Do our lifestyle choices matter for our relationship with God? We have heard that question many times, but often it is asked in the context whether it is a matter of salvation or not. For some reason we so often focus on whether something is necessary or not, that we completely miss out on the relationship itself. We have made salvation our goal, rather than loving the One who can save. What if instead of asking “do I really have to”, our hearts would be set on asking “how can I love God more”.
What it means to be a Christian
A Christian means a follower of Christ. For us to know how to live, there is no better way than looking at the life of the one we follow. Jesus was always seeking and doing those things that pleased God (John 8:29). The fact that there are things that please God, tells us that there must also be things that do not please God. But Jesus knew God so intimately, that He knew the character of God and knew what pleased Him and what did not. To please God and to do His will is what Jesus lived for (John 4:34). Even in Gethsemane where Jesus faced the hardest trials in His life, He did not let His own desires distract Him from His purpose (Mark 14:36). He was not concerned with doing the things He himself wanted to do. Now what does this mean for us – as His followers?
We are called to have the lifestyle that Jesus had; one that pleases God in everything. Not motivated by the reward that awaits, but because we love Him and He loves us. When we personally understand who God is and what He has done for us, how can we not be concerned whether we do things that please Him or not? Do we want to do things that displease the one we love?
The fight for what is right
Here John contrasts two lifestyles: one of the world and one of the Father. These two opposites do not go hand in hand; you either have one or the other. The implications of the calling to reject the worldly lifestyle are huge. Before we decided to follow Jesus, we were in the world and did things of the world. To not love those things anymore would require change; and change is hard. It is hard because we have fallen in love with those things and don’t want to give them up. In an attempt to hold on to the things in the world we love, we try to make it insignificant for our relationship with God. We avoid talking about it, act like God does not care about our choices and hide behind the increasingly popular phrase: “God is love, and He loves me no matter what”. We try to find a way where we follow Jesus, while still doing and loving the things in the world. But didn’t the Bible just tell us that it’s either one or the other? Why are we holding to the very thing He told us to let go off? Don’t we believe that God knows what is best for us? Instead of trying to find ways to excuse our destructive lifestyle choices, shouldn’t we rather seek ways to live more like how He wants us to live?
Renewing the mind
We are naturally drawn to follow our own desires that do not please God (Romans 8:5-8, read more here). For us to be able to follow Jesus and have a lifestyle that pleases God, our minds need to be renewed through the knowledge of Him (Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 4:1). When we surround ourselves with more of God and His word instead of things or ideologies of the world, we start to care less about the things of the world and more about the things of God (Colossians 3:2). This is not a one-time choice, but a choice we are to make every day (1 Corinthians 15:31, Matthew 16:24). We are to die to ourselves daily, pursuing not our will but the one of the Father, just like Jesus Himself did (Romans 6:4, Ephesians 5:8). This does not happen automatically. Having the willingness alone is not enough; it requires action on our part.
If we are serious about it, we need to actively make smart decisions every day. We should question everything we do and see if it contributes to our relationship with God or not. Do I get closer to God when I continue to expose myself to the talk and ideas of friends who do not even believe in God? Do I align my heart with God when I continue to watch ungodly movies, listen to secular music and play violent videogames? Do I glorify God when I continue an unhealthy diet? Do I please God when I continue to make fun of others around me?
The call to respond
Yes, your lifestyle choices matter for your relationship with God. A heart fully given to God is the foundation for a lifestyle that glorifies Him. Over time, you will notice that you will not be drawn to the same things as you once were, because the Holy Spirit is fighting for you to overcome the temptations of the world. Your relationship with God will flourish as you get more quality and quantity time with Him. This is not legalism, it is not something that you do to get saved; it is love that compels you to want to please your Creator and Savior. Not only do you get to live life to the fullest yourself (John 10:10), but through taking on Christ’s character, you lift Him up in your life and it draws people to Him (John 12:32, Matthew 5:14).
Our appeal is not aimed at a specific part of your lifestyle, but it is an appeal straight for your heart. Are you willing to start a lifestyle based on the question “how can I love God more”?
Take some time in prayer and ask God what changes He would want you to make in your lifestyle. It can be tough, but when it is in God’s will, it will be totally worth it.
I was more than happy to find this web-site.I wished to thanks for your time for this excellent learn!! I positively having fun with every little bit of it and I’ve you bookmarked to check out new stuff you weblog post.
Have you ever considered creating an e-book or guest authoring on other websites? I have a blog based upon on the same information you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my visitors would value your work. If you are even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e mail.
I am not really superb with English but I line up this really leisurely to interpret.
What i don’t realize is in fact how you’re now not actually a lot more well-liked than you may be now. You’re so intelligent. You recognize thus significantly relating to this topic, produced me in my view consider it from numerous various angles. Its like women and men are not interested until it’s something to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs excellent. Always handle it up!
whoah this blog is excellent i love reading your articles. Keep up the great work! You know, many people are searching around for this info, you could help them greatly.
I discovered your blog site on google and check a few of your early posts. Continue to keep up the very good operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to reading more from you later on!…
Its like you read my thoughts! You seem to grasp so much about this, such as you wrote the ebook in it or something. I think that you just can do with some p.c. to force the message home a little bit, however instead of that, that is wonderful blog. A great read. I will certainly be back.
I was just seeking this info for some time. After 6 hours of continuous Googleing, at last I got it in your website. I wonder what is the lack of Google strategy that don’t rank this kind of informative sites in top of the list. Generally the top websites are full of garbage.
As I web-site possessor I believe the content matter here is rattling excellent , appreciate it for your efforts. You should keep it up forever! Best of luck.
This blog is definitely rather handy since I’m at the moment creating an internet floral website – although I am only starting out therefore it’s really fairly small, nothing like this site. Can link to a few of the posts here as they are quite. Thanks much. Zoey Olsen
Thanks, I’ve recently been looking for information approximately this topic for a while and yours is the best I’ve came upon till now. However, what about the bottom line? Are you positive concerning the supply?
You really make it appear really easy with your presentation however I find this topic to be really something which I feel I’d by no means understand. It seems too complicated and very vast for me. I am having a look ahead for your subsequent put up, I will attempt to get the dangle of it!
WOW just what I was looking for Came here by searching for happy mammoth hormone harmony headaches
Please let me know if you’re looking for a article writer for your blog. You have some really great articles and I think I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d really like to write some articles for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please shoot me an e-mail if interested. Thanks!
I like this web blog very much so much wonderful info .
I’ve been browsing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my view, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be a lot more useful than ever before.
I discovered your blog site on google and check a few of your early posts. Continue to keep up the very good operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to reading more from you later on!…
Thank you for every other informative web site. Where else could I am getting that type of info written in such a perfect method? I have a challenge that I’m simply now running on, and I have been at the glance out for such information.
I’ve been browsing on-line greater than three hours nowadays, but I by no means discovered any attention-grabbing article like yours. It?¦s pretty price enough for me. In my view, if all site owners and bloggers made excellent content material as you probably did, the net will probably be a lot more helpful than ever before.
This design is wicked! You most certainly know how to keep a reader entertained. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Great job. I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!
This really answered my problem, thank you!
I believe other website owners should take this site as an model, very clean and excellent user genial style and design.
of course like your web-site but you need to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very troublesome to tell the truth nevertheless I’ll surely come back again.
I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here. The sketch is attractive, your authored subject matter stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an nervousness over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly again as exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this hike.
Today, while I was at work, my cousin stole my iphone and tested to see if it can survive a 25 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now broken and she has 83 views. I know this is entirely off topic but I had to share it with someone!
Yes! Finally something about fitspresso.
my web site fitspresso diet pills
I have read several good stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much effort you put to make such a fantastic informative website.
Very interesting subject, appreciate it for posting. “I do not pretend to know where many ignorant men are sure-that is all that agnosticism means.” by Clarence Darrow.
I would like to thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I’m hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming also. In fact your creative writing skills has inspired me to get my own site now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a good example of it.
Lovely site! I am loving it!! Will be back later to read some more. I am bookmarking your feeds also.
Merely a smiling visitant here to share the love (:, btw outstanding pattern.
hello there and thank you for your info – I’ve certainly picked up something new from right here. I did however expertise some technical points using this website, as I experienced to reload the site a lot of times previous to I could get it to load correctly. I had been wondering if your hosting is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but slow loading instances times will very frequently affect your placement in google and can damage your quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Well I am adding this RSS to my email and could look out for a lot more of your respective interesting content. Ensure that you update this again soon..
Throughout the awesome design of things you secure a B+ just for effort and hard work. Where exactly you lost us ended up being on all the facts. As as the maxim goes, the devil is in the details… And it couldn’t be much more accurate in this article. Having said that, allow me inform you precisely what did do the job. Your authoring is actually extremely engaging and this is probably why I am making the effort in order to comment. I do not really make it a regular habit of doing that. Secondly, despite the fact that I can certainly see a jumps in logic you come up with, I am not really sure of how you appear to unite the details that produce your final result. For the moment I shall subscribe to your point however hope in the foreseeable future you actually link the dots much better.
Enjoyed looking at this, very good stuff, appreciate it. “If it was an overnight success, it was one long, hard, sleepless night.” by Dicky Barrett.
Lovely just what I was searching for.Thanks to the author for taking his clock time on this one.
Very interesting info!Perfect just what I was looking for!
Wow! This could be one particular of the most beneficial blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Wonderful. I am also a specialist in this topic therefore I can understand your hard work.
Greetings from Idaho! I’m bored at work so I decided to browse your blog on my iphone during lunch break. I love the information you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m amazed at how fast your blog loaded on my cell phone .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, fantastic blog!
Hey very nice web site!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your site and take the feeds also…I’m happy to find numerous useful information here in the post, we need work out more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
I am not certain where you’re getting your info, but great topic. I needs to spend a while finding out much more or figuring out more. Thanks for excellent info I used to be searching for this info for my mission.
I’ve been surfing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my view, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the net will be much more useful than ever before.
Hey there just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your post seem to be running off the screen in Ie. I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with web browser compatibility but I figured I’d post to let you know. The style and design look great though! Hope you get the problem solved soon. Thanks
It’s in point of fact a nice and helpful piece of info. I’m happy that you shared this helpful info with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
Christian communities often cherish their beliefs and values through symbolic items. heartland merchandise featuring faith-based products like crosses, scripture-engraved items, and inspirational apparel, allows individuals to express their spirituality. These items resonate deeply with the Christian heartland, serving as reminders of faith and creating a tangible connection to core beliefs and traditions.
Enjoyed examining this, very good stuff, appreciate it. “To be positive To be mistaken at the top of one’s voice.” by Ambrose Bierce.
Really enjoyed this blog post, can you make it so I receive an alert email when you write a fresh update? Zia Thorsten Odawa
I am incessantly thought about this, thanks for posting.