremost:

Matthew 22:37-40

‘ “Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” ‘

From the Ten Commandments:

• Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
• Honor your father and your mother.

Being a believer in Jesus Christ means that we should be bearing the “fruit of the Spirit”.

Galatians 5:22-25

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.“

We are to be “Christ-like”, we should walk as He walked.

1 John 2:6

“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.“

Christ must increase within us, and we must decrease.

John 3:30

“He must increase, but I must decrease. “

We are to walk in “good works” which the Lord has prepared for us.

Ephesians 2:10

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.“

Increase in virtuous qualities to stay effective and fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-8

“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, ⁶ and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, ⁷ and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. ⁸ For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.“

Our bodies are a living sacrifice to God, we should respect them as such.  We should not follow the ways of the world but of God.  Each day we should have our minds renewed in order to discern God’s will for us.

Romans 12:1-2

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.“

Help those in need, this is what Jesus did throughout the New Testament.

Matthew 25:35-36

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.“

Preach the gospel throughout the world.

Mark 16:15

“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.“

God has a will for each and every one of us!  Knowing what His will is for us is not always so easy.  Knowing the right thing to do at times is also not so easy.  But we do know how to act, what to do and what not to do according to scripture.  We can know the will of God, if we will quiet ourselves before the Lord, lay our requests before Him, then wait and listen!  He may not answer as soon as we would like, but He will answer.

When we have a decision to make, which should be daily, we should turn to God and ask Him for guidance.  Praying daily, seeking the Lord, and asking Him first in all things.  Being a believer is walking with God on a daily basis.  It’s having a close and personal relationship with the Lord of the universe, Jesus Christ!

The following is a compiled list of what I have shared with you on how we should act and what we should do.  This is what scripture tells us as believers in Jesus Christ, it is God’s will for us!

• Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind
• Love your neighbor as yourself
• Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy
• Honor your father and your mother
• Bear the “fruit of the Spirit”
• Walk as Christ walked
• Christ must increase within us, and we must decrease
• Walk in “good works”
• Increase in virtuous qualities
• Respect our bodies as a living sacrifice to God
• Renew our minds daily in order to discern God’s will for us
• Help those in need
• Preach the gospel throughout the world

 

God bless my friends!  Maranatha!