posted by onlinefellowship

By Elise Brown

A Christians journey begins with a willingness to accept God’s unconditional love and to give Him this love in return, The Bible says that “God is a God of Love”(1 John 4:8), He has shown us this in several different ways. However there was no greater gift that he has given us than that of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ lived, worked, bled and died. He was sent here by God “that we might have life and have life more abundantly” (John 14:6). He gave his life for our sins that we might be forgiven in Heaven and be granted eternal life with God the Father.

As Christians we are not expected to be Jesus but instead to live by the example that was placed before us as we follow His life here on earth. To be used as roadmap to direct us to the promises that God has made to us.

Even though we are called Christians it is important to realize that God and his love were present before Jesus was born. There was evidence of His ability to perform miracles and His worthiness of our praise long before Jesus was conceived by the Virgin Mary. Just as God was present before Jesus, Christians were present before they were called such. We have been taught to more commonly identify them as disciples, the followers of Christ, as read in Acts 11:26. The disciples followed Christ and learned from Him, wrote His life’s journey down for us to read and tried to learn how to become more Christ like, which means walking in accordance to God’s will and purpose for our lives.

A Christian is a person who has made a conscious decision to allow God to order their footsteps, to walk in the purpose that God has ordained for their lives, to seek out that purpose even when the understanding of the time, place and direction that you may go is not to your full understanding. However we have never been left alone without any guidance or any framework as to how we should conduct ourselves, the book of Matthew, with special attention to Chapter 5 and 6 give Jesus’ instruction on how a Christian should live.

However it is very important that we not only read and apply what the Bible says, but that each and every one of us has a one on one personal relationship including prayer and communing with God. That we are able to talk to Him as a Father and we avail ourselves to His desires for us as his children. This begins with us asking Him to come into our lives and turning our worries and cares and sins over to Him. This is scary for many people because it calls for you to expose your innermost flaws, hurts and wrongdoings and it seems like God in all His magnificence will turn away from you. But He is longing to have you come to Him. “We all fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) no one that seeks eternal life with Him is exempt from this step. The amazing part is that HE wants to forgive you, He already knows what we have done, and the shame comes in not asking Him for forgiveness and to take control so that you become the person He has planned for you to become. (See Romans 10-9)

Once this is done, and sometimes done a few more times, God can begin to reshape your entire life. He will begin to guide you and to reveal to you the plans that he has for our lives: the plan that He had for you all along, as he told Jeremiah “I knew you before you were formed in your Mother’s womb” (Jeremiah 1:5-10).

God is inside of each and every one of us, a Christian should exhibit the things that God is. We should not have to walk around and point out to you that we are saved, it should shine from within us. We should be a patient and kind. Giving and forgiving. We should be the light in a dark world, the purpose and love of God should pour from us from the inside out, as Christians we should “draw all men unto Thee” John 12:32.

While the perception of a Christian might leave some to believe that we are all the same we are not. Yes we all believe in the same Holy Trinity and yes we study the same Bible, but we are all uniquely created by God. No two people’s journey is the same. Just as no two snowflakes that fall from the sky are identical, nor do any two stars shine the same in the heavens. No two Christians are the same, which is why we are all so important to HIM. We each have a unique destiny to fulfill a secret that God has whispered into each and every one of our souls that make us His own unique gift. Some of us are warriors and others are caregivers. Some of us are singers and others are prayers. That bottom line is that God has made each of us to his specifications, tailor-made to fulfill His purpose.

What is a Christian a Christian is a person like you and I who has made the choice to have faith in thing unseen, to love our enemies, to press towards a higher mark. A Christian is a person who has decided to answer God’s call and walk in His purpose for their lives with the reward of Salvation.

Who is a Christian? Maybe you are and you just don’t know it yet.

posted by onlinefellowship

By Daniel Tay

The essence of our Christian walk is directly associated with the fellowship with God. As God is light, as in the natural world and material life depend on light, so all spiritual life and growth must depend on God (written in the bible,”in whom there is no darkness at all.”)

Walking in the light therefore is descriptive of the intimate fellowship and close dependence on God of us Christians, who keeps in touch with God and Jesus described as the true light in 1 John 1:5-9

So if we are in the light THAT is the Holy Spirit dwells in us when we first accept Christ, the Holy Spirit divinely and supernaturally help and guide our inward and outward actions, and in all things to which we apply ourselves. Brothers and sisters, this is truly a test of our fellowship with God for it is written:”He that say he abides in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as Jesus walked.”

Such a relationship with Jesus brings not only spiritual development and maturity but also enlarges our fellowship with other Christians and gives new joy and fullness to life. It is not only merely an imitation but a spiritual union and togetherness in all things with Jesus with whom we walk with.

Another thing which I would like to highlight about fellowship with Jesus is this. How well you fare in your walk depends on how much you submit yourself to Him. The level of humility, stillness in your heart, willingness to listen and submit all plays a part in your intimacy with God. The question is, are you willing? Daniel Tay.

Daniel Tay is a budding entrepreneur and is building an Internet business promoted primarily through the Internet. He is dedicated to helping people on how to achieve success in all areas of their lives without compromising their values! Check-out my blog at http://livingforjesus.wordpress.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Tay
http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Is-Fellowship-With-God?&id=1177634

posted by onlinefellowship

By Kelly McCausey

How easy is it for you to let dust collect on your Bible?

There was a time when I was first searching out the truth about Jesus Christ that I was embarrassed to let friends see the bible I had purchased sitting in my living room.

Then there was a season during which I was so proud to have my study bible laying open with a bookmark, highlighter and note paper nearby.

Then my bible started to just feel like an extension of my own body… always there, always ready.

Then the bible collection began… I wanted different versions, different purposes, different looks and different styles. A bible for my bedroom, a bible for the car and a bible just in case someone needs one.

And sadly… there has been a season in my life where my bible collected dust. How can that be?

Why read the Bible?

A. It shows you the right path.

B. It alerts you when you are getting off the right path.

C. It teaches you how to get back on the right path.

D. It empowers you to stay on the right path.

Isn’t that what life is all about? Finding and staying on the right path? And isn’t life always trying to get us off of the right path? The Bible is our Path Guide. We dare not let it collect dust – or worse yet, be left behind completely.

Joel Osteen and his father before him begin every service at Lakewood Church by leading the entire congregation in a simple prayer of confession and it starts like this:

“This is my Bible:

I am what it says I am;

I have what it says I have;

I can do what it says I can do.”

When you open your Bible to spend some quiet time with your God – Do you believe that you are what the Bible says you are? Do you believe that you have what it says you have? Do you really believe that you can do what it says you can do?

How will you approach your Bible today?

About the Authors: Kelly McCausey and Sandra Jensen lead the Me Skills Discipleship Community, a private membership website for Christians who wish to enjoy a deeper relationship with Christ. Subscribe for free daily email devotionals at http://www.meskills.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_McCausey
http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Read-The-Bible?&id=169277

posted by onlinefellowship