“The other day,” I commented, “I was looking online at one of the book sellers to see about getting a book on the subject of victorious Christian living. I was stunned.”
“In what way?” Stan asked.
“When I put in the search for ‘victorious Christian living,’ it said there were 727 different books listed under that category. How am I supposed to figure out which one is best?”
“Over the years,” Stan replied, “I have read many books on that subject. Some were very good, some not so much. But I have settled on one that I think clearly is the best.”
“Which one is that?” I asked.
“The Bible,” Stan replied. “It tells me all I need to know about living the life God has for me to live on this side of eternity once I decided where I’m going to live when my time here is done.”
“But,” he continued, “for probably way too long after I came to faith, I was reluctant to spend time in God’s word, allowing Him to show and tell me what He had for me in living the Christian life He had given me.”
“Any particular reason for that?” I asked.
“The usual,” Stan replied. “Wanting what I wanted to do apart from God. Thinking it would be too hard to understand the Bible, so why even try. Wanting to rely on someone I thought probably knew more than I did, rather than making the effort to find out for myself. All sorts of things, but the bottom-line was probably just the simple failure to do what Jesus said about discipleship: get myself out of the way so He could show me what He had for me as I choose to follow Him.”
“Didn’t the apostle Paul have something to say about this whole subject?” I asked.
“Without a doubt,” Stan replied. “Paul, along with the other writers of the New Testament. I put them in the category of being the experts on victorious Christian living. I believe that the words God had for them to write clearly make up the book that is the best one on the subject. I just need to spend time with it being led by God to see and to hear all He has for me in living this life before I go to spend eternity in His presence!”
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Bible verses to consider:
All Scripture in inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
But flee from these things, you man of God; and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:11.
Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:21.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the provision of your word and the voice of the Holy Spirit to lead me in knowing how it is you want me to live this life before I step into eternity to be in your presence forever. I confess that too often I do not pursue what you have for me in living this life because I choose to pursue other things and other voices apart from you. Please help me in following every step of your lead into the deepest possible relationship of knowing how to live victoriously the life you have for me to live. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: If you are not living a victorious Christian life is it because you have not yet accepted God’s free and gracious provision of life eternally with Him and are not a Christian? If so, why? What’s holding you back? If you do have the assurance of life eternally with God when your time here is finished, how are you doing in living the victorious life He has for you to live on this side of eternity? As well as you would like? As well as God is willing to provide? If you sense you need to spend more time in His word and in listening to His voice, how is that going to happen?
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Waiting for the Train — the book. See http://www.s-toryteller.com
Waiting for the Train 