Just Enough

This morning I have been thinking about what it means to be a Christian. What does being a Christian really mean to me? I think I need to look into the Bible to see what it means, because that is where the true answers are, not about what others say, but about what the Bible says. In 1 John 2:4
"Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him," Do we know what His commandments are? The first and greatest commandment is in
Matthew 22:36-40 "“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”"

What does it mean to truly love God? I believe it means that life becomes not about self, but about living as God calls me to live. There are many references in the Bible about my words, my actions, how they are suppose to represent Jesus not self. It is every day life, in marriage, in our relationship to my parents, to my kids and families, then it just goes from there. When I love Jesus the most I am wanting to do what He commands me to do, because I want to please Him more than I please myself or others. I want to honor Him more with being honest, I want my actions not to grieve God, but to bring Him glory. Am I more afraid what others think about me or am I more afraid of what God thinks about me. I think I need to be more afraid of what God thinks about how I act than how others that view me or think about me.

What does God say about the fear of the Lord? Psalms 111:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise." And it says it again in Proverbs 9:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." What does this kind of fear mean? I don't think it is terror, but I believe it means reverence and respect. When I put God above everything else I show Him great respect, I worry about how He views me, I want to be what He calls me to be, not because of fear, but because I Respect and Reverence Him more than anything else, more than self. When my bosses at work tell me to do something I do it without question, because I know they hold my job in their hands, but when God says to do something do I hold it in such reverence and respect? God has given me many things to do, but am I doing them? God holds everything in His hands, not just my jobs, but more importantly my life. When is the right time to do what He calls me to do? When do I put away the childish games of self and stand firm in God?

I believe He is calling me to be a Christian who is not afraid to stand, who is not afraid to speak the truth and who am I we called to speak it too? God says our first and greatest mission is my home, when my home are falling apart, can I be truly effective in His ministry? What is He calling me to may be different, but He calls us all to put Him first and follow His commands, are we?

Some hard questions, but when I put Him first, the other things fall into place, because no longer is it about self and what I believe, but it comes to what He wants from me. He wants me to bear fruit, to grow. Am I doing just enough to get by? Am I lukewarm?