Why do we fall for so many lifestyles that really can’t bring us closer to God, to His peace, rest, love, and joy? Why don’t we just come to God, Himself, the Author of love and life. Why don’t we do things His way instead of every other “way” we sample to find peace, rest, love and joy?
I think it’s funny that most of us run from the very love that can truly set us free. God is love. He knows how to live life in His love. He’ll show us how if we’re willing.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
If Jesus knew of another way to the truth and life, He would have told us so. But God made it really simple for us. He gave us one way to come to Him, one way to discover His peace, rest, love and joy. No other way leads to our Heavenly Father, and all that He has for us.
My selfish, self-centered “ways” to live life that I thought were the right and widely-accepted ways were becoming a real burden to me and to those around me. The “me first” attitude is so popular and easy to give in to, to fall prey to.
I needed to make a change. At the time, I didn’t know it, but I needed to choose Jesus, His ways, every day in order to turn things around in my life…
Choosing Jesus Every Day means to first accept Jesus as my personal Savior because in John 3:3 the Bible tells us that we can’t even see the Kingdom of God until we’re born again. Once I accept Jesus as my Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live on the inside of me, He comes into my heart to guide me into all of God’s truth. (John 16:13)
Now, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, I let Jesus teach me how to live life the way He did. For example, choosing Jesus’ way of living every day means exchanging my tendency to hate my enemy for Jesus’ truth that says to love my enemy. It means to believe that God’s working all things for my good instead of becoming disgusted and throwing my hands up in the air every time some circumstance makes me upset. Choosing to live like Jesus would have me live involves waiting on Him, letting His peace guide me and my decision-making processes. It means talking things over with my wife in a gentle, patient, problem-solving manner. It means listening more to my wife and seeking her important input. It means trying to forgive those who’ve hurt me because doing so protects me from taking on bitterness and it shows others the mercy and love of God we all so desperately need.
Jesus taught us a lot about how to live this life (how to choose, every day, to live like He did) in the in Matthew chapter 5 in the Bible. God knows the most blessed way to live. That’s why He sent Jesus and the Holy Spirit. To save us from the impact that sin (our way), is having on our lives. Jesus can set us free, indeed.
5 And seeing the multitudes, he (Jesus) went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness (right living, His ways that bring me true life and liberty in Christ): for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:
35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Keep coming to the Father by Choosing Jesus Every Day. =)
God bless,
Mark