Four Steps to Faithful Living

Four Steps to Faithful Living

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How are your Christmas preparations coming along? Are you stressed out about what to wear or how to get everything done on time?

Maybe it is time to take time out.
Maybe it is time to see what really matters.
Maybe it is time to make sure we’re not oblivious to God.

But make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can’t afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don’t loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about! (Romans 13:11-14, MSG)

How could we make sure that we are not becoming oblivious to God? Here are four steps to faithful living:
1) It is high time now for you to wake up out of your sleep (rouse to reality) (Romans 13:11, AMP) All followers of Christ are called to stay alert. But from time to time we need to be stirred up to wake. That’s why we need community of saints around us. The time to rouse to reality is right now. We don’t live in the past or in the future. The time to meet God is now. The time to be ready is now. The time to wake up is now.

2) Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. (Romans 13:12, NRSV) We are called not only to reject vices and bad habits BUT develop positive and life-giving traits. Christian living is not just avoiding sin but also making the world a better place: sharing God’s goodness and shining God’s loving light into the world.

3)  Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. (Romans 13:12, NLT) We are called to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God. We need to walk as children of Light. We need to let the Holy Spirit change us inside and out. We can’t do this on our own. But we don’t even need to. We are called to wrap ourselves in Jesus.

4) Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 13:14, NLT) Putting on Jesus is the best decision of your life.  It gives you dignity, salvation, and freedom. It redeems and restores; it equips and empowers. It gives you life and more life.

How you can have all this in your life? Just ask. God is happy to pour out grace upon grace. Then receive. And revel in God’s grace and peace. Always dress in Christ!

 

Gracious God,
Wake us to see the beauty of Jesus.
Wake us to see what’s essential and what’s not.
We surrender to you
and ask for your grace.
Wrap us in Jesus.
We want to receive your gifts.
You are our God and we are your people.
We thank you and we praise you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: Are you wide awake? What are your danger zones? How do you like wrapping yourself in Jesus?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you put on Christ!

Image courtesy of Paul Snyder. Linking up today with Faith-filled Fridays.

4 thoughts on “Four Steps to Faithful Living

  1. “God has one destined end for mankind – holiness! His one aim is the production of saints. God is not an eternal blessing-machine for men. He did not come to save men out of pity. He came to save men because He had created them to be holy.” ~Oswald Chambers
    may it be so, LORD, our pre~destination in the community of saints<333

    love u, sis!!!

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