"HOW ARE WE TO LIVE?"

As each new week comes our way, we all have the blessed opportunity to start over, to live better, to begin afresh. Whether you had a weekend to relax and simply get away from the regular work schedule, or you left that worship service and the church family after being encouraged through praising God and hearing HIS Word, your life continues on. The question I put before you today is "How Are We To Live?" As we learn more through our life and experiences and understand people and see the needs around us, as Christians or not, are we not responsible to one another in some way? Or do we just do what "I" think is right in "my" own eyes?

Anyone with half a brain would say no to that. If that were the case, think of the chaos we would have to deal with each day. God has spoken on this matter and some of the most basic "laws" we have today have been given to prevent just such chaos from taking place. One of those basics is that when we become God's child we no longer live as we did before. We have a new way of life, thinking and purpose. Paul the apostle mentions this fact in many areas of his writings and we will mention three here.

"If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord" (Romans 14:8).

"And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again" (2 Corinthians 5:15).

"BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

and do not give the devil an opportunity.

He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;

and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma" (Ephesians 4:26-5:2).

When you became a child of God by HIS terms, Christ became Lord of your life. HE is the reason you live and do all it is you do and for HIS glory. So to answer the question "How Are We To Live?" the best answer is to live as God teaches in HIS Word. Paul told Timothy, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth"(2 Timothy 2:15).
God Bless until our next time.