Living For God While Suffering For Being A Christian

Dear Readers: Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Praise God that all is well with you and yours. This is to encourage and to remind you that to live for God is impossible without the Holy Spirit. We know that the Holy Spirit is one of the three persons of God. In the Old Testament we see the Holy Spirit active in the creation of the world. The Spirit also filled certain people with power at special times. It is the Holy Spirit who worked through men to produce the Scriptures. Because Jesus died and rose to a new life, the Holy Spirit now lives in all God's people. He is the One who makes us new; teaches us and gives us freedom for a new life.

Since Christ suffered in His body, we should arm ourselves with the same attitude, because if we suffer in our body, we're done with sin. As a result, we do not live the rest of our earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. We spent enough time in the past doing what we chose to do---living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, wild parties, carousing and detestable idolatry.

Now that we're living for God; we must be clear minded, and self-controlled so that we can pray. Above all, let's love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Let's offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. We should use whatever gift we have received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. When speaking, we should do it as speaking the very words of God; when serving, serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

If we're insulted because of the name of Christ, we are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on us. We must not be ashamed, but praise God that we bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, if it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? So then, we who suffer according to God's will should commit ourselves to our Creator and continue to do good.

Supporting Scriptures: Genesis 1:1-2; Psalm 104:30; Numbers 11:16-17, 24-30; Judges 14:1-6; 2 Peter 1:19-21; John 14:15-31; Acts 2:1-21; Romans 8:1-27; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; Galatians 5:16-26; 1 Peter 4:1-19.