Christianity in daily living

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do,do it all to the glory of God"-1Corinthians 10:31.This passage is inclusive of our behaviour in the home.

I remember my younger days when I found myself grumbling if my mom asked me to do something and always asking her to tell my brother.It's by God's grace I'm here and we happen to have a blessed relationship,where we pray with and for each other.And I consider her my friend :).But of course it wasn't always like this.I remember feeling guilty during the children's story section,before the preacher shares.We were often told Jesus was a respectful child and as I looked at my life,I really lacked in this area.And this was the only solution that improved our relationship:

"—The cause of division and discord in families and in the church is separation from Christ. To come near to Christ is to come near to one another. The secret of true unity in the church and in the family is not diplomacy, not management, not a superhuman effort to overcome difficulties—though there will be much of this to do—but union with Christ."-Adventist Home,page 179

Now that I'm older,I realise we can never be true Christians until we become true Christians in the home FIRST.Christianity starts at home.Looking at Jesus,our example,we learn that he respected his parents and was helpful as a child and even in adulthood.Christ first ministered in the home before he went on to minister outside.Thus.the home is where we grow as Christians as we spend more time with these individuals and they often test our patience-atleast that's how I felt about my brother.But amid that,I still need to love him.

And I believe for ladies who aspire to be good wives one day-if God wills,we have to start in the home,serving our brothers and our fathers.But of course we are called to submit to male authority irregardless of whether we're married or not/we want to or don't. I still need to improve in this area but it's coming and God is teaching me.And I realise the more we serve each other in the home,the more we become closer to each other.I've seen it in my relationship with my twin brother.And I've often wondered:how will a woman submit to her future husband if she disregards her father and brother?

The home is where heavenly characters are developed.If we would like to bear the fruit of the spirit:kindness,patience,love etc,we should pray for them and develop them in the home.If we want to speak words full of grace we can't start when we are outside but we must first begin with those we love and through these being practised in the home,it will be easier for us to practise them outside.

And may we all sing this song as we look at our lives:

"He's changing me,my precious Jesus
I'm not the same person that I used to be
It's been a slow going,but there's a knowing
That Jesus is changing me"

The Elder Brother’s syndrome:

I was doing my devotion on Luke 15:11-32, which is the parable about the prodigal son. But the Spirit led me to the older brother.

I find it funny that the older brother never persuaded his brother when he was about to leave home. I also find it funny that he did not see his brother from afar as he was coming back home. And this really got me thinking: aren’t we sometimes like the older brother?
Do we become concerned when we no longer see our sisters/brothers coming to church or we are just happy to fill the chairs of the church, while others leave? Are we even praying for those who’ve backslidden?

And when those who had left the church come back, do we rejoice like the Father, opening His arms to his beloved son? Do we accept them in our arms lovingly and not give them the condemning look?
I remember this instance when a brother who had committed a crime and had been in jail for quite some time came back. When I saw him, the first thing that came in mind was the crime, rather than the joy of seeing him alive. How selfish and cold of me!

Are we like the older brother, who instead of rejoicing was angry? When those who had left the church and are now back, what do our faces say? What do we say behind their backs? Are we still condemning them of the “sins” we heard they were doing? Do we go on to judge them/speak behind their backs, when they become active? Instead of rejoicing, do we become stumbling blocks in their journey,reminding them of their past?

I pray that we may not only work for our own salvation, but that of others-including those who’ve left the church. May God grant us with the Spirit of Christ-which does not seek to condemn but to lift the sinner away from sin, the spirit that does not remember the sins of others and looks beyond the current condition of the sinner.I pray that we hurt when our sisters and brothers fall into sin and pray for them.

“Let’s love in words and in deeds”

I worry...

As much as we have become so advanced in getting information and obtaining info on google,this still doesn't make us better.Far worse,when people can ask for themselves.They still are happy without knowing,even if their lives are at stakes!This is one thing we need to overcome.

In Matthew 24,we find Jesus telling us about the signs that will tell that He soon coming is close.One of those signs is false prophets and continually God admonishes us to be vigilant and prove all things.The Bible is the standard to prove every doctrine.

But sadly,many of us are lazy to search for ourselves and I'm convinced many will perish not because they did not have access to information BUT because they were LAZY to search for themselves!

The life of Jesus:Our example

Our High Calling : Page 59

54. In Love with Christ

For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens . Heb. 7:26.
The character of Christ was one of unexampled excellence, embracing everything pure, true, lovely, and of good report. We have no knowledge of His ever visiting a party of pleasure or a dance hall, and yet He was the perfection of grace and courtly bearing. Christ was no novice; He was distinguished for the high intellectual powers He possessed even in the morning of His life. His youth was not wasted in indolence, neither was it wasted in sensual pleasure, self-indulgence, or frittered away in things of no profit. Not one of His hours from childhood to manhood was misspent, none were misappropriated. . . .
Jesus was sinless and had no dread of the consequences of sin. With this exception His condition was as yours. You have not a difficulty that did not press with equal weight upon Him, not a sorrow that His heart has not experienced. His feelings could be hurt with neglect, with indifference of professed friends, as easily as yours. Is your path thorny? Christ's was so in a tenfold sense. Are you distressed? So was He. How well fitted was Christ to be an example! . . .
The Inspired Record says of Him: "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." Luke 2:52. As He grew in years He grew in knowledge. He lived temperately; His precious hours were not wasted in dissipating pleasures. He had a truly healthy body and true powers of mind. The physical and mental powers could be expanded and developed as yours or any other youth's. The Word of God was His study, as it should be yours.
Take Jesus as your standard. Imitate His life. Fall in love with His character. Walk as Christ walked. A new spring will be given to your intellectual faculties, a large scope to your thoughts, when you bring your powers into vigorous contact with eternal things which are intrinsically grand and great.