“How will I know if I am doing this Christian walk right?”
If you are a new believer – this is a fair question. If you have been a believer for a while – it is a question you should probably ask yourself again. In a world where performance is important, we often wonder how we are performing in our Christian walk. My desire to be “good enough” sometimes gets the better of me, but I often have to remind myself that God’s love for me is not dependent on my performance. His love for me is constant.
Yet, how do we know if we are doing it right?
This is what we are commanded to do in 1 John 3:23:
“And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.”
It also says in 1 John 2:3
We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.
It seems to come down to three indicators:
1)Faith (believing) in the name of Jesus Christ,
2)obedience and
3)love for others.
When we see the evidence of these in our lives, then we know we are on the right track.
Faith
The Word makes it clear “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Jesus has to be our starting point in everything and our anchor through everything. Trusting in Him and His name means that all of heavens power is available to us and we are marked as His.
Obedience
1 John 2:4, goes hand in hand with believing. “Whoever says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.”
Obedience is a characteristic of believers. Later on in verse 5, it explains that when we obey, the love that God has for us is completed in our reciprocal love for Him.
“But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”
Loving Jesus means we begin to live as Jesus did, not referring to his life and walk on earth only, but more importantly His attitude of complete obedience to God the Father and His loving service to people.
Love
This then, is the third indicator. Love for others will be seen in increasing measure in our lives.
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’” John 13:35
Such love brings unbelievers to Christ and keeps believers strong and united in a tough world which is hostile to God and the ways of God. This love can bring healing and wholeness to brokenness in the world. It is an attitude of the heart, that is not just feelings but action too.
It is love that operates from the standard of sacrifice, like Christ sacrificed His life for us.
It goes beyond just loving our friends and family, it is also love directed to strangers, our enemies, our adversaries, persecutors, haters, irritators etc. Love is both the unifying force amongst believers, as well as the identifying mark of Christians. We may not like people, or be filled with feelings of love for them, or even like them as much as we like others, but love is the choice we make.
Loving others proves that we are on the right track.
Love that is motivated by obedience and faith.
Thank you, Father, for that encouragement and direction. To be reminded again that loving others is my first priority, and that it may require sacrifice on my part. Thank you that by loving me, You draw me into relationship with You. My heart longs to be obedient to your Word and direction. Help me to be obedient and find opportunities to serve You in this world.
What Does Obedience Look Like?
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