How do I actually do what the Bible says? Jesus said, "“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." -Matthew 7:24
Then we see Jesus reference those who hear the truth but don't put it into practice and in this parable he refers to them this way: "But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand." -Matthew 7:26
Daily living in Christ, according to the Bible, how does it work? What does a faithful Christian life look like in the 21st century?
That's what I'm always trying to figure out. How do I really do this? I wonder, am I doing it right now? Could it be, perhaps, that I am just exactly what I'm supposed to be as a Christ-follower? Sometimes we can get an attitude like it's never enough. Maybe I'm already there. Maybe I'm miles away from what it really looks like.
What are the cultural practices that I as an American am able to keep, and which need to be tossed out?
Every scripture I read, I'm wondering, how do I put this into practice?
I don't want to be a fool who reads the Bible and then doesn't actually put it into practice!
Wake up, and pray. Start the day the right way. If I'm not praying at the start of my day, I'm starting off moving in the wrong direction.
And increasingly, on my Christian walk, I'm less and less viewing it as something I gain and then have, but more so, it is something that begins again every 24 hours. My philosophy of the Christian life is practical in this sense: I have to start with seeing it as one day at a time. Wake up, to sleep, how do I do it practically?
Each morning my walk with Christ starts over. Today, am I going to follow Jesus? So I've gotta start my day in prayer, telling God, Lord, I turn my life over to your care today. Show me how to do your will today.
It's about information and input. You know how they say you are what you eat? It's even more so you are what you think. Or you are what you put in front of you. If you're putting in front of you news and sports, you're gonna be news and sports. If you put in front of yourself entertainment and comedy, that'll be your mindset. If you put in front of you consistently Jesus Christ, the gospel, the word of God, that's who you are and how you'll live. It's just that simple.
If you put the television in front of you 24/7 that'll be what influences you. If you put social media in front of you 24/7 you'll be focused on that. If you put your faith front and center in your life 24/7 that's who you'll be. That's how you'll live. And it'll influence you. What's influencing you? It's a huge question.
Give careful thought to your ways, says the Lord. -Haggai 1:5
The things you do without thinking about are those things you've got to stop and think about.
I thoroughly believe that the Christian philosophy, that way of life that is described in detail by thousands upon thousands of scriptures throughout the Bible is a real, wise, livable standard.
There are 31,102 verses in the 66 books of the Bible. If I live by them, all be it imperfectly, I will live the right way in this life, because Jesus Christ will be living through me toward others.
Many, many people will do something catastrophic to their eternal souls, they will listen to sermons, read the Bible, even pray, but not put the words they hear and read into practice. And that is destruction. In fact it is our default setting, to hear things, and then to continue living the way we always have. Reading and listening is easy, doing is harder.
Be someone who puts into practice the Bible. Pray for your enemies. Forgive those who hurt you. Really seek God. Really love Jesus. Set plans to practically meet needs and share the gospel with strangers. That is your call and challenge. Put it into practice.
