Am I living my life as Jesus and God intended? As a born again Christian and walking my life through faith and not by site, I thought about a checklist to ensure I am continually walking as I am supposed to after being saved. I can say that I pray often daily, read the Bible daily, meditate on God’s word daily, but is that enough? Enough to ensure that I am walking the path that Jesus walked on his time on earth? Where could I obtain such a checklist? the Bible of course.
II Peter 1.5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your;
1. Faith. Are you walking by Faith and not by sight. Can you truly say you are letting God and Jesus guide you, or are you still be led by earthly pleasures? Pray that you will be lead by God’s will. In my life, I feel I am walking by faith, but when things go wrong, it temporarily slow’s my faith mindset, never to the point where I lose my faith, just slow’s down my normal enthusiasm a bit. I obviously need to work on that.
2. Virtue. Love and morality. Do you love God? Do you love Jesus. Is your love on the spiritual side and not on the earthly side. It is said if you are in love with earthly pleasures you can’t have love for God. Many times throughout my day, I have an overwhelming sense to just stop and thank God for all of my blessings and tell him that I love him and his son Jesus.
3. Knowledge. Are you hungry and thirsty to know God. To know Jesus. To get closer to them by obtaining knowledge about them? Jesus explained why he uses parables when teaching lessons. He said that he is not looking for passive followers. He wants followers that want to know him and his Father, and will “look” for him and his messages within his parables. I recently published an article titled “The Lost Book of Thomas” and I broke down one of Jesus’ parables. Trust me, it took some time, but I felt closer to Jesus by taking the time to really understand what he was trying to teach us.
4. Temperance. Emotional restraint or self control. Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding but one who has a hasty temper exalts folly. (folly is someone who does not respect God). I am working on this. I have improved quite a bit, but I am still quick to lose my temper and I ask for forgiveness from God immediately after my outburst.
5. Patience. Implies suffering, enduring or waiting, as a determination of the will and not simply under necessity. Many times when we pray we are asking God for something. A job, a spouse, a house, some money, whatever we are asking we have an immediate need. But God knows what is best for you at what stage of life and belief you are at. Sometimes we are just not ready for what we are asking for and God delays or redirects our request. My prayer requests have been granted to me faster and faster as my faith and belief grow. But I am not expecting anything, and then one day, my prayer request has arrived.
6. Godliness. The quality or state of being spiritually pure or virtuous. Cleanliness is next to Godliness. To be devout and morally upright. Godliness must have these 3 elements. The fear of God must be present. Knowing that God is a loving and forgiving God, but we must also be in fear as we know Gods’s reaction to worldly sin was flooding the earth, or decimating Sodom and Gomorrah. The love of God must be present. Showing God that you love him through actions of kindness to others, showing him that you love others such as your neighbors or your parents, brothers and sisters. The third element is the desire for God, to live for God’s will and direction. I am not sure I am strong in all 3 elements yet, but I am well on my way.
7. Brotherly Kindness. This is best described in John 13:34; Jesus said, A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another”. I am working on this more now than ever. I am going out of my way to speak to people and start up conversations about God, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am seeking through prayer more and more Brotherly Kindness.
8. Charity. Here are some verses about Charity.
Acts 20:35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Isaias 58:7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? This is my weakness. And I need to improve. I have done some acts of charity, but I need to be out and about with God’s children, not in a hurry to be somewhere, but to take the time to talk to people. Not necessarily people already in Jesus flock, but the lost sheep, the sheep that needs help to get back to the flock. That is who I need to speak to and be more charitable.
I am planning to print this list out and keep it with me as a constant reminder and checklist, of the things I must do to walk and live as God and Jesus intended.
I pray that if you are reading this article you will also use this checklist a guide to measure where you are at in your Christian journey. I pray for all to have great Peace, Joy and Love in your life. In Jesus precious name I pray, AMEN.