DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL: APRIL 22 GOD’S KINGDOM LIFESTYLE (2) Scripture: Deut. 6: 6; 1 Cor. 9: 9 – 13; 1 John 4: 7, 11 – 12

In the first series of this devotional we gave paraphrased definitions of lifestyle, touched how Christians are expected to live their lives as prescribed by God and concluded that Christians are not to conform to the world’s kind of lifestyles but to conform to God’s Kingdom Lifestyles prescribed in the Holy Bible. Much of hypocritical kinds of lifestyles are seen in Christians these days against the lifestyles our great grandparents of faith bequeathed to us. We cannot call ourselves Christians when our heartbeats, attitudes, passions, motivations etc., are dominated by worldly standards. Many Christians live rascally, carelessly and frivolously without the consciousness of God’s ordinances. These groups of people would tell us that Christians no longer live by law but by grace. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is still our God. He gave the commandments to the Israelites to follow. These commandments are for us to obey so as to live God’s Kingdom Lifestyles on the earth. God still expect us to allow things He wants us do and how to behave stocked in our hearts, teach them to our households to keep us close to His ways of life wherever we are, go and even when we sleep and rise up (Deut. 6: 6).

As the worldly people are known by their fruits, Christians are known by the nature of lifestyles which dominate their inner hearts. Our Lord Jesus Christ gave simplified information of Christians Kingdom Lifestyles in His Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5: 1 – 48). Here on earth, we are to live lifestyles that reward us in heaven. We are always to crave more to feed our Spirit Being. We are to be meek, hunger after righteousness, merciful, pure at heart, peacemakers, allow ourselves to be persecuted on righteous things only. Jesus continued by saying our lives should be a light for others to follow, never to allow ourselves kill anyone, never to be angry with our fellow brothers, living a life of forgiving others etc. Apostle Paul taught that God’s Kingdom Lifestyles involve living in newness of life daily (Rom. 6: 1 – 4), and also be delighted in the law of God according to “the inward man” (Rom. 7: 22; Eph. 4: 21 – 24).

Christians, by the instruction of Apostle Paul to the Corinthian Christians, are to live lifestyles of unity with people and with one another. Today, we see many Christians living in war, hate, disassembled from one another (1Cor. 1: 9 – 13; Eph. 4: 3). Christians can easily fight over denominations, church members, over money and materials. The frightening area of this God’s Kingdom Lifestyle is that of loving each other. It is here on the earth Christians are to show love to fellow beings (Eph. 5: 2; 1 John 4: 7, 11 – 12). Living God’s Kingdom Lifestyles do not allow us to love those who love us only. We are to love our neighbours as we love ourselves as well as loving our enemies. This injunction to love our enemies makes Christianity more unique amongst many religions. No pure believer of God or Jesus will ever “preach killing each other message.” We can never exhaust God’s Kingdom Lifestyles in a devotional like this. We can get more from daily studying of the Bible. Readers of this devotional are encouraged to build their level of genuine God’s Kingdom Lifestyles while living on the earth because it is how we live our lives on earth that will qualify us for heaven. Question is this, what natures of lifestyle are you living?

PRAYERS:

1. Father, enable me see clearly my lifestyles as a Christian if I am living rightly. Holy Spirit of God, open my eyes to see if my lifestyles are pleasing to God.
2. Father, living holy life with my mouths is the greatest hypocritical life a Christian will live. Correct me wherever necessary to live heavenly kind of life in Jesus name.
3. Pray an intercessory prayer, asking God to enable Christians worldwide live God’s Kingdom Lifestyles here on the earth in Jesus mighty name.

POSITIVE CONFESSION:

The Bible says I am the light of the world. My light will shine upon the whole world by my God’s Kingdom Lifestyles in Jesus name.

bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch