UNQUESTIONABLE CHRIST-LIKE BEHAVIOR, PART TWO

I am thinking of behavior patterns that I ought to exhibit that will be biblically unquestionable. Obviously they will be copied from Christ who is our perfect model. And they will be clearly supported from biblical text which is our perfect instruction. In my last posting, I shared three such principles and today three more.

I WILL CHOOSE MY WORDS CAREFULLY BECAUSE MY WORDS DISPLAY MY HEART – MATTHEW 5:33-37; 15:18.

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. James 3:6.

Some conduct is, by all means, inappropriate for the Christian. In recent days, an individual was discharged from the US military because of an appearance in a sexually explicit magazine. Most of us would agree the conduct was inappropriate and the penalty deserved. Likewise, God has certain expectations for his children. One of those expectations is that the words from our mouths be fitting for the Christian.

Fitly Spoken Words Are A Piece Of Art.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Proverbs 25:11.

The picture in Proverbs 25:11 is golden apples against silver background – perhaps a sculpture or other artwork. Fitting words out of the mouth of a child of God can be just as much a work of art. Ask yourself if the words you just spoke were a work of art that brought glory to God and joy to the hearer (any listening whether the words were intended for them or not).

Fitly Spoken Words Will Not Include Gossip Or Slander.

Four questions from Pastor James Jackson.

Community Baptist Church, Camden Park, St. Vincent, West Indes.

1. Are you sure that it is TRUE?

2. Is there a NEED to say it?

3. Will it BENEFIT the HEARER?

4. Will it HELP the one CONCERNED?

Aesop, the ancient storyteller, told this fable: Once upon a time, a donkey found a lion’s skin. He tried it on, strutted around, and frightened many animals. Soon a fox came along, and the donkey tried to scare him, too. But the fox, hearing the donkey’s voice, said, “If you want to terrify me, you’ll have to disguise your bray.” Aesop’s moral: Clothes may disguise a fool, but his words will give him away.

Source unknown Bible.org

Perhaps our words will betray whether we are saved or lost. For sure, our words will betray whether we are carnal Christians or men and women after God’s own heart. Of all the things I have ever preached, this one is the most difficult for me to live. Join me in a commitment that we will employ the four rules listed above from Pastor Jackson before we talk about another person. We will not on this earth achieve perfection in this matter, but by grace of God I choose to be much closer to perfection in the words of my mouth than I have been.

I WILL RAISE THE SPIRIT OF SOMEONE WHO IS DISCOURAGED JUST AS GOD HAS OFTEN SENT SOMEONE TO RAISE MY SPIRIT – MATTHEW 5:3-10.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds….The Lord lifts up the humble…Psalm 147:3, 6a.

I purpose in my heart to share the burdens of other persons. The truth is that we are all burdened about one thing or another. And on any given day, the burden can be almost overwhelming. I want my spirit to be sensitive to other’s needs. And I want to be under the control of the Holy Spirit to the degree that he can show me other’s needs.

Extra shoulders under heavy loads make the work a great deal easier. If I can help a brother (or family) in Christ carry his/their load they will be encouraged and I will be blessed.

It wasn’t like Scott Kregel to give up. He was a battler, a dedicated athlete who spent hour after hour perfecting his free throw and jump shot during the hot summer months of 1987. But just before fall practice everything changed. A serious car accident left Scott in a coma for several days. When he awoke, a long rehabilitation process lay ahead. Like most patients with closed head injuries, Scott balked at doing the slow, tedious work that was required to get him back to normal—things such as stringing beads. What high school junior would enjoy that? Tom Martin, Scott’s basketball coach at the Christian school he attended, had an idea. Coach Martin told Scott that he would reserve a spot on the varsity for him—if he would cooperate with his therapist and show progress in the tasks he was asked to do. And Tom ’s wife Cindy spent many hours with Scott, encouraging him to keep going. Within 2 months, Scott was riding off the basketball court on his teammates’ shoulders. He had made nine straight free throws to clinch a triple-overtime league victory. It was a remarkable testimony of the power of encouragement.

Our Daily Bread, April 9.

Copied from Bible.org

In fact, I think that Christians should work hard to make life more pleasant for everyone we meet. A smile is a great place to begin. Kind words spoken in grace are a wonderful place to continue. And expressions of encouragement to those obviously heavy-hearted is a splendid way to complete the process. The children of God are to minister grace wherever we go. We have the privilege to make dry, arid spots in people’s lives flow with the fresh water of encouragement.

Flatter me, and I may not believe you.
Criticize me, and I may not like you.
Ignore me, and I may not forgive you.
Encourage me, and I will never forget you.

William Arthur Ward

I WILL DO SOMETHING NICE FOR AS MANY PERSONS AS POSSIBLE, BUT I WILL DO IT IN SECRET – MATTHEW 6:1-4.

Please note: giving is thoroughly enjoyable, even fun!

I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35

I suggest that we strive together to reach out and bless the lives of others, and do so anonymously as often as possible. If we do this sort of thing, what will our behavior look like? We will attempt to supply something someone else needs in a time they need it with no thought of return. What will we look like if we practice this blessing of others? Actually the question should ask whom will we look like and the answer is our Lord Jesus!

Treat others as you wish to be treated. And remember to do so anonymously. In short, put into action the golden rule.

Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12

And could we practice this principle on everyone we encounter? Even those we do not like. And how about going one more step and including even those who are your enemies.

A fascinating study on the principle of the Golden Rule was conducted by Bernard Rimland, director of the Institute for Child Behavior Research. Rimland found that “The happiest people are those who help others.” Each person involved in the study was asked to list ten people he knew best and to label them as happy or not happy. Then they were to go through the list again and label each one as selfish or unselfish, using the following definition of selfishness: a stable tendency to devote one’s time and resources to one’s own interests and welfare—an unwillingness to inconvenience one’s self for others.” (Rimland, ‘The Altruism Paradox,’ Psychological Reports 51 [1982]: 521) In categorizing the results, Rimland found that all of the people labeled happy were also labeled unselfish. He wrote that those “whose activities are devoted to bringing themselves happiness are far less likely to be happy than those whose efforts are devoted to making others happy” (Ibid, p. 522).

Martin & Diedre Bobgan, How To Counsel From Scripture, Moody Press, 1985, p. 123