Authentic faith in Christ will be proven by one’s willingness to walk according to His precepts, no matter the cost.
My dear friend in ministry is wise to say if we want a Jesus Family, we have to do things His way.
That means we apply his teachings in real time, in real life. We love one another. That means we prefer others, and renounce selfishness.
We ask God to make us instruments of his grace and mercy.
We refuse to slander others, or gossip behind their backs.
We help others and serve others.
If we do fall (or jump) into evil behaviors, we go directly to the injured party, and ask for forgiveness, walking out the instructions found in Matthew 18.
Authentic faith in Christ will be proven by one’s willingness to walk according to His precepts, no matter the cost. That authentic walk will be further proven by the fruit of the Spirit evident in our lives, the blessings of obedience we find in Galatians.
Have you wronged someone? Have you gossiped, slandered, condemned, criticized someone, or caused them to stumble? Have you sown division or discouraged others? Have you entertained bad doctrine, leading others astray? Have you made bad decisions trying to please people and avoid conflict, decisions based on human wisdom to the exclusion of God’s word? Have you accommodated sin, in your personal life, or in the life of the church?
If we have done these things, and haven’t we all at one time or another(?), then we need to repent, seek forgiveness, obey His commands to reconcile, walk in the newness of life, and enjoy the peace and blessing that comes from living in a Jesus Family. Amen? (James 4: 1-12)
Allan Erickson – author of “The Cross & the Constitution in the Age of Incoherence,” – serves on the board of Restore America
