When we "say" we are a christian

[Jim]

I was reading through my devotion today and found myself in 1 John, and to my shame realized how often that I don't know Him.

Oh not intentionally to cause people harm, but what is the difference? The bible says I don't know him, and I am guilty.

1:8
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1:10
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

2:3
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

2:6
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

I often find myself dong things in my own power. I am right now battling supervisors and managers at work in my own power and it may lead to my dismissal. Not because I have done anything wrong, it is just a mess, and they have me on their agenda now. Corporate takeover and such.

However, reading through 1 John, I have noticed that I do make a point to let others know that I am a christian, but knowing my own heart, have to admit that I conform to the accusation of verse 3 and 6. When we walk in our own power we are not keeping His commandments. When we do not walk with Him as in the way the Lord Jesus walked, we are not abiding in Him.

I realized also, that so many times we think maybe only the pastor, or a deacon or elder, should be the ones that have to walk like Jesus and abide solely in Him and forget that this is our obligation too. Our spiritual obligations to the Lord Jesus are no less than every other christian.

Yes,there are worldly requirements for these positions, but that does not make the spiritual requirements of a christian of not matter. We are to walk as the Lord Jesus walked, there is not other way to walk.

God forgive me for my humanism and self-reliance. I beg prayers from my brothers in Christ, that the Lord may keep me there.

Love in Christ,

Jim

[george]

Amen Brother Jim. I believe that before a man is saved there exist two forms of living our lives. That of unrighteousness which is the life of the saved person. Then there is that of righteousness which only comes from God.

When a person is saved another category comes in. Once saved we are no longer in bondage to unrighteousness but we certainly can fall into the trap of self-righteousness. Self-righteousness just does not work because what it amounts to is man trying to act like god; in other words doing God's job for Him. The Bible says, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked." How can we mock God. by self righteousness or trying to do God's work on our own power and it is often motivated by our fleshly instincts.

It is quite difficult in the heat of the moment to remember to pray and call on the righteousness of God. However I believe it vitally important that after we realize we have crossed a boundary we do what is necessary to get right. We must keep short accounts with God. We must get right with Him first and then we must get right with whomever we may have taken out self-righteousness out on. I find that often even if I am convinced that I am 100% correct and can find nothing in the Bible to the contrary it is in how I present myself and the way I say things that can cause others pain. In that case I take the earliest opportunity to swallow my pride, ask God for help and then go to the other person or persons and apologize for the manner in which I said things. If I am argumentative or raise my voice or something like that I am acting in the flesh and I need to take care of the possible hurt I may have caused.

I believe this also shows others we have a Christian life we must live and we must do whatever we can to stay within God's righteousness and out of our own self-righteousness.

In Christ,
George

[afterdeathwhat]

I had to ask myself that when trying to get this tract and website off the ground. I must admit I was getting impatient wondering why things were not moving as fast as I thought they should. We all need to rely on God'w timing and power if we are to accomplish anything for him. Thanks for the post. God bless.