Leiston Venture

wee word - Do we have to be different?

Life as a Christian can be very hard, because we live among people who live in a completely different way to how the bible teaches us to live, and pay little attention to God. Is it ok to live like them? Can we be a Christian without living differently?

When we give our life to Jesus and accept what he has done for us on the cross, we are making a choice to follow him. It is not an easy choice. Jesus said that it was like choosing the narrow road:

‘Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.’ (Matthew 7 verses 13-14)

Jesus gave up his life on the cross so we could be forgiven and have a relationship with God, and he asks that we give him our lives in return. He will help us to live good lives, and he will keep forgiving us when we go wrong, but he wants us to do our best:

‘If people want to follow me, they must give up the things they want. They must be willing to give up their lives daily to follow me…. those who give up their lives for me will have true life’ (Luke 9 verses 23-24)

When Jesus says this, he means we must choose him over the things on earth (like doing what our friends want us to do). If we give up our earthly lives and live for him, rather than living for the things the world lives for like sex, alcohol, popularity etc we will find true life, on this earth and in heaven. So, what does the bible say living for God is like?....

‘When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin...But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control... Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives’ (Galations 6 verses 22-26)

Jesus knew it would be hard. He said “God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.” (Matthew 5 verses 11-12).

So, we have to decide whether we are going to live for God or other people. In Galations 1 verse 10 Paul says:‘Am I now trying to get people to think well of me? Or do I want God to think well of me? Am I trying to please people? If I were, I would not be serving Christ’

It is hard, but remember it is not just in heaven we will be rewarded. James 4 verse 8 says ‘come near to God and he will come near to you’. When we are living with God, we are living with our creator, the ‘father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles’ (2 corinthians 1 verse 3-4), and that is better than anything this world can offer!