Thank you for the question on Christian living, “As hearers of the word of God, how will you respond to the challenge of utilizing the Bible on right Christian living?”
Every Christian who hears the Word of God is challenge to live the Scriptures. I must admit that it is easier being a listener than being a doer of the Word. No one lives in full obedience or apply all that they hear. Perhaps, Christians use this as an excuse for not living the Spirit filled life that Jesus Christ offers to his followers. It is easier to be half-hearted than to be whole committed to him.
As I take my wife shopping, sometimes maybe more often than I admit, I become tired. It’s not 1 or 2 hours of shopping with her, but 3–4 of shopping. It’s not just once a week but sometimes 3–4 times a week. Yes, even with Covid. For example, we were out from 10:00 to 4:30 pm yesterday! I try to be honest with my wife and letting her know my limit, to speak the truth to her. I am reminded to be patient with her since she is disabled, to be kind hearted and gentle, to serve and not to be served. I am to love as Christ loved the Church and gave himself for her. When I get home, I help unload the groceries and put things away with her help. I usually take a nap to recoup my spent energy and after my nap I prepare to cook dinner. Is it a long day for me at times? Yes, it is. When I am tempted to get angry or wanting to hurry her on with her shopping, I have to take a step back and take a breathe. At times, I asked the Spirit of God to help me for she has one more store to go and I want to go home!
As I may at times be asked to teach a class, how do I know if the Lord wants me to teach or not to teach a class? Here are some factors that I consider:
1. I believe the teacher of that class knows the students and their needs.
2. I know that the person who asks me has prayerfully consider other teachers and believes/thinks that the topic and attendees will learn and grow in the class.
3. I know that by asking me, that person thinks that I might be able to help the student grow in their knowledge or application of the Word.
This part by the group or group leader is important for it is my belief that the Spirit of God has lead them to ask me to teach the class.
3. I asked for the pertinent information to teaching the class: date, time, passage, something about the attendees and their needs, type of format that I want me to teach as lecture, discussion group and their emphasis.
4. I review my schedule and my commitment to my wife and to other responsibilities that I have for the week.
5. I speak to my wife about the opportunity to teach and ask for her opinion.
6. I take time to pray about the opportunity while reading the passage to see what the Lord or the Spirit of God wants me to teach or not to teach. I have to set aside my own preferences and be still and know that He is God. I take a step of faith in giving my reply to the group leader.
The steps that I take are both rationale and I trust dependent on the Spirit of God to guide my heart, my mind, and my spirit in deciding whether to accept or not accept a ministry opportunity. Even on writing on Quora, the Spirit of God at times stops me from the way that I am responding. I am reminded that is not my own thoughts alone, but as a servant of God, his Spirit guides and speaks to me in how I should respond. I don’t always listen to the Spirit for at times I am in a hurry to answer the question and to move on to the next one. God reminds me it is not about the number of questions that I answer but rather am I making a difference for the Kingdom of Go and his glory. I need that reminder quite often.
SUMMARY: The Bible provides me Biblical principles to give me broad guidelines as to how I am to live the Christian life, but it is the Spirit of God who guides me day by day and hour by hour. I freely admit that I don’t do this all the time, but I trust that I may become a more obedient child and servant of the Lord.
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