Being A Christian Is ....

 “Being A Christian Is …”

Jarrod M. Jacobs

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ot for the lazy (II Tim. 2:15). Christ compared His kingdom to a vineyard (Matt. 20), not a resort!

 

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ot for the spiritually ignorant (II Tim. 2:15). Paul said, “Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (Eph. 3:4). He also commanded Christians: “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17). No man is truly educated unless He knows God’s word! One who is ignorant of God’s word cannot please God!

 

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ot for those who wish to have the applause and love of men. Paul told Timothy, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (II Tim. 3:12). Jesus taught, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (Jn. 15:18-19). James wrote, “Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (Jas. 4:4).

 

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ot for quitters (I Cor. 9:24-27). Jesus said, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Rev. 2:10).

 

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or the spiritually minded. Paul wrote, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:1). Christ said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt. 6:21).

 

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or the convicted. When the Jews heard the gospel preached, “they were pricked (cut, stuck, pierced) in their heart” (Acts 2:37). About 3000 were saved that day, with people being added daily (Acts 2:41, 47). These same people, in the face of persecution, “went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). Are we this convicted? Do we say that there are saved people in all churches, or do we have the conviction to stand and say “there is one body” (Eph. 4:4), and only one way to Heaven (Jn. 14:6)?

 

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or the loving. We must love God above all others. Jesus said, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matt. 10:37). We cannot place anyone or anything above our love for God! No man can serve two masters, but will love one and hate the other (Matt. 6:24). Let us be as Christ, who “loved righteousness and hated iniquity” (Heb. 1:8-9; I Pet. 2:22). Whom do we love most, God or self?

Are you a Christian? (Mk. 16:16)