Let’s Dance: Leading My Actions – Friday
John 3:16-18
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (NIV)
This week, we’ve talked about letting the Spirit lead us in our actions. It is one thing to say we follow Christ, it's another to actually do it. When we look at scripture, we have to ask ourselves, “How does this apply to me?” “What changes do I need to make?” “Is this loving God or my neighbor?” So, what does it look like to follow Christ? Is there a clear picture of what a Jesus follower should be?
I’m glad you asked! Matthew 25:34-40 sums it up pretty well, “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you in prison and go visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Like I said earlier this week, I don’t like mirrors. I don’t like seeing my flaws and knowing I have a long way to go to look like Christ. Scripture shows us the old us but it also shows our potential. When we take the time to read, evaluate, pray, repent, and apply the principles of the Bible to our lives, we know that we are moving toward the life and reward that God has planned for us since the beginning of time.
Friday’s Reflection
Start the habit of reading scripture and just simply doing what it says. Perhaps commit Matthew 25:34-40 to memory, or start a Bible reading plan.