What should be our focus and how should we live as Christians? I have often heard it said that we can be so heavenly minded as to be no earthly good or so earthly focused to be no heavenly good.

Colossians is a good place to start for some answers: “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.” (KJV; Col 3:1-2); well that’s pretty clear.

In second Corinthians chapter 6 and verse 17 we are told to come out from the non-Christians in the world and be separate; that basically means not to follow the same life style. But we are not told to leave the world (1 Cor 5:10), we need to go where the non-Christians are as we are to be Light to them (Matt 5:14).

If we are to be light, the non-Christians need to see us, need to see our Godly life style, our good works and especially our love. The word says that God will show His manifold wisdom to the world through us (Ex 34:14), in other words, we don’t hide in our homes and churches.

So, can we have stuff or are we to focus on ministry and have nothing? God says He will provide all of our need if we seek Him first (Matt 6:33). God is a jealous God, He wants us and wants to be our focus; as we keep our eyes on Him He will bless us with an abundant life. (John 10:10). That word life is the kind of life that God lives and enjoys; wow, that sounds good to me.

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 “This Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shall meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (KJV; Josh 1:8-9).

In the old Testament men and women lived under a law they could never completely keep, but God was merciful and blessed them when their hearts were right toward Him. This was their relationship with Him. As Christians, if we have given our lives to Jesus, we have Christ in us (Gal 2:20) and through His death we were justified (made just as if we had never sinned) (Rom 3:24).

We are new creations in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:17), we have His forgiveness (Eph 1:7). We no longer live under the law, driven by the dictates of the flesh, but by faith we live in obedience to God as the Spirit leads us (Rom 8:1-2).

We are redeemed (purchased at a great price) from the curse of the law, poverty, sickness and death! (Gal 3:13) God has adopted us as His children (Rom 8:15), He is our Abba Father (Daddy). He has taken us out of the power and authority of darkness into His wonderful kingdom of light (Col 1:13-14). We are more than conquerors in Jesus (Rom 8:37).

Let’s commit to grow into all God has for us. If we press into Him, spending time in his word and prayer, He will work in us through His word and power to change, transform, use and bless us (James 4:7-8; Phil 1:6).

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 Have you ever thought much about the effects our words have? The book of Proverbs has a lot of verses on our words. In Proverbs 18:21 it says: "death and life are in the power of the tongue"; ouch!

Our words can edify, encourage and build up or hurt and tear down. Furthermore, in Matthew 12:34, we are told that when we speak, we speak what’s in our heart. In other words, what’s in us will come out over time. Words once spoken can never be taken back, even if we plead that we did not mean it, or were just joking.

This is not to say that our words should always be warm and fuzzy; Jesus confronted when he needed to but it was always in love and to bring revelation and life. "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver" (Prov 25:11).

Let us walk in love and choose our words carefully.

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“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth  peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; and that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth”! (Isa 52:7; KJV)

Paul uses this beautiful verse in his letter to the Romans as an exhortation to evangelism (Rom 10:15). He asks how non-Christians can believe if no one ever goes to tell them about Jesus and all that Jesus did for them (Rom 10:14-15). We are all ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor 5: 20) and God wants to reach people through us.

As Christians, God has given each of us the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Cor 5:11) We are to explain the route to relationship with God to those God brings across our path. In fact, God commanded us to go to all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). He told us to make disciples of every nation (Matt 28:19).

Ask God to give you a divine appointment each day to share the love of God and His word with someone. Don’t be afraid, He will give you the words to say! (Matt 10:19) Just do it.

Not everyone will receive Christ the first time a Christian shares with them; someone will sow the word, others water and cultivate and yet others reap the harvest (1Cor 3:6). We just need to hear from God and do our part. Sharing Jesus is so much fun for us and for the angels in heaven (Luke 15:7).  

 It is good for us to spend time in the Old testament of the bible and be reminded that God has zero tolerance for sin. This is portrayed graphically in His dealings with Israel and Judah as He allowed them to be taken into exile because of their rebellion and sin (2 Kings). We are exhorted also to hate evil (Ps 97:10).

In the new Testament, we are told that Sin causes spiritual death (Rom 6:23) and separation from God; all people sin (Rom 3:23). Jesus paid the price for our sins by His sacrificial death (1 Peter 3:18) and won justification for us (Rom 3:24). This simply mean that if we repent, ask His forgiveness and ask Him into our life as Lord and Saviour, we are made: “just as if we had never sinned”. Our sins were washed away by His blood (Rev 1:5), the price was paid and God sees us as righteous in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:21).

Does this mean God has gone soft on sin? Absolutely not (1 John 1:5). We are told as Christians that we should not go on willfully sinning (1 John 3:6-9). But we are still flesh and blood and we will sin (1 John 1:8), but if we repent and ask God’s forgiveness He is quick to forgive (1 John 1:9).

The next question is, as Christians, are we soft on Sin? Do we have things in our lives that we wink at or ignore? Well, God knows I get it mostly right but I am sure He can tolerate a few minor issues. However, God is still black and white on sin and He tells us to take of the old man and put on the new (Eph 4:22-24). That’s all of the old man and all of the new. Let’s not limit God in our lives by ignoring sin. Now don’t get condemned, God knows our hearts (Ps 44:21) and as we desire to be everything He wants us to be, He will provide grace to help us to change (Eph 1:7-9). Paul never claimed to be perfect (Phil 3:12) and God does not expect us to change overnight. Keep on keeping on, the blessings are amazing. God bless you, we love you. 

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