OceanSide church of Christ
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SIMPLE CHRISTIAN LIVIING (1)
Rules for Daily Living
Victor M. Eskew
INTRODUC TION
A. If we live through the night, we will each arise to a new day.
1. New experiences
2. New challenges
3. New opportunities
4. New people
B. Sometimes we go through our day as reactionaries. We just react to the things that come our way.
C. What we need is a plan as to how we will approach each day of life.
1. Living according to some simple rules keeps us in the driver’s seat.
2. Living according to some simple rules will make our days brighter and happier.
D. We have entitled this lesson, “Rules for Daily Living.”
I. START WITH A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
A. I Thessalonians 5:18
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
B. We have so much for which to be thankful.
1. We are blessed with a new day.
2. We have many blessings, both necessities and luxuries.
3. We are children of God, redeemed by Jesus’ blood.
4. We have loved ones and friends who love us and care for us.
C. Prayer centers us upon the Father in heaven. It also reminds us of our dependence on Him for all the blessings that we possess.
II. CHOOSE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE
A. Attitude defined:
1. It comes from a word meaning posture or position.
2. Our attitude is the stance, the position, or the posture we take toward those things that come into our lives.
B. I can view my day and its challenges with negative feelings, or, I can view my day with positive feelings.
C. Many passages of Scripture express very positive sentiments that we can incorporate into our lives.
1. Psalm 118:24
This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
2. Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
3. Hebrews 13:6
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
4. Romans 8:38-39
For I am persuaded, that neither death, not life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor power, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
D. Our day starts the moment we open our eyes. At that point, we need to make a decision. “How will I approach my day?”
III. BE KIND TO OTHERS
A. Kindness and courtesy are taught throughout the Bible.
1. I Corinthians 13:4
Charity suffereth long, and is kind…
2. Ephesians 4:32
And be ye kind one to another…
3. Proverbs 31:26
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
4. Colossians 3:12
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.
B. Kindness involves many things:
1. Courtesy: letting other drivers into a lane, not honking your horn, hold the door for another person, a compliment, a smile
2. Kindness involves patience.
3. Kindness involves forgiveness.
C. Quotes:
1. “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is wasted” – Aesop.
2. “You can accomplish by kindness what you cannot by force” – Publilius Syrus.
3. “The end result of kindness is that it draws people to you” – Anita Roddick.
IV. CONTROL YOURSELF
A. Both the Old and New Testaments exhort us to be individuals who have self-control.
1. Proverbs 25:28
He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
2. II Peter 1:5-6a
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance.
B. There are several areas where we must exert self-control.
1. Our desires, especially sinful desires
2. Our emotions, especially the emotion of anger
3. Our mouths
C. Two examples:
1. King Saul had difficulty with hatred and anger.
a. Twice he tried to kill David with a javelin.
b. Once he attempted to kill his own son, Jonathan, with a javelin (I Sam. 20:33). In verse 30, we are told: Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan.
2. Jesus was a man of great temperance.
a. All kinds of false accusations were hurled against Him at his trial before Pilate.
b. Jesus, however, held his peace (Mark 15:3-5)
And the chief priests accused him of many things; but he answered nothing. And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? Behold how many things they witness against thee. But Jesus answered nothing: so that Pilate marveled.
V. FULFILL YOUR OBLIGATIONS
A. Each of us has certain roles that we fill. Each of these roles has responsibilities attached to them.
B. We need to do all we can to fulfill the responsibilities that we have.
C. Let’s look at a few verses that involve our Lord Jesus Christ.
1. Luke 2:49
And he said unto the, How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
2. John 4:34
Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
3. John 9:4
I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work.
4. John 17:4
I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
5. John 19:30
…It is finished.
D. It is important to remember that we have responsibilities in the body of Christ. Worldly duties should never prohibit one from carrying out his spiritual obligations.
VI. GAIN A LITTLE MORE KNOWLEDGE
A. When Paul wrote to the churches, he would tell them that he prayed for them regularly. One of the things he prayed for was their increased knowledge (Eph. 1:17).
That the God our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.
B. Knowledge does not just happen. It must be sought and diligently, methodically acquired.
1. Read different parts of the Bible every day.
2. Memorize a verse each day.
3. Outline a text of the Bible.
4. Do an introduction to a book of the Bible.
5. Read books by good authors on Bible topics.
6. Listen to CDs and watch DVDs.
C. The key is to know more today than yesterday. Never become stagnate and satisfied with your present knowledge.
VII. SEEK OPPORTUNITIES TO EVANGELIZE
A. The Lord’s mission was to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). This should be our mission.
B. Most souls that we come in contact with each day are lost. We need to learn techniques we can use to engage them in conversation and leave them with some spiritual information.
C. When we talk to someone, we need to be thinking: “This is my opportunity.”
D. John 15:8
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
CONCLUSION
A. Each one of us will arise and live out the day that God has given to us.
B. If we will focus on a few simple rules at the beginning of the day, we can
1. Live like Jesus Christ
2. Set an example for others
3. Come to the end of the day with no regrets
4. Live life well
C. Psalm 90:12
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.