Christian Living

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Becoming the Better Believer!


The common trend I observe with people who say they follow Christ, is this belief, the more years you have professed Christ the deeper your relationship is...This concept is far from the truth. With this piece of writing I intend to outline fundamental points which should proceed the years you have followed Jesus Christ. I frequently like sharing testimonies with regards to what I write about as it gives, you the reader some tangible evidence apart from examples I will give from the Bible. This also deepens our relationship as you share personal encounters I have come through.

I will start by reemphasising the point that time really counts for nothing in our walk with Christ if the other components needed are not visible. Early in my walk (and I say this without pride) as I saw myself passing many people in regards to wisdom from God, faith and many other things I pondered ‘why the people had been left behind so easily?’ I then began to realise that while someone works hard and another slacks the hard worker will excel much further. I highlight now Paul, when testifying of some of his deeds before salvation, in the book of Galatians 1:14 Paul stated '[he] profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers’ many who were his equal by age and education he surpassed because of his zeal and effort. When you desire to know more about the Most High you will then strive to allow him to better you.
A relationship is better than years and especially years of unanswered calls; let me use the example of Moses now...Moses was continually seeking God and many times by himself (set apart). By him doing this he allowed his relationship to grow and could build a rapport. Where many call him God Moses sought after his name and was given it in the book of Exodus 3:14 "I AM". This depicts how many go for the title but few look for the name. God is a title not a name and many believe God is the end of the matter. There are many times God is used in the Bible but few people call him something else.

To become the better believer it takes time and hard work, not essentially time in regards to years but the more you work on it the more you will not want to give it up by living a lifestyle of sin. When I was younger there were a number of soaps I would constantly watch, after some years I gained a connection with them because I had invested time. I would know characters names, the plot, things which would happen next and why was this? I continually filled myself with it. I created something I learned in my college media class, which was 'pleasure of predictability'. The same principles apply to a relationship in God and a relationship with anyone else...If you put the time in and the effort good results will return your way. When you meditate as the Psalmist wrote you become a certain kind of person. For years I would read in Psalms 1:1-3 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water…” I would then think that I have to continually keep reading the Bible, it said meditate not keep reading! Meditation goes far beyond the papers and the words; meditation is from the heart and the mind. To constantly think about him and wonder about him is how someone would meditate on him day and night.

I will end by highlighting another two examples, one is Joshua and the other is from a point in my life. Joshua was chosen by I AM in the book of Deuteronomy and one example I will give is from Deuteronomy 31:16 "...call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation." This was a time where the Passover from Moses to Joshua began to emerge. Joshua was young and courageous and was one of the only two who gave a good report of the land of Canaan. Many who may have been older or more experienced in battle were not chosen and this highlights how years is second to relation. Joshua believed in his God and was rewarded accordingly.

I remember the first time I preached a message in a prayer meeting I was previously with, at times I thought to myself there are many older people, I am one of the youngest but God has a plan, many times through the Bible it is the young in age who lead the way. Do not get caught up in works and think I need to read the Bible x amount of times a year but focus on what your maker likes and dislikes and get to know him intimately.

Are you the better believer?

Become the better believer


God bless


Israel Ikhinmwin

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