The Christian Challenge

“Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”

1 John 2:6 (NLT) 

When we are first born as physical babies we do not know what trials and challenges lie ahead in our physical lives. We don’t know how our education will turn out, we don’t know what work we will do, we don’t know whether we will have a family of our own or not, we do not even know how long we will live. Will we get sick or have an accident and die young, or will we live to a grand old age after we retire from work, and perhaps become a grandparent? 

It’s the same with spiritual life. Jesus said to be saved we must be born again of the Spirit, and start again as spiritual babes. In John 3:3-8 we read, “Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.’ ‘What do you mean?’ exclaimed Nicodemus. ‘How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?’ Jesus replied, ‘I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Human beings can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, You must be born again.’” 

As in physical life, when the Holy Spirit starts us out on a spiritual life, we do not know what trials and challenges lie ahead. The apostle Paul had to suffer many trials and challenges before his Christian life ended (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). We may not have to go through all that he did, but the greatest challenge for us Christians, with all the faults and weaknesses of our human natures, is to go out into the world and be as Jesus Christ to everyone we meet. 

Prayer

May your Holy Spirit empower us to be like Jesus, to all we come into contact with.

Amen 

Study by Arthur Allden