Like cancer, sin needs to be cut out
When I was a new Christian I was selective about which parts of the Bible I would apply to my life. Part of the problem was that I had not read much of the Bible and although I had heard many good sermons, every aspect of life had not been addressed in the short time I had been a Christian. I have heard people say that the last part of most Christians to be converted is the wallet. Perhaps it takes a while for us to become willing to generously give to God’s work and to have faith that he will still take care of our own needs.
As a new Christian, I assumed that it was fine to have a boyfriend who was not a believer. None of the sermons had addressed this issue and I had not yet got to the relevant parts of Scripture that confronted this subject. I rationalized that because I did not sleep with my boyfriend, I was fine. I was in danger of being pulled in the wrong direction. I could have married someone who did not share what was becoming the dominant force in my life.
My concern is that there are many new Christians who do not understand that to follow Christ they need to let go of many aspects of their old lifestyle to adopt a much better life with Christ at the center. This is much more exciting and refreshing as it is only when we face up to the sin in our lives and ask Jesus to forgive us that we are truly able to enjoy living with him. We are aware that a cancerous tumor needs to be removed and the same is true of sin.
Sword
That is why we must apply the word of God to our lives rigorously. Seek a mature Christian who can help you understand Scripture and do not avoid the truth. Hebrews 4:12 explains that “the word of God is sharper than any double edged sword.” It penetrates deep, judging “the thoughts and attitudes of the heart”. In the same way that cancer needs to be removed to stop it destroying the body, sin also needs to be dealt with. Our relationship with Jesus is much more important than the health of our bodies.
My relationship with the non Christian boyfriend ended. Jesus intervened. Please ask Jesus what he needs to remove in your life. I assure you that you will not regret this prayer for we can’t hide from God (Hebrews 4:13) and ending a sinful habit draws us into his light and closer to Jesus.
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What if a family member tells you he/she doesn’t believe in God? Do you stop associating with that person? Or do you just continue to love and pray for that person? Or ???
There are 5 people in my family: 3 very strong non-believers, 1 who thinks she is a good Christian but doesn’t forgive or love very easily, 1 who believes in God but isn’t a real follower, and me, who believes in God but struggles with giving up the worldly ways.
Do I rid myself of this cancer? Or do I pray for them, and love them as they are?
“Honor your father and mother” – is that one of the 10 Commandments? Or am I confusing this with one of the Girl Scout promises?! You probably don’t know the Girl Scout promises, but they are quite similar to some of the Commandments! They are promises to becoming a good citizen.
Thanks for your questions and Happy Birthday, have a great day.
Regarding a family member who does not believe in God, love him/her and when appropriate challenge him to reconsider. I suggest that you read your Bible yourself seeking to help those who fail to recognize that Jesus is God. Start with Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and write down everything that suggests that Jesus is more than a mere man. This will make Bible reading more interesting for you and it will help you when you talk with others. Always be gentle. We can’t force people to become Christians.
Start with yourself. Ask Jesus to forgive you and to transform you. Give your life to him and seek Jesus earnestly by reading the Bible, meeting with Christians, praying and helping others. When you change to become more like Jesus, your loved ones will notice, even though they probably won’t tell you! A few encouraging words or challenging ones in conjunction with persistent prayer( you asking Jesus to make a difference in all of your lives) and a changed life can help your family seek Jesus themselves.
We cannot change others but only ourselves. Rid yourself of the sin in your life, which is like a cancer. The Bible clearly shows what is good and bad according to God. Before reading the Bible pray for God’s help to understand his word as the devil will try to confuse you, When you recognize that you fail to do what Jesus wants (for example failing to trust him with all aspects of your life), tell Jesus that you are sorry and ask him to give you faith and ask for what is good in God’s eyes.
We must love others even if they refuse to change. Ask Jesus to give you the strength to do this.
Yes honoring your parents is one of the ten commandments. Kids must also obey their parents(this is explained elsewhere in the Bible) but as adults we must continue to honor our parents.
To check out how the girl scout promises compare with the ten commandments, read Exodus 20: 1-17. I was a Brownie or junior girl scout for a term when I was 7 and all I remember was that I promised to serve God and the Queen (as I was living in England).
Seek God humbly with all your heart and you will find him. The answers are in the Bible as this is his Word: his expression of love and truth