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Be very careful, then how you live (Eph.5:15)
A friend recently introduced me to the music of Christian
singer/songwriter Michael Card. One of the songs gave me pause for thought.
The chorus says:
I have decided
Gonna live like a believer
Turn my back on the deceiver
Gonna live what I believe.
I have decided
Doing good is just a fable
I just can't 'cause I'm not able
Gonna leave it to the Lord.
This rang true with me, because I have a constant struggle to 'do good'
and only seem to be able to sustain it for short periods. I get very
frustrated when I read books and hear sermons which tell me to 'trust
in the Lord' or 'live by the Spirit', without actually explaining what
this means in practical terms. The question is "So how?"
If, in the words of the song, I am "gonna live what I believe", what
does that actually look like, lived out every day? In fact, what do
I believe?
Our Pastor is often saying that our lives do not reflect what we say
we believe. There is another of Michael Card's songs which says:
You are the light of the world, O Lord,
You make your people shine.
So how could there be any darkness in me,
If you are the light of the world?
You are the bread of life, O Lord,
Broken to set us free.
So how could there be any hunger in me,
If you are the bread of life?
You've overcome the world, O Lord,
You've given us victory.
So why should I fear when trouble is near,
If you've overcome the world?
I am very wary of lists - of the books that promise 6 steps to holiness,
or 10 steps to a better prayer life. There are no easy solutions, as
I found out as a teenager when I joined a cult that taught me that I
just had to be obedient and I would get into heaven. Having a list of
things to do seemed simple, until you really tried to be perfect all
the time, then you realised how hard it is in reality. But a list can
be a good way to start when you can't see the way forward. I remember
an old saying, "God cannot direct your steps unless you move your feet."
So I have spent some time in the Bible and made my own list as a starting
point to "live what I believe."
1. Seek the Lord
Ps.9:9 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times
of trouble.
Ps.9:1 I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of
all your wonders.
Eph.5:18-20 … be filled with the Spirit …Sing and make music in your
heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything
God must be our starting point. The more you seek him, the more likely
it will be that your steps will be in a direction He approves of. Ephesians
chapter 5 begins "Be imitators of God." How can you imitate someone
unless you know what He is like?
2. Forgive yourself
Isa.43:18 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
Accepting God's forgiveness can sometimes be hard, but forgiving ourselves
can be harder. We often handicap ourselves by remembering our faults
and failings, instead of looking to God to help us do better. You need
to hold on to God's promises and believe that you can succeed if He
is with you.
3. Maintain a spirit of goodwill
Eph.4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other,
just as in Christ God forgave you.
God has promised us "peace … which transcends all understanding." There
is no need for us to be miserable, and especially with non-Christians.
Do your work colleagues or your neighbours think of you as a cheerful,
kind and helpful person? Often it is our lives they read before they
read our Bible. And, believe me, doing good to others is a very uplifting
experience, and can easily become a habit!
4. Be a person of integrity
Eph.4:17 …you must no longer live as the Gentiles do…
25 …speak
truthfully…
26 In your
anger do not sin…
29 Do not
let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful
for building others up, according to their needs…
31 Get rid
of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with
every form of malice.
Eph.5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking…
8-9 …Live as children of light (for the
fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)
These are such basic ways to behave that they often get forgotten, or
overlooked in all the 'more serious' sins in the lists of which we are
not guilty. How easy it is to join in the gossip at work or to make
jokes about people. How easy it is to lie to cover our mistakes or to
lose our tempers. I am not saying that we can be perfect in these things
at once, and we will often slip back, but the more often you keep aware
of these things and make a conscious effort, the more of a habit they
will become. And don't forget to apologise when you are in the wrong
or have spoken unwisely - it has a remarkable effect on people. Soon
these things will be part of your lifestyle.
5. Seek out beauty daily
Ps.8:1a,3a,4a,5b O Lord, our Lord,
how
majestic is your name in all the earth…
When
I consider your heavens,
The
work of your fingers…
What
is man that you are mindful of him…
You…crowned
him with glory and honour.
This may seem to be a strange item in the list, but we all need lifting
above the mundane and reminding what a great God we have and what great
things he has done. Hamlet called man "this quintessence of dust" and
wondered at how he compared to God's creation. But this great, almighty
God has given us so much, and sent his only Son to die for us. Find
some way to remind yourself of this often - even if it is a picture
of a beautiful scene up on the wall.
6. Tell others
Ps.9:1 I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart;
I
will tell of all your wonders.
Eph.5:16 making the most of every opportunity
We need to tell others of God's wonders, as well as telling God how
great He is. I know it is scary, but you have faced other scary things
in your life - exams, driving test, giving a speech. In every case you
planned and prepared in order to do your best. Take the time to learn
how to share the gospel and how to look for opportunities in conversation
to make comments that may make people think. You never know what 'seeds'
may take root and one day you may have the chance to discuss it further.
And if your life is living what you believe, others will notice and
will take you more seriously when you explain why you live the way you
do.
There is a chorus which I often hum to myself during the day, which
gives me confidence:
And your grace clothes me in righteousness
Any your mercy covers me with love
Your love adorns and beautifies
I stand complete in you.
May we be clothed in his righteousness and covered with his mercy this
week, adorned with his love and complete in him.