GUIDELINES FOR THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

I Was Just Thinking About - GUIDELINES FOR LIFE

There are basic Biblical guidelines that should encourage and prove to be helpful for those who journey along the narrow way. One of the encompassing prayers for the Christian life is Colossians 4:12 (NKJV). There isn't too much recorded about Epaphras, but it is obvious he was perceptive and dynamic in the prayer he offered for God's people. This is one of the basic and foundational guidelines for the follower of Jesus Christ: "Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. It was the burden of his heart and focus of his prayer that the child of God learns to fit his/her life into the will, purpose and plan of God for it.

Two other passages substantiate the importance of such a discipline of life. First is, Jeremiah 29:11-13 that speaks subjectively of a relational and intimate lifestyle that is possible with the Lord. "I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. God has a perfect plan for the lives of His people. He wants them to desire it and live within its parameters. Second is the very familiar, although oft misquoted, statement in Romans 8:28-29, "We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. We must not gloss over too casually the words: "Called according to His purpose." It goes along with the prayer of Jesus, "Not my will but Thine be done."

There is a very practical word of instruction and guidance in Proverbs 4:23-27. I am so very thankful for a faithful Sunday school teacher who had the boys in his class memorize this passage; "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth and put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil." Along with this passage, he also had us memorize Psalm 1. (There is an obvious connection with the words of Proverbs): "Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law, he meditates day and night."

An additional guideline that connects to Psalm 1:1 is First John 2:1,15-17 that addresses the dangers of one who may become enamored by worldly or lesser things. John wrote: "These things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever."

One last guideline (requirement) is stated in Romans 12:1-2, "I beseech you brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." The negative is: "Do not be conformed to this world!" The positive is: "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind." When the Biblical Christian embraces and adheres to these words, the result in his/her life will be: (Then) you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

There are never any shortcuts when it comes to the will of God and implementing it in one's life. Just like the pursuit of holiness (sanctification), it will require patience and diligence as this process continues in one's life. Difficult choices will have to be made but they will be done with eternity's values always in view.

Prayerfully - consider these things with me.