WANTED:   COMMITTED CHRISTIANS

(Note: No one is perfect, but these are attitudes towards which we must strive:
Philippians 2:5 "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, ..";  4:8 "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.")

Christians whose hearts are thirsting and hungering for God.
Christians who deeply recognize their own sins and confess they need the mercy of God.
Christians who are forgiving of others.
Christians who will forgive themselves as God has forgiven them, and believe it.
Christians who will rise again when they stumble.
Christians who put away all bitterness and resentment.
Christians who show grace and love to those who despise them.
Christians who are patient, merciful, and compassionate, from strength, not weakness.
Christians who are committed to prayer.
Christians who are committed to bible study.
Christians who ponder hard the words of God.
Christians who are committed to living the highest example possible.
Christians who daily put themselves in hard training learning to be like Jesus.
Christians who actively lead others to righteousness.
Christians who will root out bitterness and leaven from among themselves.
Christian leaders of whom the unrighteous will fear and respect their discipline.
Christian leaders who will demonstrate gentleness and kindness from the standpoint of strength, not weakness.
Christians who are steadfast through persecution or ridicule.
Christians who make the Bible their ultimate source of authority.
Christians who rely not on their own understanding but the Word of God.
Christians who diligently seek after God's will and not their own.
Christians who are submissive to Jesus in every way of their lives.
Christians who will willingly seek the joy and happiness God has for them.
Christians who reach out to those lost in sin.
Christians who closely guard themselves lest they themselves stumble.
Christians who will sacrifice themselves to do the work of the Lord.
Christians who will die for one another.
Christians who walk by the Holy Spirit:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.  Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.  (Galatians 5:22-26)

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.  But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.  And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.  But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.  (Romans 8:9-11)

NOT WANTED!

(Note:  Not wanted are the attitudes of "the flesh."  Romans 8:6-7a "For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God."  Unfortunately, we all struggle with our dark sides and sin.  Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  Praise be to God that through His love for us, He has shown us mercy by redeeming us from our sins.  Ephesians 1:7-8a "In Him [Jesus] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished upon us."  But we must choose to walk in the light of Jesus rather than that of the flesh so He would cleanse us from all sin.  1 John 1:7 "But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin."

The strength which God supplies will help any who seeks after Him to overcome anything listed below (Ephesians 6:10) .  Ask, "What would Jesus do?"  Give your best and your life completely to God, and He will help you transform.)

"Playing church" or "playing Christianity."
Thinking oneself to be perfect with no faults.
Picking and choosing through the Lord's commands in cafeteria fashion as to what one will obey (and the rest ignore).
Gambling. Dirty talking. Drunkenness.
Setting a bad example for children (and others) with one's habits.
Delighting in off color humor or speech.
Bitterness. Jealousy. Divisiveness. Arrogance.
Having "little time" to pray.
Being "too busy" to study and ponder God's Word.
Preferring to get to heaven on own's understanding rather than by Scripture.
Not wanting other ethnic groups or races around.
Being condescending and looking down upon others.
Being embarrassed to talk about Jesus.
Being embarrassed by bible study.
Finding it too inconvenient to live the highest example possible.
Giving little thought about what God means for oneself..
Spending big money on sports or recreation but being tight on giving to the Lord.
Closed mindedness.
Giving little or no effort to help.
Thinking love for others involves no work.
Wimping out in the face of persecution or ridicule.
Being swayed by every change of the wind.
Being swayed by every sorrowful voice.
Not standing up to unrighteousness within the flock.
Turning deaf ears or blind eyes to wrongful conduct.
Not calling a spade a spade and sin as sin.
Wrongly assigning blame upon the innocent.
Not facing honestly the plain teaching of Scripture.
Thinking of oneself before thinking of others.
Warming the pews on Sundays "to earn brownie points."
Not overlooking the past faults of others.
Not looking for the good in others.
Gossip.  Slander.  Lying.
Receiving and retelling accusations without credible investigation.
Overbearing people who are on ego trips.
Judgmental people. Cynical people. Fault finders. Boastful people. Malcontent people.
Manipulative people. Vengeful people. People filled with anger. Unforgiving people.
People who continually dream and wish disaster upon those they dislike.
People who live by the flesh:

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  (Galatians 5:19-21)

So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh -- for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  (Romans 8:12-14)



Now, a compassionate word about smoking.  On this matter, "What would Jesus do?"


Page last updated October 13, 2000.
Return to the home page for the Cypress Bayou Church of Christ, Jefferson, Texas.