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last update:  08/12/02

-Sticks (the CROSS)

and Stones (the TOMB)

didn't break HIS bones...

*

But His WORDS

will Save your

LIFE.

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God's

Riches

At

Christ's

Expense

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ANEW

A

Never

Ending

Walk

3 Point Checklist

As our new year of 2002 continues to progress, many of us are taking in our cars (or TRUCKS hehe) to have their inspections renewed..we spring clean around the house..we clean out closets and reorganize and start fresh for the coming year. Well, what about our spiritual lives?  Isn't it time we gave our relationship with God a once-over?

It is difficult to boil down Christianity to a compact summary.  But if ever you are faced with a person wanting a quick list of things, or if YOU are ever wanting a quick checklist of things to be sure you are continually progressing in, check out I Peter 2:17...it reads:

"Show the proper respect to everyone.  Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king."

First, love the brotherhood of believers.  Many times in the Bible it speaks about love for fellow man.  But here it focuses specifically on Christians as a group.  How should we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ?  Here is Ephesians 4:25..."Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speck truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.  In your anger do not sin; do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.  (29) Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up others according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."  Here it shows perfectly how we are to act towards our brothers and sisters in Christ.  In the youth group and at school, treat fellow Christians with respect, and only encourage and build them up.

Next it says, fear God.  Now here it doesn't mean necessarily be afraid of, though God's power can have that effect if you get on His bad side.  No, here it is talking about a deep reverence for God, who is all powerful.  Look at Acts 17:24..."The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and Earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath to everything else."  Wow-what an awesome God He is!  So here, make sure you show God your profound and deep reverence for Him and His power.

Finally, it says honor the king.  Probably the hardest of all 3 of these.  So many times it is hard to obey dumb rules and have respect for our leaders because they do things that sometimes blankly defy God!  But in Romans 13:1 it reads:  "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.  The authorities that exist have been established by God."  Wow-makes ya think twice about disobeying your teacher doesn't it?  See, anybody in charge, whether in our city, our state, our country, or our world has been ESTABLISHED BY GOD for that position.  In a way it's a great sense of comfort knowing each leaders of our country has been chosen by God.  Always make sure you obey what they say..in doing so you are obeying God!

So, to recap...love the brotherhood of believers...make sure your friendships and relationships are strong and without hate...fear God...have a deep respect for His awesome power...and honor the king...obey all rules and laws, for they have been set by leaders established by God.  Use this 3-point checklist every so often, and increase your relationship with God and fellow Christians every day.