Postagens
Some qualities that should characterize the followers of Christ are love and rightteousness but I'd like to share with you anothers of all disciples need to live and not just an elite few...
Everyone will have nice days when live this way:
1) THE WAY OF HUMILITY
This is an important question in Jesus teachings:
" For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 14:11
" I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." Luke 18:14
The source of true humility is a consciousness of the presence and majesty of God:
" When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” Luke 5:8
" When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." John 13: 12-17
2) THE WAY OF FORGIVENESS
" And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. " Matthew 6:12
Augustine called this prayer like a " terrible petition " because the condition :
" as we also have forgiven" .
" God forgives only the forgiving!" T.H.Robinson
This not carry the idea of a deal ou bargain, but an important law.
May I make you a question? " Is God's forgiveness conditioned by our forgiveness of others?
" For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Matthew 6:14-15
Doubtless, God has to forgive us much more than we shall ever have to forgive one another!
In another ocasion Jesus said:
" And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Mark 11:25
What will we do about this? What have we done?
3) THE WAY OF SERVICE
" 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......
“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me." Matthew 25: 40,45
Notice, the blessing was not what they believed, their faithfulness to religious or their position in the community, but:
a) their service to their fellowman.
b) our acts are illustration of ch" aracter.
c) the value of service to the common people( hungry- thirsty- stranger- naked- prison)
d) Jesus identified Himself: " do for one of the least of these...you did for me.."
4) THE WAY OF CROSS
" Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it." Luke 9:23-24
Doubtless, love and self-denial are twoo great characteristics of the christians, but Jesus spoke the language of the cross also!
Bonhoeffer said: " When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die!"
( The coast of Discipleship, p.79)
We only follow Christ when we take up a cross! What means this?
" I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. " Galatians 2:20
CONCLUSION: THE BEST WAY IS THE WAY OF THE LORD!
We are sent into the world to reveal Jesus.
" Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Mark 1: 17
Today He is saying the same, this is also His continuing invitation: FOLLOW ME!
As we seek to follow Jesus, His life teach us the sense of direction we need.
" Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20
" The blessing of the LORD brings wealth without painful toil for it." Proverbs 10:22
" Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For:
“Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”1 Peter 3: 8-12
Have nice days with Jesus !
Pra. Eni A.S.Cruz Devidé
