What does it mean to be a Christian? To be means to exist, to live, to happen, to occur, to remain, to continue, to express futurity, possibility, obligation, or intention. Who should we become, and what should we be doing as Christians?
I am to be a good son, a good friend, a good husband, a good father, a good employee or worker, a good Christian, a good witness, and a good preacher/minister. The list could go on when applied to various aspects of life and by multiple people (Medicine, construction, mechanics, engineering, the arts, etc.). We are all to be beneficial to humanity and society in some way: be on time, be honest, be fair, be kind, etc.
Let us take a few moments to consider a few things that the Holy Bible, God's Word, says we are to be.
We are to be Still.
Psalm 46:10, "Be still…"
God always assists, offering safety, peace, and refuge. God's power is unending, and He will triumph in the end. He will not neglect to save the people who love Him. Being still before God in a state of humility and suppressing all other voices is the key to understanding God.
No matter where you look in the world today, destruction and war are inescapable, but God's final victory is also. At that point, all will be still before the Omnipotent God. How legitimate is it for us to be still presently, respectfully giving Him praise and honor for His power and greatness? Every day, we should set aside time to be still and praise God.
Unfortunately, many of us are so busy with our lives that we do not take the time to be still and know God.
We are to be Clean and to be Separate.
Isaiah 52:11, “…Be ye clean…”
2 Corinthians 6:17, “…Be ye separate…”
Outward service will follow if the heart of the inner life is clean. In Old Testament times, the Ark of the Covenant carried the Ten Commandments (Exodus 37-38). It was a vessel for God's Word. On the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), the followers of Christ Jesus were filled with the Holy Spirit. So, if the Holy Spirit resides within a believer's body, that believer is now a vessel of the Lord.
If the believer is a vessel for the Lord, then the believer is to be separated from the world. Maintaining a close relationship with God is an essential component of separation from the world (2 Corinthians 7:1-2). In addition to avoiding the entertainment aspects that entice us to sin, how we spend our time and money is another factor that contributes to sin. It is nearly impossible to isolate ourselves from sin's worldly influences. However, we are to oppose the sin that encamps us; do not give up and do not give in.
We are to be Perfect, be of Good Comfort, and be of One Mind.
2 Corinthians 13:11, "…Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind…"
Perfect means to be complete and joined together (1 Corinthians 1:10).
These were Paul's closing words in his second letter to the Corinthians. The things he wants the Corinthians to remember about their church's requirements still apply to today's church. The church must deal with issues when these characteristics are absent. A church does not acquire these characteristics by ignoring difficulties, conflicts, and problems. Denial, neglect, bitterness, or withdrawal do not cause them. They are the outcomes of highly laborious problem-solving. Paul and the Corinthians needed to work out challenges to bring harmony, and as such, we are not to hear the truths of God's Word. We are to apply them to our lives.
We are to be Filled.
Ephesians 5:18, “…Be filled…”
This is important because the character of His presence will be evident when the Spirit permeates the being.
Paul distinguished the positive effects of being filled with the Holy Spirit from the negative effects of being drunk with wine. What matters is not how much of the Holy Spirit we have but how much of us the Holy Spirit has. Every day, we need to give in to the direction of the Holy Spirit and rely on His power.
We are to be Holy.
1 Peter 1:15-16, “…Be ye holy…”
Because God is Holy, and He calls us to be holy.
People can still feel drawn to returning to their former ways after they entrusted their lives to Christ. Peter instructs us to conduct ourselves holy like our heavenly Father in everything we do. Holiness implies being completely given or devoted to God, put away for His exclusive use, and set aside from the impact of sin. We are to be separate and unique, not mixing in with the world, yet not being different only for being exceptional. God's qualities are what make our lives different from the world's. Our primary focus and concerns must align with His. All of this clashes sharply with our former lifestyle (1 Peter 1:14). God gives us His Holy Spirit to help us obey and to empower us to overcome sin because we cannot become holy on our own. We are not permitted to use the justification that we cannot avoid becoming sinful. We are to ask God to free us from the grip of sin.
We are to be Sober and to be Vigilant.
1 Peter 5:8-9, "Be sober, be vigilant…"
Being sober means not being influenced by anything, leading us to sound judgment and the truth of God's Word. Being vigilant means being alert and watching out for potential dangers.
The fifth chapter of First Peter discusses the shepherding of God's people during times of suffering. He is primarily speaking to the elders of the church. In addition, he offers direction to all believers on how to act humbly toward one another and God. In modesty, we stand by and trust God to magnify us in His time. In lowliness, we place our concerns in His hands. Yet, we are additionally called to stay alert, keeping an eye out for Satan and opposing him by remaining firm in our faith.
Young, sick, and wandering animals are targeted by lions. They select victims who are not alert to their surroundings or alone. Peter cautions us to keep an eye out for Satan when we are going through times of suffering or mistreatment. If we are cut off from other believers, feeling weak, helpless, and alone, we can be particularly vulnerable to the devil's attacks. We are to keep our eyes on Christ, seek the support of other Christians, and do our best to resist the devil during times of suffering. Additionally, James advises us to "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).
We are to be Faithful.
Revelation 2:10, "…Be thou faithful..."
Love and faith should ignite within the temple of our being. In turn, our lives will be characterized by our faithfulness.
John writes about the seven churches in chapters two and three of Revelation. Notably, chapter two speaks of the persecuted church. Although suffering is a part of life, it is never easy, regardless of the cause. Jesus praised the faith and suffering of the church at Smyrna. He then, at that point, encouraged the believers that they need not dread the future, assuming they stayed faithful. We should not allow difficult times to divert our attention from God. Instead, we ought to let them motivate us to be more loyal. We must have faith in God and remember our reward in heaven (Revelation 22:12-14).
Satan is the source of persecution, not God. And he will cause believers to be tossed into jail and, surprisingly, killed. However, believers need not be concerned about death because it will only bring them the crown of life. Satan might hurt their natural bodies; however, he cannot cause them spiritual damage. When these Jews gathered to worship, they were serving Satan's purposes rather than God's, as evidenced by the term "synagogue of Satan." "Ten days" indicates that, despite the intensity of the persecution, it will be brief. God retains complete control, and there is a clear beginning and end. Do not forget to:
"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another" (Romans 12:10).
2 Corinthians 5:8, "...to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord…"
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