Recipe for the Christian Life - GOODNESS
Today is the second post in the series on growing in our Christian Walk. Developing a Christian life is kind of like baking a recipe - good ingredients creates a perfect treat. Adding good characteristics to our faith produces good Christians.
If you recall, last week we started with an empty mixing bowl - our FAITH.
Today we are going to add GOODNESS to our faith (the mixing bowl).
I looked up the meaning of goodness in the dictionary:
goodness - the quality of being morally good or virtuous (it is action).
Goodness is like butter in the recipe for the Christian life. Not only is butter spread on everything from bread to potatoes but butter is also part of the dough/ingredients. It is like our actions, they can be spread around to help others and our actions can become part of another person's life.
The verse shown above is called "The Golden Rule" - "do unto others." We only want good done to us, so therefore actions must be good towards everyone else.
I thought it would be smart to get back to basics. Even though we now have the New Testament (Jesus died and rose again for our sins and we have been forgiven) , that does not mean that the Old Testament is no longer valid. The 10 Commandments still fit into New Testament GOODNESS. Let's review those commandments:
1. I am the Lord your God: you shall have no other
gods before me
2. You shall not make idols
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in
vain
4. Remember the Sabbath (Lord's) day and keep it holy
5. Honor your father and your mother
6. You shall not murder/kill
7. You shall not commit adultery
8. You shall not steal
9. You shall not bear false witness against your
neighbor
10. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife nor goods
(Exodus chapter 20)
Jesus simplified the commandments with two basic commandments (see picture below). These two simple commandments actually include all 10 listed above. If we "love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, strength" then that means we will NOT worship any other gods, have no idols, will NOT use His name in vain and will keep the Sabbath. - That's the first 4 commandments!
The remaining 6 commandments are summed up in "love your neighbor as yourself." You will NOT dishonor your parents, kill, cheat on your spouse, steal, lie or be obsessed with other's belongings if you truly love others as you love yourself.
Over the next few weeks we will be adding to the GOODNESS in our faith from
2 Peter 1:3-11.
2 Peter 1:3-11.
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I love my Lord and Savior more than I can possibly ever say. He is with me in everything. I am so thankful for all that our Lord and Savior has done for each of us. Thank you so much for sharing this. God Bless
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