"As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so life well used brings happy death."

- Leonardo da Vinci

WHY THIS CHAPTER?

There is a big disconnect between the way some people live and what they profess to believe.

While it may be joked that a rock star's morality can be inversely proportional to the size crucifix they wear, hypocrisy is a serious matter.

If you love God on the inside, you'll also love God on the outside, and this question helps explain why.


 

 

What does my lifestyle have to do with loving God?


"Christian fundamentalism: the doctrine that there is an absolutely powerful, infinitely knowledgeable, universe spanning entity that is deeply and personally concerned about my sex life."

- Andrew Lias

 

Following Christ is not about learning to hate the favorite dessert you once loved. It is about learning to love God, trust in his wisdom, and respect his authority. For...

Realize that someone who loves you wants the best for you and wants you to get the benefit of their insight. They will balance their respect for your freedom to love or not love them with their desire to make your life the most it can be. In other words, not only are you loving God by spending time with him, seeking his guidance, and obeying him, but he is loving you by giving you joy, wisdom, and perseverance. All of this will ultimately result, if you are willing, in you wanting to love him even more. Loving God is a win-win situation.

While we are all capable of loving God, few things stand in our way like temptation. One of the Bible's most helpful encouragements and methods of dealing with temptation is this: "In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:11 NIV). This verse is especially practical because it acknowledges that often times the only thing we can change about this world is our response to it.

A great looking dessert, even one full of poison, will forever be that - great looking. You may never be able to change how great it looks, but you can change how you look at it, whether you look at it, and what you look at instead.

You must see sin for what it is - sin, something that grieves God and is a serious offense. Then you must replace your desire for sin with desires pertaining to God and all things godly. Transform yourself into a person who does this by renewing your mind through reading the Bible and seeking the guidance and strength of God's Holy Spirit. Concentrate on the fact that whatever action or sacrifice your obedience requires at the moment, the Lord is worthy of it. And increase your knowledge and love of the Lord which he is generously and continuously pouring out.

 

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See also:

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What is "Christian"?

Why think about the Bible?

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