Christian Living

---

Some seem to need upon waking a special daily sign from God, a feeling regarding what he/she ought to do. This is not to criticize those who do live that way. Each to his own. Yet there is an alternative for those who live the Christian life in a kind of daily spiritual fog, waiting on God to lead them through it.

Because we have the Bible, much of our instruction for daily life is there. It’s surely fair to say the Word of God is the will of God.

Undoubtedly there are times when, quiet before God and seeking Him, we can be “in the Spirit” and receive a special message. It may be a unique revelation concerning a new ministry, or a vital decision to be made. Perhaps something not covered in the Word. The Holy Spirit will gently nudge us regarding direction.

Some want to make drama out of such spiritual revelation. It is more spectacular to “await God in public” and put on a show in the church assembly— feeding the human desire for mystique— than to simply tell Christians to read the Word and do it.

The Bible contains our recipe for living. It is our guidebook where God speaks. Mostly it is in simple, plain language easily understood. It is the foundation stone for the Christian life. It tells who and what Jesus is, and why He came to this world.

In the Word we read much of the character of God—of His love, mercy, grace and justice. He is awesome, all-encompassing, all-powerful. Each breath, every day we live, is by His grace. Any talent or ability we possess is God-given, and He must get the credit. In some situations of life only God has the answers, we cannot even venture to guess why it is so.

Even with a Bible to refer to, we try to complicate what is simple, such as: “God hasn’t spoken to me yet to tell others about Jesus.” The Lord speaks on that topic in Mark 16:15, and the Bible has much to say on it.

The Early Church didn’t have the benefit of a Bible. Now we do, and surely we’re expected to know it and to bring the words to life in our actions.

Sometimes a look at our Bible tells us a “message from God” is obviously false. A few years ago a Korean pastor told everyone the date of the second coming of Jesus. He gave his congregation and the media a specific time too! It got much publicity, despite the Bible not stating a day or time for the event. Many people, plus reporters and TV crews, gathered at the “appointed hour” and the pastor must have wanted to disappear on the spot when the event didn’t happen.

The gullible and uninformed were misled, but studying the New Testament would have revealed a contradiction of the Word.

Everything written, or preached and presented, can be measured and checked against the Bible. It tells us to have spiritual discernment: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1.

“Test the spirits,” but when instructions for living the faith are clearly defined in the Bible we are on solid ground in following them.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE