Sappy, but something I want to share

[Pastor Bill]

I was in on a class discussion last weekend about this very thing.

We are to be Christians, which means "like Christ" and then leader of the class said "So how many people have you healed today? How many dead have you raised? When did you die on a cross?..." So how are we like Christ? well EVERYTHING He did can be summed up in one statement (and he pulled scripture after scripture to show this) it was always about doing the will of the Father. at 12, throughout His ministry, even at the end in the garden, "not my will, but thine be done..."

WE are Christians, we are like Christ not because we are perfect, not because we act a certain way or we do this or we don't do that, but because we do the will of the Father. WHATEVER that is.

I really love that way of looking at it, because it cuts through all the legalism, and all the arguments of what is or is not sin, and puts the focus on seeking and following His will. Seems to me to be a much better use of our time.

[dolfan]

There are specific ways I can live a transformed life. I can't do them only from my own power, will, determination or motivation. However, I can do them. For example, I can love my neighbor. But how? Well, one would be to begin to rethink about who my neighbor is and what he/she needs, right? (This goes to what MacUser has been pointing out, too -- who we are matters.) If my neighbor is not my brother or sister in Christ, there are particular ways I can begin to view my neighbor that will frame my mind around ideas of what physical things to actually do to demonstrate love. Of course, to even begin this, God must be leading and guiding. That shouldn't be a problem if I am walking in relationship with Him as I know to do. The Spirit does show us things about ourselves that we can do, and about our neighbor and his or her needs in real time and space so we can be the connection between Him and people who need Him. So, if the lady who lives next door to me without a husband or family to help her has a need, and I get to know her and while I'm doing so I prayerfully walk with God, God is always about the business of reaching people so He may show me that my neighbor's chattiness today is really her need to have someone to talk to. It is my opportunity to listen, discern, pray and offer any appropriate help, to maybe even change to topic to spiritual things and make that bold proclamation of the gospel. Or, my neighbor may not think anyone cares about him or her and I notice that my tree limb is growing over the top of his or her house and the Lord prompts me that the right thing and right time is to approach my neighbor, say that I noticed this and that I'm going to do X,Y,Z about it.

This is one small aspect of the kind of thing I mean. One small one, but important. There is way, way more to the Christ kind of life than that, but I just wanted to give a concrete example of what I mean when I say that I show my faith by my works. It may be poorly worded, or just too long winded, and I apologize for that.

[Jennifer Smith]

7 We live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

I like what everyone has had to say and just wanted to add that in to the discussion. Proceed.