Challenges remain an
integral part of everyday life. However, humans are not alone when it comes to
facing these challenges. Jesus provided a blueprint or roadmap that anyone can
follow when struggling with a difficult situation. The following are ten
lessons he shared that anyone can integrate into their everyday life.
Jesus brought faith,
hope, and love to humankind. Love remains very important in today's world, as
the entire globe navigates difficult times. He often reminded his disciples to
love God and love thy neighbor. These principles remain true today. When hate
is replaced with love and kindness replaces anger, a person's life improves and
the world improves around him as well.
Men and women need to
learn to love themselves because they are made in God's image. Therefore, they
have value in his eyes, should in their own, and cross ring. When God speaks of love, he is
speaking of one that is intentional, purposeful, and active. People often confuse
this with emotional and sentimental love, but they are separate things. This
means taking action when another person is in need, not simply commiserating
with them. Actions are of great importance when it comes to demonstrating God's
love. To learn more about how to love one another, visit weareradiant.com.
The Golden Rule
When interacting with
other people, Jesus commands people to treat each other as they wish to be
treated. People need to recognize that every human has dignity and remember
that anyone is capable of engaging in actions that are immoral. When
interacting with another person, God's character should guide the interaction
and how the parties relate to one another.
Before speaking or
engaging in action with regard to another person, take a moment to step back
and consider the situation from their perspective. They may have a completely
different viewpoint that is being overlooked, and this is leading to confusion
or a misunderstanding. By taking this pause and considering how God would handle
the situation, a person is less likely to make a quick judgment or do something
that could bring harm to the other person.
The Heart Rules
Don't be
hypocritical. Humans need to remember that actions speak louder than words and
take this to heart when dealing with others. What is in a person's heart shows
the true measure of the man. This is where the Kingdom of God lives in a person
and it is likewise where the individual makes the choice either to serve God or
to sin.
What is contained within comes out in the individual's actions. People
often appear to love God when they speak about this glory, but others need to
watch their actions to see if they actually put the principles they speak of
into practice. If they don't, their heart isn't with God.
As Jesus points out
to his followers, hypocrites will always be exposed. They cannot hide from God,
and people must take care. Allow a little hypocrisy into one's life and it
quickly overtakes the person. Everyone must be guarded against this at all
times and recognize that the most important thing is how God feels about a
person, not what other people think, as this is often the root of hypocrisy
that may quickly take over the individual.
Faith
Individuals need to
trust in Jesus Christ, remember him at all times, and follow his teachings.
Some find this difficult to do, as they have never seen him in the flesh and
state they cannot hear him when he speaks to them. Faith is the conviction that
Jesus is the son of God brought down to earth to save humans, even when he
cannot be seen or heard. People who have faith trust in Jesus as their savior.
Thomas, a disciple of
Jesus, struggled in this area, so those who struggle to have faith today are
not alone. After his crucifixion, when he rose from the dead, Jesus visited his
disciples. Thomas doubted him, and he had Thomas put his finger in the wounds
so he could see for himself that it was Jesus. He's there to help individuals
who have doubts so never give up on him.
Forgiveness
Forgiveness is
another concept many people find difficult to grasp. When someone has committed
an offense or misdeed, they may wish to be pardoned or excused. Jesus states
this person may request forgiveness by repenting of the sin and asking for
forgiveness. However, individuals must also be willing to forgive others when
they sin. Those who do so find they can rid themselves of negative feelings
that may otherwise hold them back from living a full and rich life, one that
follows the path Jesus laid out for them.
Humility
The disciples
believed their close relationship with Jesus put them in a position of power and prominence. They thought that he would rise to be King and form a
government able to compete with the Roman Empire. Jesus quickly brought them to
the realization that the Kingdom over which he ruled was a spiritual one. It
differed from those seen in the natural world and pride and arrogance had no
place in this Kingdom.
Humility and trust in God were the hallmarks of the true
Kingdom demeanor. They needed to strive for these attributes to be part of the
spiritual dominion. As Jesus explained, the disciples would need to become more
like young children if they wished to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Peace
Jesus emphasized
maintaining a peaceful environment during troubled times, and this is a lesson
individuals need to remember today as the world goes through a crisis unlike
any it has seen in more than a century. When a person doesn't know where to
turn or what to do, violence may appear to be the answer. Jesus firmly states
it is not in these situations.
For instance, when he was arrested, Jesus told
one of his disciples to set down his sword and rely on the sword of the spirit
in its place. He repeated this message when the disciples visited a town only
to have their message rejected. They wanted to destroy those living in the
village, but Jesus explained that was not the answer in this situation either.
Peace triumphs over violence every time.
Spiritual Wealth
Humans must choose
between one of two masters. They can either serve God or they can serve money,
as one will be loved and the other hated. Jesus often reminded his followers
that money and earthly possessions often interfered with spiritual growth.
Wealth must be properly prioritized so it doesn't become an idol to be placed
before God. Jesus wants us to love others and only use things, but someone who
is materialistic tends to use people and love things.
What Jesus isn't
saying is that money, a successful career, and material possessions are bad. He
is simply telling people that they shouldn't hold this money over others or
allow themselves to become haughty. They shouldn't trust in their wealth more
than God. He never says poverty is good though. People need to make this
distinction and understand they should not their possessions rule them, as that
is when they become more important in a person's life than God.
Prayer
Men, women, and children need to constantly pray to God. Hisglory allows you to instantly connect with God online without having to wait for a large gathering of people to start praying. There is no need to make it a spectacle before others. Jesus would often separate himself from his disciples to speak with his Father, and men, women, and children today need to do the same.
In fact, many
of the miracles performed by Jesus occurred after these times he would speak
privately with his Father, which goes to show the power of prayer in a person's
life. The words themselves don't matter as much as the connection that is being made with God during this time.
Consideration
"Sticks and
stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me". This childhood
rhyme has been heard the world over and many take it to heart. Sadly, words are
powerful and can destroy a person. They influence how the person lives and how they
view themselves. These same words provide insight into the speaker's heart.
Jesus often told his disciples to pay attention to not only what they were
saying, but why they were saying it.
With each word spoken, a person should be
trying to advance the Kingdom of God. If he or she is not doing so, they are
advancing darkness in the world. Stop and think about everything that is coming
out of your mouth. Don't just examine the words but determine why you are
saying them. If the motive isn't pure, leave them unsaid.
If in doubt, turn to
the teachings of Jesus. They can be of great help in guiding you through life,
regardless of what situations you are currently dealing with. Don't hesitate to
turn to others for assistance at this time also. Followers of Christ can be of
great help in providing advice and directing you forward on your path. They
want to see you succeed in life, as this is what God wants too.
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