"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:16, 24 ESV)
As Christians our actions show a lot about who we are. Do we show love towards each other or contempt? Do we help our brothers and sisters in need or leave them in the dust? Do our actions to show we love God or are our actions giving God and other Christians a bad reputation? Over and over throughout the New Testament God tells us that our actions are to be different from the rest of the world. If we act contrary to how Scripture says we are to act, how then can we say we are Christians? We are Christians, the Church, the called-out ones. A good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. The fruit you, Christian, should be bearing are of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Practice these things for the glory and pleasure of God as you enjoy Him for who He is! Now on the other side of the coin is the fruit of the flesh: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. Do not practice these things, but suppress them with righteousness. If you practice these things, that is, make them a part of your lifestyle, you should be very afraid. Galatians 5 says that you will not inherit the kingdom of God if you practice these things. God is very serious about His children being set apart from sin. If you are reading this blog and are finding you haven't been a true Christian or maybe you've never even claimed to be a Christian, it's not too late to be forgiven and have a changed life, a life that glorifies God. Christ died for ungodly sinners even before we could come to Him. He rose from the dead three days later proving He has power over death and authority to forgive sinners. Take part in His gracious forgiveness today! Cry out to God for forgiveness. Put your faith alone in Christ alone for His righteousness alone apart from any good works of your own. The Bible says whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved!
Christian, do not grow weary of doing good. Remember what 1 Corinthians 6 says, "And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." Because of what God has done in us, because of His work in us through the Gospel, we are no longer slaves to sin and the flesh! We are slaves to God! We are His workmanship, His masterpieces, creates for good works! Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. Read that again... Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. Old things have passed away and all things have become new. All things, all things have become new! You are a new person in Christ when you are born again! This should produce so much thankfulness to God and a desire to do what is right out of a heart of gratitude and enjoyment of God! That is worship. Live a lifestyle of worship. Are you guys beginning to see a clearer picture of what it means to be a slave of worship? Are you beginning to have a deeper enjoyment of God for who He is? I pray that your desire is to be a slave of worship.
Finally, The Bible talks about a few other ways we can worship God: rejoicing, singing, clapping, raising hands, and dancing. When worship is understood as a lifestyle it produces these many different expressions of praise and adoration. So the next time you are in a Bible study where there's a time of musical worship to God, take that time to enjoy God. Praise and adore Him. He likes to hear you sing to Him out of a heart enjoying Him.
Blessings,
Nick
