Yesterday we talked about reading the Bible. Today, we’re going to talk about living by it. Reading it is good but applying it is what we need to do.
Look how Jesus ended the “Sermon on the Mount”:
“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!” (Mt 7:24-27)
The Lord ended it explaining that we need to ‘act’ on His Word in order to build a solid life foundation. Listening to or reading the Bible is good but acting on it is what’s needed.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (Jms 1:22)
Whenever you read the Bible, make it a point to do what it says.
Let’s take a high level look at the Lord’s instructions in the Sermon on the Mount to see in what ways you and I are ‘doers’ of what He said. Test yourself along the way to see if you are a ‘doer’ putting His Word into action.
Ways to be / attitudes to have
– Be humble (Mt 5:3) (Poor in spirit)
– Mourn (Mt 5:4) – for others, over your sin, and the sin of the world
– Be gentle with others (Mt 5:5) – Don’t harm them, be angry with them, or even call them names (Mt 5:21-22)
– Desire to be righteous (Mt 5:6)
– Be merciful (Mt 5:7) toward people when you can and it’s appropriate. Turn the other cheek (Mt 5:38-42)
– Keep your heart pure, holy, and sin free (Mt 5:8) – remove the sin from your life and the things that cause you to sin (Mt 5:27-30)
– Be a peacemaker (Mt 5:9) – reconcile with fellow believers when you’ve done wrong and reach a settlement with your adversaries quickly (Mt 5:23-25). Forgive people that have done you wrong (Mt 6:14-15)
– Be glad and rejoice when people insult, persecute, lie about, or are evil toward you because you are a believer in Jesus (Mt 5:11-12)
Spiritual habits
– Let your light shine by being an imitator of Christ (righteous) in public (Mt 5:14-16)
– Do good for people (Mt 6:1-4)
– Pray (Mt 6:6)
– Fast (Mt 6:16-18)
– Be persistent in prayer (Mt 7:7-11)
– Don’t pray, fast, or do good for people just because you want attention and pats on the back. (Mt 6:1-4; Mt 6:6; Mt 6:16-18)
Laws to live by
– Don’t commit adultery or cause another to commit adultery (Mt 5:31-32)
– Don’t take oaths, instead just say what you mean and mean what you say (Yes is yes, no is no) (Mt 5:33-37)
– Love your enemies (Mt 5:43-47)
– Treat others the way you want to be treated (Mt 7:12)
How to think
– Make God’s Kingdom your top priority in life. Spiritual things should be your top priority and you should store up your treasures in Heaven and not on earth. You can’t serve two masters at the same time. You need to choose either God or the world and money (Mt 6:19-33)
– Don’t worry about your provisions for life (Mt 6:25-33)
– Don’t worry about tomorrow (Mt 6:34)
– Don’t judge hypocritically (Mt 7:1-6)
Be on guard
– Keep on the lookout for false teachers / believers (Mt 7:15-20) and recognize them by their fruit
If you follow the Lord’s teachings, you will be living your lives built on a solid foundation and be better able to handle the trials, tribulations, and turmoil of life.
Think about it…
How are you doing in each area mentioned above? Which items are you doing well in? Where are you struggling?
Is there a particular category you are doing well in (“Ways to be”, “Spiritual Habits”, “Laws to live by”, “How to think”, or “Being on guard”)? Is there one where you need to really improve?
Did the Lord show you anything you new or convict you in an area?
