Christ's Simple Message
Christ's simple message was, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand," (Matt. 4:17).
God wants to build a new heart in you, but you must be willing to repent or change (Ezek. 18:31; 36:26; Zech. 7:9, 12). You must be willing to turn around and go another way (Matt. 13:15). You must live God's Way - the Way of peace. God's Way is not the way of evil, but the way of good.
Wouldn't it be something if God said He was good but He never did any good? He wouldn't really be good then; nor would He be God, would He (Psalm 145:17)? Wouldn't it be something if someone claimed to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and didn't continually live a life of doing good as Jesus did?
He really wouldn't be a disciple then, would He? God is good because He does good continually, just as a true disciple of Christ does (Acts 9:36). Yes, a true disciple of Jesus Christ is one who does deeds of kindness and charity continually, day by day. He is a "do-gooder" for God, rather than a "good-for-nothing" for Satan (3 John 11; 1 John 3:10).
God wants you to imitate Him so He can form Jesus Christ's nature in you and, at the same time, crush Satan's nature in you and bring it under control (Eph. 5:1; 1 Cor. 11:1; Gal. 4:19; Rom. 16:20). It's an easy and pleasant process, but it does require obedience on your part (Matt. 11:30; Acts 5:32). After all, a faith with no obedience is no faith at all (James 2:20, 22, 24, 26).
The world is full of people who have no light in them because they are into so much sin. They are full of darkness. God is making people who never had light into 1,000 watt light bulbs. God wants them to practice righteousness daily for Him. He wants people to glorify Him by doing good works so their lights will begin to shine for others to see (Matt. 5:16).
Granted, when you start a life of overcoming evil by continually doing good works, your light may only be 25 watts, but eventually it will increase and increase as your old nature fades. God's new nature will then begin to be formed in you, with your cooperation, of course!
Be careful not to do your good works for reasons of being noticed by men. Instead, do your good works so people notice God in you (Matt. 6:1; Eph. 6:6). Do all that you do in the name of Jesus Christ, as we have been commanded (Col. 3:17).
God bless you as you begin to live a life that is a blessing to others-your new life in Christ!
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