Lifestyle in the Spirit
I finally understand now why some describe Christianity to be a lifestyle, as compared to the rigid 'religion' which many misunderstand.
All the things Jesus teached, lived and commanded have practical implications in my life. Over and over again the Holy Spirit prompts me to turn back to James 1:22, and to remind me: "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." It continues in James 4:17 as well: "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." And there are quite a few things I know in my head from the Bible.
In your anger, do not sin.
Forgive as you are forgiven.
Pray for your enemies.
Do not envy. Do not covet.
Be generous in your giving.
Love, because He first loved you.
YHWH is the one true God, and only He deserves all the praise.
Yet the distance from my head to my heart is always the longest. I tell the Holy Spirit: but everybody hates that person, so I have a right to do so too.
The betrayal has cut me too deep. When Jesus or the author wrote that, they don't understand how deep this hurt is. I cannot forgive...
I don't even want to think about my enemies - those whom I dislike/hate, those who dislike/hate me, much less pray for God to be real to them and make His love known to them.
And the list goes on. Here's probably (one of) the greatest one(s), the fundamental problem of us human beings: I did the work, I studied hard for my exams, I put the effort into the ministry. I deserve the credit! Why should other people, or God even, get the credit? This is the fruit of my hard labour-- Essentially forgetting that God grows the plant, even if I did cloud seeding and brought the rain to my own field.
I've found that my incessant questioning of whether a verse applies to my situation, how it isn't as applicable in my current circumstance because there are other things coming into play... Are basically pretty much excuses, though my questions are sincere enough. I think the questions still exist, but I've found that when I just do what I know God's Word tells me, it primarily changes not my situation, but my character.
And it is primarily my character (my soul, my spirit) that my heavenly Father is interested in growing, regarding me as an individual. So I do it. Do what He says, no matter how the circumstances makes it seem like I shouldn't or am unable to do it. And these I can only do with the filling by and power of the Holy Spirit who "will guide you into all truth (how I have sinned, & how to live in Christ)." (John 16:13b) Then it becomes a lifestyle, which is ultimately to glorify the holy name of my Lord Jesus Christ.
Peter writes in his first letter, "Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us."
Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."(Matthew 5:14-16 NIV)