Galatians 3:23-25 No Longer Under A Tutor

 

The purpose of going to school is to graduate with the knowledge to use to help guide you through life. Tutors are often used to help you better understand the material so you can graduate. How would it look if someone stayed in school all their life, constantly being tutored, and never graduated? There are many Christians who think never graduating is how you live the Christian life. In this video, I explain how this is done. Resources: The Tutor livinggodministries.net/living_god_ministries/radio_archive/audio_files/galatians_25_the_tutor_3_24_25.mp3 https://share.google/ti2FAAIhYfEDsVmrB

Lies Christians Believe: Progressive Sanctification

 

People are attracted to progressive sanctification because they believe it offers a realistic, grace-filled approach to spiritual growth. However, upon closer examination, we see that progressive sanctification is a works-filled approach to spiritual decay. Join me as I discuss how the belief in progressive sanctification is a lie that cripples the relationship between Christians and Jesus Christ. Resources: Sanctification livinggodministries.net/living_god_ministries/radio_archive/audio_files/sanctification_ext.mp3 https://share.google/ThhVzD8nP3i3pA6Cr

Letting Go Of The Law

 

A trapeze artist has to commit to letting go of their trapeze and grabbing hold of the other one to make it safely to the other side. Otherwise, they will be stuck in midair, unable to reach the other side or return to where they started. It is the same with Christians when it comes to law and grace. We cannot hold on to the law and simultaneously live under grace without destroying both and living a life of confusion and frustration. In this video, I will discuss the verses that Christians misinterpret to claim we are still under the law and show you how they actually support living under grace. Resources: Live in Liberty livinggodministries.net/living_god_ministries/radio_archive/audio_files/galatians_35_live_in_liberty_5_9_13.mp3 https://share.google/LOoW1KzlUOTOKU0W1

Enemies of Grace

 

When we think of opposition to Christians, we picture persecution from the outside. But Scripture reveals a deeper conflict — one that rises from within the church itself. This episode examines Paul and the enemies of grace he fought against, tracing their origins and why we still face the same battle today. Resources: The Curse of the Law livinggodministries.net/living_god_ministries/radio_archive/audio_files/galatians_06_curse_of_law_1_6_9.mp3 https://share.google/oPshsgiK3kLD6yhzH

Hebrews 10:1-4 A Shadow of the Good Things

Are we living in the shadow of the good things that are coming and not in the reality of them? We have reimagined the sacrifices of the Old Testament and in the process, we have nullified the finality of the Cross. Was the sacrifice of Jesus enough or did His death only lead to a change in the sacrificial system? In this video, I discuss how the constant attempts to get forgiven are a denial of the forgiveness that we have already received.

Resources:

Draw Near to Him

livinggodministries.net/living_god_ministries/radio_archive/audio_files/hebrews_39_ch10_1_10_draw_near_to_him.mp3

Q & A: Law and Grace

 

This video explores the heart of the conversation between law and grace — not with easy answers, but with questions that challenge, stir, and invite reflection.  Listen as we attempt to answer six core questions surrounding law and grace:

1. Are we still required to keep the Old Testament law??

2. What does it mean that Jesus fulfilled the law? 

3. If we're saved by Grace, why does obedience matter?

4. What's the difference between legalism and holiness? 

5. How do law and grace work together in salvation? 

6. Can you lose your salvation if you break God's law?

Resources:

Living God Ministries - The Scale between Law and Grace https://share.google/5YwQ4qBHqPuqrx6xZ

2 Peter 3:18 Growing In Grace

2 Peter 3:18 "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen." How do we grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ? What is the new way of life available to us through the grace of God? Resources: How will the grace of God guide us? https://www.livinggodministries.net/living_god_ministries/radio_archive/grace_ungodliness.htm

This Is Why You Feel Ashamed

 

"Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters"

Hebrews 2:11

What is it that makes Christians admit that they feel ashamed?

How does not understanding the difference between the Old Covenants and New Covenants contribute to being ashamed?

Resources:

Ashamed

https://96tolife.blogspot.com/search?q-ashamed

Sanctification and Shame

https://www.livinggodministries.net/living god_ministries/radio_archive/audio_files/hebrews_8_ch2_11.13 sanctification and shame.mp3

The Truth About Our Freedom In Christ

 

1 Corinthians 6:12

"I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything."

Romans 5:13

"To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law."

Galatians 5:13

"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love."

Galatians 5:1

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

Galatians 2:4

"This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves."

What is the hardest thing to admit about our freedom in Christ?

If we are not under the law, what motivates us not to sin?

Who is it that wants to enslave us?

Resources:

Grace Stories by Bob George 

https://a.co/d/01SpC5OL

Forgiveness

https://www.livinggodministries.net/living_god_ministries/radio_archive/forgiveness.htm

The Bible Becomes Clear When You Keep Reading

 John 14:15-17

[15]  “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. [16] And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, [17] even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

‭1 John 1:8-10

[8] If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

‭John 3:3-6

[3] Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” [4] Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” [5] Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 

If reading scripture in context is important how come so many ignore it?

What are the consequences of taking scriptures in isolation?

Resources:

Keeping His Commandments:

https://www.livinggodministries.net/living_god_ministries/radio_archive/keeping_his_commandments.htm

The History and Purpose of Baptism:

https://www.livinggodministries.net/living_god_ministries/radio_archive/baptism.htm

Understanding Forgiveness:

https://www.livinggodministries.net/living_god_ministries/radio_archive/forgiveness.htm

Believe and Enter

Matthew 11:28-29 [28] “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Why are people weary and burdened? What is the key to the rest that Jesus has given us? Resources: The Sabbath Law https://www.livinggodministries.net/living_god_ministries/radio_archive/sabbath.htm Are you reminding God of sins He no longer remembers? https://youtu.be/80bLlm5RBkY

The Hopelessness of Life under the Law

 

You are not obeying the commands of Jesus or the Law of God. Why?

1. The Law's standard is perfection.

2. The Law was amplified by Christ.

3. The Law stirs up sin.

4. The Law is based on man's self-effort.

5. The Law is a ministry of condemnation and death.

Resources:

You Don't Love God

https://96tolife.blogspot.com/search?q=You+don%27t+love+God+&m=1

Keeping His Commandments 

https://www.livinggodministries.net/living_god_ministries/radio_archive/keeping_his_commandments.htm

1 Corinthians 15:56 The Law Stirs Up Sin

 

"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law." 1 Corinthians 15:56 What is the "sting of death"? What is the "power of sin"? Why do Christians say, "Christianity doesn't work"? Resources: The Scale between Law and Grace https://www.livinggodministries.net/living_god_ministries/radio_archive/audio_files/scale_law_grace.mp3 A Closer Look at Law and Grace https: //amzn.to/3SBgMWo

Lies Christians Believe

 

John‬ ‭8:44‬

"You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." How has the first lie of the devil continued to affect the body of Christ? Are we preaching lies and saying it is the Christian life? Resources: The Gospel: https://www.livinggodministries.net/living_god_ministries/radio_archive/audio_files/the_gospel.mp3 Understanding Forgiveness: https://www.livinggodministries.net/living_god_ministries/radio_archive/forgiveness.htm Spiritual Warfare: https://www.livinggodministries.net/living_god_ministries/radio_archive/spiritual_warfare.htm Your Identity in Christ: https://www.livinggodministries.net/living_god_ministries/radio_archive/identity.htm

Rebuilding What Was Destroyed

 

Galatians‬ ‭2:18‬ ‭ For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2:10‬ They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do. Is there a difference between the Mosaic Law and the commands of Jesus? Are you motivated by outside forces or a changed heart? Resources: https://96tolife.blogspot.com/search?q=Rebuilding&m=1 https://www.livinggodministries.net/living_god_ministries/radio_archive/audio_files/galatians_14_die_to_the_law_2_17_19.mp3

Are Christians commanded to go to church?

 

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:24‭-‬25)." Is church attendance true fellowship? What is the foundation of fellowship? Resources: https://96tolife.blogspot.com/search/label/Fellowship?m=1 https://www.livinggodministries.net/living_god_ministries/radio_archive/audio_files/hebrews_41_ch10_25_foresake_assembly.mp3

What does it mean to fall from grace?

 

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love." Galatians 5:1-6

What does it mean to fall from grace?

Is this about losing your salvation?

Who is Paul addressing in this verse?

Resources: 96toLife

https://www.livinggodministries.net/living god ministries/radio_archive/audio_files/galatians_33_faith_through_love_5_1_6.mp3

2 + 2 = 5

 "I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?" John 3:12

If you believed that 2+2=5, how would that affect transactions you engaged in requiring mathematical calculations? Nothing would function properly. Your bank ledger would not balance. You would put the wrong amounts of ingredients in your recipes. The things you build would not be structurally sound. And so on. Jesus Christ admonished the disciples because they could not figure out His physical examples were used to explain spiritual truths. This continues to this day. Christians struggle with God's apparent lack of revelation regarding scripture, the circumstances of their lives, and current events. The reason may be that they don't understand the things God has revealed in scripture. So, how can He reveal further truths that depend on them understanding the things He has already shared? Nowhere is this problem more obvious than when it comes to the differences between the Old and New Covenants. Here are a few examples of this problem that I have experienced.

New Covenant

Many Christians believe the New Covenant begins with the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It could be due to them equating the birth of Jesus  Christ with the beginning of the New Covenant or because most Bibles separate the covenants at the start of the Gospels. Therefore, they end up believing that things like the Sermon on the Mount is the Lord giving Christians the standard by which to live their lives. That repeating the words to the "Lord's Prayer" is praying to God. And other incorrect assumptions have led to a myriad of beliefs permeating the body of Christ. 

However, the New Covenant began after the death of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 9:16-17 says, "In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living." A will is another way of saying covenant. An inheritance is not received until after a person dies. Therefore, the New Covenant did not take effect until after the death of Jesus Christ. Understanding this truth will determine how one rightly divides the scriptures. This goes a long way in how they approach the Christian life.

Forgiveness 

When you don't understand where the separation between the two covenants is you will not understand forgiveness. How often have you heard Matthew 6:14-15 referenced as evidence to support how God views us in light of His forgiveness? Jesus says, "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." This is Jesus burying His audience under the impossible requirement to forgive everyone who has ever sinned against you or else God will not forgive you. The only conclusion that can be reached is that your sins will never be forgiven by God. Besides, how will you know? Nobody has kept track of every sin committed against them. If you did, how long would it take to track all of these people down? What if they are no longer alive? Plus, how does God notify you that you're forgiven? Do you see how difficult this becomes?

After Jesus died on the cross, the forgiveness issue between man and God is over. In Ephesians 4:32 Paul writes, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Do you notice the difference? We are told to forgive others because God has already forgiven us. We don't forgive others prior to receiving God's forgiveness. That is a huge difference that is often unrecognized by Christians. Not only are you free to forgive others who sin against you, but the separation between you and God is gone. You now have access to your God because He is no longer counting your sins against you. Your entire Christian life changes. No more doing penance. No more bloodless sacrifices. No more streaming down aisles to rededicate your life again. No more keeping of short accounts. No more making appointments to see the priest in the confession booth. No more saying the Lord's Prayer endlessly. No more fear of God. It is finished!

Tithing

The subject of tithing is taken for granted. For the majority of Christians, it is a given that tithing is as central to the Christian life as the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. One of the passages used to support this belief is Matthew 23:23. There Jesus said, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone." Who was Jesus talking to? He was talking to scribes and Pharisees, not to Christians. The scribes and Pharisees were Jewish leaders who taught the Old Covenant law. They weren't elders and pastors teaching New Covenant grace. Furthermore, Jesus was talking about their lack of love, not their tithing record. 

Tithing was done to support the Levitical Priesthood, not your local church. Under the New Covenant, there is no law requiring us to give a tithe of our income to a church or ministry, much less the Levitical Priesthood that no longer exists. The New Covenant teaches that "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7)." When you are required to do something it can lead to being reluctant to give because you may not have the resources available or you don't want to do it. Under the New Covenant, God has set us free to decide what it is we want to give and to whom we want to give it. It is the difference between giving to get something from God and giving from a heart that has been given everything by God. 

Conclusion

When your premise is off your findings will be off. In mathematics, this is discovered quickly as you get wrong answers. However, when your premise is based on the Old Covenant what you will find is that you are living a life you cannot live as you try to get things from God He never promised to give you and missing out on those things He has freely given to you through faith in Jesus Christ. You will spend your life trying to live under a Covenant given to the Jewish nation that they could not obey. You won't understand those things that God has given to you as an inheritance of your faith. As a Christian author, Major Ian Thomas writes, "There are those who have a life they never live. They have come to Christ and thanked Him only for what He did, but do not live in the power of who He is. Between the Jesus who "was" and the Jesus who "will be" they live in a spiritual vacuum, trying with no little zeal to live for Christ a life that only He can live in and through them, perpetually begging for what in Him they already have!"

Can anything good come from Nazareth?

Shortly after the ministry of Jesus Christ began we read where the Lord calls Philip and Nathanael. In John 1:45-46, it says, “Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.” We don't know what made Nathanael stereotype Jesus for being from Nazareth, but it is clear that his opinion of Nazarenes was not high. It is an unfortunate fact of life that we have prejudice. Racial, economic, cultural, religious, and social prejudice are a few of the stereotypes we use against each other. It was no different in the first century. While it is no surprise to see this type of prejudice from the world, it is disheartening to see it in the Church. Christians find many ways to look down on each other. The list is endless, but a few of the ways we do it are as follows:

Lone Ranger Christian

A Lone Ranger Christian is said to be "a Christian who avoids fellowship with other believers or avoids going to church and being a part of a local body of believers." The fact that this term exists and there is a definition for it is evidence of the lack of love within the body of Christ. I can't say they don't exist, but I have never heard anybody proclaim themselves to be a Lone Ranger Christian, much less profess they are actively avoiding fellowship or going to church because they don't need anybody in their lives. But, I do know of people who have left churches or avoided fellowship with other Christians because of the Christians in those groups. Nobody who labels another believer as a Lone Ranger Christian seems inclined to ask the person they are referring to why they are avoiding fellowship or left a church. Furthermore, do they look inward and ask themselves, "What beliefs do we hold that may be a problem for others?" or "Are we demonstrating the love of God to our fellow Christians?" It is easy to just dismiss another Christian as the problem rather than first looking at ourselves to see if we are to blame. If you believe someone is a Lone Ranger Christian, don't dismiss them, but remember that "You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Galatians 5:14)." Wouldn't you want someone to come to you if they had a problem with how you were acting? Give them the benefit you would want to be given to you by others. 

Antinomian

It is said that in Christianity an "antinomian takes the principle of salvation by faith and divine grace to the point of asserting that the saved are not bound to follow the law of Moses." In other words, they believe that if you are not living a life of obedience and repentance to the law, then you are giving people a license to sin. Therefore, you are dismissed as an outlier to the faith, someone to be avoided, and who needs to be reigned back into the faith. In all honesty, however, the true antinomians are those who believe that the law of Moses, any law for that matter, plays a role in the life of a Christian. The Bible says, "Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith (Galatians 3:11).” Clearly, as the verse states, Christians live by faith not by the law. Therefore, the ones who are the real antinomians are those who believe that a Christian, the saved, is bound to follow the law of Moses. Furthermore, we are told that "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law (1 Corinthians 15:56)." Who is giving people a license to sin? Is it the person living by faith in God to live His life through them, or the one trying to live by laws designed to modify their flesh? If the righteous live by faith then it must be the unrighteous who live by the law. Do not let yourselves be pigeon-holed into accepting a label that in truth belongs to the ones doing the labeling. 

Two-Timers

They are called Two-Timers, Cultural Christians, Convenient Christians, Chreasters, C&E Christians, Pointsettia & Lily Christians, CEOs, and on and on. They are Christians who only attend Church sparingly, on holidays, or twice a year on Christmas and Easter. Some of these terms I have never heard of before. Similar to Lone Ranger Christians, these so-called Two-Timers, are Christians who are put down for only attending church on special occasions. The idea behind the labeling is that these are not true Christians, but they only give God recognition on religious holy days, but the rest of the year they have nothing to do with God. Again, like with the Lone Ranger Christians, there may be people who do this. But, again, do those participating in the unloving act of name-calling ever look inward and examine themselves? Why would a person only come to church on holidays? Could it be that they can only tolerate the Christians and the teachings at the church they attend on holidays? If the people at these churches are coming up with all these condemning labels, perhaps that is just the tip of the iceberg with what goes on inside the walls of these churches. I wonder if what is being taught is the law. The law makes you mean. The law makes you judge others. The law makes you miserable and misery loves company. Who was it that Jesus Christ came down the hardest on? It was the religious leaders. Speaking to the Scribes and Pharisees, Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23).” Notice that He says they neglect justice, mercy, and faithfulness. If someone is only attending church on holidays, and it bothers you, go them in love, expressing justice, mercy, and faithfulness to them. You may win your brother or sister or discover something about yourself and your church that needs addressing. 

I chose to discuss the labels of Lone Ranger Christian, Antinomian, and Two-Timer because of personal experience. These are labels that have been placed on me because of judgmental Christians who did not understand the things I believe about the faith or were too close-minded to listen to what I believe. There was a time early in my faith when I didn't attend church regularly for a few years. From the outside, this could appear to be me acting like a Lone Ranger Christian or a Two-Timer. It was me having difficulty finding a church that was teaching the grace of God to my satisfaction. Therefore, I chose not to attend a local church because I didn't want to expose myself to teaching I disagreed with for the sake of fellowship with people who didn't believe like me. Is that fellowship? Nobody asked me why I left and when people discovered I wasn't attending church, the labels were applied. I desired fellowship and found it online. But, that doesn't count for those who considered me an outcast. The first time I was labeled an antinomian was by a local pastor whose church I attended. During a conversation outside of church on the subject of water baptism, he labeled me an antinomian because I don't believe water baptism is necessary for salvation or the first act of obedience after salvation. When you can't convince somebody with scripture, putting a label on them is supposed to qualify as winning an argument. Unfortunately, people would rather try and win an argument and lose their brother. Nathanael labeled Jesus with his sarcastic question, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" He soon found out that the only thing that we can say is good came from Nazareth. Do not let fellow Christians look at you like a Nazarene because they don't take the time to find out who you are and what motivates you. In Christ, you are a child of God, who is not alone, not under the law, and who is a member of the Church. Grace and Peace. 

Be Like

There is a popular meme going around supposedly indicating what the Christian life is supposed to be like. It lists the following:

• Pray like Nehemiah
• Obey like Daniel
• Lead like Moses
• Serve like Martha
• Believe like Mary
• Fight like David
• Educate like Paul
• Build like Noah
• Love like Jesus 

My first instinct was to say, "No." This is another way to create laws to motivate our flesh rather than to live in response to the leading of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Our life in Christ is a direct reflection of our growth in the grace and knowledge of our God and Savior as He lives His life in and through us. Six of the nine people mentioned in the list did not even have the indwelling Holy Spirit living in them. Mary and Paul lived on both sides of the Cross, were born under the Old Testament, and lived during the beginning of the New Covenant where they received the Holy Spirit after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Not much is mentioned of Mary after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but Paul wrote most of the New Covenant and he tells us that we are not to live by the law, any law, whether that be God's law or one we make up. 

Pray like Nehemiah

Nehemiah wrote, "I beseech you, Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments ... (Nehemiah 1:5)" For those who understand the New Covenant, I could not see myself praying like this. Nehemiah is referencing the Old Covenant in his prayer. There is nothing wrong with the Old Covenant, but Nehemiah did not know what it was like to live under the new. He also didn't understand that nobody is keeping God's commandments to the extent He requires, not even Nehemiah. God was faithful to Israel not because they obeyed Him, but because He loved them and kept His promise to them. Perhaps that is why Nehemiah praised God as the one who "preserves the covenant," not him or the people. My prayer would be more about honoring God "who loves us and gives us His grace and mercy."

Obey like Daniel

When Daniel learned that King Darius issued a decree to only pray to him, Daniel had a choice to make. Obey the decree or obey his God. In Daniel 6:10, it says, "Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before." Daniel was found out, betrayed, and thrown in the lions' den. Of course, we know the rest of the story. God forbid there comes a time when we have to choose between praying to God and praying to a human leader. But, we can make that choice when the time comes. I am secure in the knowledge that whatever I choose, my God is with me regardless. It is also comforting to know that I don't have to get down on my knees and pray towards Jerusalem three times a day. I can pray anywhere, at any time, and in any manner that I choose. For what it is worth, that may help conceal my prayers momentarily and the knowledge that my God is with me is further comfort to me. 

Lead like Moses

When it comes to Moses, the Bible says, "And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel (Deuteronomy 34:12)." It is said that comparison is the thief of joy. What goes through the mind of your average Christian if they must compare their leadership to that of Moses? It would have to be an absolute failure. How many of us, whether leaders or not, are assigned a task like that which God gave to Moses? Has God performed signs and wonders through us? Has God sent us to a foreign land to lead the slaves out of captivity? Not likely. That was what God tasked Moses with doing. And, if we remember, Moses did everything in his power not to lead his people out of Egypt. There are various forms of leadership ranging from Moses leading the exodus, a pastor leading a church, a husband leading his family, to the individual leading their life as a reflection of the Lord's guidance, and many in between. Choose to do what God is leading you to do rather than judge your life based on what He had others do with their lives. 

Serve like Martha

When Jesus came to the home of Mary and Martha. we read that "Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her (Luke 10:40-42).” To state that we are to "serve like Martha" is proof that the creators of this list of what Christians are to be like doesn't understand the New Covenant. Christians are called to rest. And in the story of Martha and Mary, it is Mary, not Martha that we should emulate. She is the picture of rest and Jesus refers to her actions as having "chosen what is better." We are called to rest in Christ Jesus. Resting is a form of serving because we are told to make our bodies living sacrifices. You can't sacrifice yourself if you are busy working. Therefore, for what it is worth, serve like Mary.

Believe like Mary

Shortly after Mary was told she was pregnant with Jesus, she visited Elizabeth. Elizabeth said to her, "Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her (Luke 1:45)!” What people don't realize is that to believe God is to be obedient to Him. Therefore, anybody who is in Christ believes like Mary because they accepted what the Lord has said about their spiritual condition and His provision for that in Christ Jesus. Furthermore, and let's be honest here, who wouldn't "believe like Mary" if the angel Gabriel revealed himself to you and delivered a message from God? Through the ministry of Jesus Christ, He is seen numerous times talking about belief. He asked Martha, "Do you believe this?" when talking about the resurrection. When He appeared to Thomas after the resurrection He told him, "Stop doubting and believe." God presents us with many things to believe. It is not faith to believe it because Mary believed what God presented to her. We have to be convinced in our minds that what God has said is true. 

Fight like David

I admit it is better to fight like David than to fall like him. His victories in the battle over Goliath and overcoming his enemies to become King are only matched by his failures like that of committing adultery with Bathsheba and killing her husband to cover it up. While our battle with our flesh will continue until death, our real fight is the battle between the truth of God and the lie of Satan. We are told to put on the full armor of God, to stand firm in our freedom, and to fight the good fight of faith. These are not battles against flesh and blood like David is known for fighting against. No, these are the battles we fight for our mind, heart, and spirit over what we believe and who we will listen to. Our Goliaths are those that want to put us back under the law. Those who want us to keep our focus on our flesh and off of Jesus Christ. Those who want us under their control and not controlled by God. We fight with spiritual slingshots because the Goliaths we face are not giant, enemy warriors, they are wolves in sheep's clothing. 

Educate like Paul

Peter was referring to Paul's teachings when he said, "And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures (2 Peter 3:15-16)." It may not be clear what Peter meant by Paul's writings containing things that are "hard to understand," if you understand the New Covenant it may become more clear. The early church mixed a lot of law and grace. They believed that Gentiles had to be water baptized to become Jews before they could accept Jesus Christ. They argued about the role circumcision played with believers. James boasted about certain Christians being zealous for the law as if that was a good thing. Therefore, what may be hard to understand in the teachings of Paul is that he didn't teach any of that. He was accused of teaching people not to obey the law. Therefore, if we are to educate like Paul it is to first mature in our understanding of the Gospel, the forgiveness we have in Christ, and our identity in Christ. It is this foundational aspect of the New Covenant that we must understand, believe, and teach. That is how we educate like Paul.

Build like Noah

Similar to leading like Moses, to build like Noah begs the question, "Is God asking any of us to build a boat because He is about to destroy the earth?" No, but what is God telling us? Peter said, "God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ ... (1 Peter 3:20-21)" Noah's Ark was a picture of the salvation offered through faith in Jesus Christ. He is the Ark that saves and we can fit more than eight people on this "boat." God is the one who builds His church with Jesus Christ as its foundation. All Christians do is give a reason for the hope we have in the Lord in hopes that people will take us up on the invitation God is offering them through faith in Christ Jesus. 

Love like Jesus

Are you loving your neighbor as yourself? Do you make sure they have food to eat, clothes to wear, a roof over their heads, and a warm bed to sleep in at night? Have you laid down your life for your friends? If you are reading this, the answer is "no." Are you loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind? How do you measure that anyway? The bottom line is that you are not loving like Jesus. Before you can begin to love others like Jesus Christ, you have to accept His love. Jesus said we are the branches and He is the vine. Do branches work? Do they leave the vine and wander around? No, branches simply bear the fruit that the vine is producing. And the vibrant colors and the wonderful aroma of that fruit bring those who desire to partake of it. So, it is with Christians. "We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19)." When we are receiving the love of God that meets the desires of our hearts, we will bear that love to others. Some may say we are loving like Jesus, but we are letting Jesus love others through us. We become the beautiful, sweet-smelling fruit that everybody desires.