How do we take a moment and make it a lifestyle?

Interestingly, God always brings His Word into our lives at the point where we need it the most. I am at a point at this moment where I am re-examining and re-evaluating many aspects of my life, especially how I love. Valentines Day brought my personal devotions to this topic. I shared a part of those Devos, and believe God would desire me to share another portion.

What I love so much about Truth, is that it is based on “principle” not “method.” That makes it completely transferable to every aspect of life. 

I remember one time when my eldest was 10 and his brother was 5. He complained and complained that it was unfair that his little brother had only 2 chores to do while he had about 6. This complaining went on until my wife was beside herself. She asked me to intervene, so I went to prayer. As I sought counsel from the Lord on what to do, the Spirit brought back to my mind the principle of Luke 16:10:

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities."

I then announced that my eldest would be treated as his younger brother for a week, no greater responsibilities than his brother had. I, dad, will do all of his chores. 

He celebrated quite loudly. While I was doing the dishes that night, he approached me and said that he was going to go play with a friend across the street. I said he could not because I did not have the time to walk him across the street. He reminded me that I had taught him how to do that 2 years earlier. I then reminded him, he was his younger brother and was not allowed to cross by himself. Later I went downstairs to vacuum the rug, all my electronic equipment was turned on. I demanded to know who did this. My eldest said he did, I said he did not have the right to do that. He reminded me that I had taught him 2 years  earlier...:) I reminded him he was his younger brother, and was too young to operate my equipment…by Monday morning he was on his knees begging me to let him be the eldest again! I had the joy of sharing a great principle from Scripture, when much is given, much is required. His responsibilities of more chores were the reason I could trust him with more freedom and privileges. He never compared himself with his youngest brother again!

We just celebrated Valentines Day, which should lead us to the question: should this be how I love for only 24 hours or should this be a lifestyle?

I felt it would be healthy to look at some principles that lead us to make what we know, not just a moment, but a way of life. Due to this being a principle, it can be applied to any area of our life, i.e. love, forgiveness, gentleness, or any aspect of the Christian life. The reason it works this way is that a principle stands on it’s own merit, no matter the circumstance. Loving as a way of life is simplistic in it’s Truth, although difficult at times to live due to our fallen nature. This principle begins and ends with our relationship to Christ…because He is the Author of Love.

Remember, KNOWING something is far different than LIVING something. The prime example is found in Judges

Judges 2:6–10 When Joshua had dismissed the people, the sons of Israel went each to his inheritance to possess the land. The people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of the Lord which He had done for Israel. Then Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of one hundred and ten… All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel.

Obviously the next generation of Israelites did know the name of their God and had heard the stories of what He had done. They knew ABOUT God intellectually, but they did not KNOW God experientially! That’s the power of a “principle” based life! When you experience a Truth principle it is not a mere transfer of information, i.e. = “Content retention.” Living based on principle still brings the “content,” however it causes life transformation!

The best way to approach this is to consider our love for the “Author of love,” our Lord. When we live a life of love for Jesus, even when we blow it and sin, that lifestyle we developed will bring Holy Spirit conviction in place to lead us back to a proper fellowship. This principle of love life will apply across the board with all of our relationships. Paul shares this principle to the Corinthian Church; we will take excerpts from  2 Cor. 4:5-18: 

v. 5  For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake.

{1} Consecration to the Servant life

Notice the motive – “For Jesus’ sake!” When you love someone, your focus is on them, not yourself. This leads to a servant’s heart. When we do this with the Lord it will overflow to others. We will love with the compassion of God, based on the conviction about Who God is.

I have experienced both sides of this, when I am seeking to serve the Lord, my heart also desires to serve my wife, children and others. However, when my focus becomes fixated on self, I fail to love everyone in a Christ like manner.

v. 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

{2} Communication of the Saviors life

When our communication is based on the Savior the natural outflow will be love! No matter the circumstance, if we are committed to “being like Jesus” we will show love…His love. If we communicate religion, our good deeds, or even humanistic “warm and fuzzies” in the end that love will be conditional! Only Christ can supply unconditional love. 

v. 8-12 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;[9] persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;…[11] For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. [12] So death works in us, but life in you.

{3} Condemnation of the Self life

Sadly we have many “selfs”…well let me say I know I do! It is important to identify the mindsets so you will yield to the Spirit to weed them out. Here are a few I have found:

a. False Humble Self  = I can't do it.

b. Hypocritical Self = Speak of it but never experience it.

c. Over Sensitive Self = Carried by emotion.

d. Religious Self = Holier than thou.

v. 16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. [17] For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, [18] while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

{4} Concentrate on the Secret life

        

When our concentration is on what is happening inside…where we meet with the Lover of our soul…it expresses itself on the outside. Again, I have experienced both sides of this. When I allow outward circumstances to distract me from my communion with God, it affects every relationship I have. When I hold sacred my personal time with the Lord, I can never stray too long because His Spirit convictions my spirit!

We must keep our concentration on what matters otherwise we end up like the two fire brigades that argue over who has the right to put out the fire, meanwhile the house burns down!

Meditation: Look at each point and ask yourself; am I experiencing that kind of walk? If not, what do you need to do about that? Do you want to experience a principle based walk with the Lord? What would that look like? What would you need to do to allow God to create that?