24/7 Christian

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.  1 Corinthians, Chapter 3, verses 16-17.

I have heard that some religions have interpreted this passage to say that Christians shouldn’t get their ears pierced or get tattoos but that isn’t what this passage means to me.  This passage is telling me that I’m a Christian 24/7 (24 hours a day/7 days a week) and God dwells in me all the time.
My actions, thoughts, words and deeds make me a walking billboard for God.  A billboard works as an advertisement to draw people toward a particular business.  If the sign were sloppy, had misspellings or poor grammar, the billboard would reflect poorly on the owner of the business.
Now, if I go out and get drunk, take drugs, am rude to others or use God’s Name in vain, it’s like I’ve used bad grammar on my billboard which would reflect poorly on God who dwells in me.  I need to make sure that as a 24/7 Christian, I'm attempting to live in a manner that makes me a good example of how God works in my life.
Here is a related passage:
*I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.  Galatians, Chapter 2, verse 20.


Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.

Focused on God Christians

For He saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. Romans, Chapter 9, verses 15-16.

There are religious groups that believe that if they “will” things to happen, “visualize things,” “use the god power within them” or use the “power of positive thinking,” everything will turn out the way they want.
Things might turn out the way they want because Satan uses things like this to work a subtle wedge in their relationship with God.  It’s similar to what happens when people read horoscopes where they start out reading it for fun, but after awhile they become more and more dependant on it.  If things turn out well after a person “wills it,” or uses “the god power within them” or “visualizes” things the way they want, they are much more apt to do this again the next time rather than turn to God, asking Him to provide for their every need.  They don’t even realize they are drifting further and further from what God wants, as evidenced through this Bible verse. We need to be Focused on God Christians for all our needs.

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.

Choose Your Own Adventure Christians

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.  Romans, Chapter 8, verses 13-16.

Choose Your Own Adventure books were pretty popular at one time.  You would be reading an adventure story and then were given choices.  If you turned to one set of pages listed, the story would end one way and if you turned to some of the other pages listed, it would end totally different ways.
We can live worldly lives of the flesh and have a less than pleasant ending or we can realize where we have gone off-track and turn our lives around to focus on God and what He wants for us.  When we choose to live through the Spirit, we will have eternal life with Jesus in heaven as Choose Your Own Adventure Christians. Which ending do you choose????

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.

Have Your Cake and Eat it Too Christian!

Matthew 6: 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

I really struggle with this passage a lot. I guess I'm a Have Your Cake and Eat it Too Christian! I want Christ to forgive me for all my many flaws, trespasses, and vices, but I want to stay angry with those you are rude and insensitive to me. 

 This passage reminds me that I can't have it both ways. I can choose to stay angry with people who have wronged me knowing that I might not be forgiven for my many, many trespasses. Or, I can work harder at turning that anger over to Christ, knowing He's already layed the ground work for my forgiveness.

 So, just how do you do that? It's easier in some situations, but in others it's down-right hard to let go of the anger! The thing is, when I'm holding on to anger toward anyone, I feel the urge to eat things I don't normally eat and at times that I don't usually eat.  Lately, I've been praying for God to have me be more open to being gracious to others, despite their actions. I also pray when the event happens. It's working, but I need to keep remembering to turn it over to Christ's very capable hands. I can't slip up and forget to add this to my daily prayers each day or I fall back into my old routine.  Matthew 6: 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.
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