If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care —then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
Philippians 2:1-4 MSG
Dave Ens www.EasTview.org
The focus of salvation is our eternal soul. A future hope and a present hope. Life here can change. We can live differently. That's a universal desire. 188 crowd is looking for freedom and relationships that work.
Standing out with Christ. Have the same mind as Jesus. Every day we have the opportunity to confess Jesus. We are critical of people who don't live the talk. Integrity means to carry the intention of being like Jesus. Every day you can live to look more like Jesus.
Start when you get up before breakfast. Start when you show up for work. Live like Jesus when you meet the begger. Every day you have the opportunity.
The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had:
Philippians 2:5 GNT
Know your limits. Make real change. Not just intention.
Why do we not do this with our spiritual life with life changing intentions.
You have been raised to life with Christ, so set your hearts on the things that are in heaven, where Christ sits on his throne at the right side of God. Your real life is Christ and when he appears, then you too will appear with him and share his glory!
Colossians 3:1, 4 GNT
Your intention to follow Jesus and believing he wants to transform you will change you.
Jesus tells the story of 10,000 talents. More than the servant could ever repay.
He had just begun to do so when one of them was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. The servant did not have enough to pay his debt, so the king ordered him to be sold as a slave, with his wife and his children and all that he had, in order to pay the debt.
Matthew 18:24-25 GNT
God offers enormous forgiveness. He gives grace beyond measure. New lease on life.
"Then the man went out and met one of his fellow servants who owed him a few dollars. He grabbed him and started choking him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he said. His fellow servant fell down and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back!' But he refused; instead, he had him thrown into jail until he should pay the debt.
Matthew 18:28-30 GNT
The man had no intention to change his ways.
You should have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you.'
Matthew 18:28, 33 GNT
God frees us to be different. Reflect Jesus every day. Dare to be different.