Introduction:

   Just what should our relationship and responsibility be unto God?  Let us consider:  (1) that He created us in His own image. 

Gen. 1:26-27, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:  and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” 

(2) He provided us with the physical world for our physical welfare. 

Gen. 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” 

(3) Our Heavenly Father created us as a living eternal soul. 

Matt. 16:26, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 

   So, as Christians, how can we remain faithful to God and grow spiritually in order that we may be well pleasing unto Him? 

Discussion: 

I.                   WE SHOULD ALLOW GOD TO TALK TO US EVERY DAY.  (By making this statement, we do not mean that the Heavenly Father speaks directly to us from Heaven in an audible voice as a fellow human talks to us here upon earth.)

A.     Friends, family and associates talk with us every day.

              1.  They converse with us on a number of topics.

                    a. It would be dreadfully lonely if they did not! 

B.  Even so, we need Jehovah God to communicate with us every day.                              

John 6:45, “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God.  Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”

                            1.  But how does the Heavenly Father teach us?

                                  a. Answer:  by the inspired Word of the Bible. 

2 Tim. 3:16-17, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 

                                         b. Through the Scriptures we are taught the Will of God. 

Titus 2:11-12, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;” 

                                        c. We can learn through both a personal study of the Bible and by being taught by others. 

2 Pet. 3:18, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To him be glory both now and for ever.  Amen.” 

Matt. 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  Amen.” 

II.                WE SHOULD TALK TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER EVERY DAY.

(If we went through an entire day without saying one word to our loved ones and friends, they would think that we were angry with them or that something else was wrong.  Well, we should pray unto our Heavenly Father every day of our life.) 

1 Thess. 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” 

A.     Yes, God wants us to express our inward thoughts and desires unto Him. 

1 Tim. 4:1-6, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 

III.             WE SHOULD SAY SOMETHING FOR GOD EVERY DAY.

A.     We need to say something to our family on behalf of God every day.

1.      Just as the Israelites were to continually have God’s Word before them and to teach it unto their children; just so, we should do the same. 

Deut. 6:6-9, “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:  And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou riset up.  And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.  And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.” 

B.     We need to encourage others to respect the God who is the one true and living God. 

Eph. 4:6, “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” 

Acts 5:42, “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” 

C.     We need to study diligently so that we can be better able to give a reason of the hope within us. 

1 Pet. 4:11, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God;…” 

1 Pet. 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:  and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

1.      There is a proper attitude and manner in presenting God’s inspired Word unto others. 

Col. 4:6, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” 

IV.              WE SHOULD TAKE ON THE NATURE OF GOD DAILY.

A.     The Apostle Peter urges us to be “partakers of the divine nature.” 

2 Pet. 1:3-11, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:  that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.  And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity [love].  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure:  for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 

1 Tim. 4:8, “For bodily exercise profiteth little:  but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” 

B.     If we conform to the image of Jesus Christ in this life then we will become like Him as He now is in Heaven. 

1 John 3:2, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:  but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 

V.                 WE SHOULD DO A GOOD DEED EVERY DAY IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD.

A.     We should strive to glorify our Lord by doing good toward our fellowman in His name and through His church. 

Col. 3:17, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” 

Eph. 3:21, “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.  Amen.” 

B.  We should seek opportunities to do good unto others.

                                1.   We should grasp the opportunities that come our way. 

Gal. 6:10, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” 

2.      We should pray for doors of opportunity to be opened unto us. 

Col. 4:3, “Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:” 

1 Cor. 16:9, “For a great door and effectural is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.” 

3.      Pray that others will become involved in the Lord’s work. 

Matt. 9:35-39, “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.  But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.  Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into the harvest.” 

4.      Set a good example before others that they may be encouraged to draw closer unto God. 

Matt. 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” 

James 4:7-8, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.  Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” 

Closing: 

   Christianity is a complete way of life.  We cannot compartmentalize our life by saying I give part to God, part to my family, part to my livelihood, part to recreation, etc.  We must not give just 50%, 70%, or even 99%; but rather:  100% unto the Lord.  Whatever we do, it must be in harmony with God’s Will in order to be pleasing unto Him. 

   Solomon said, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:  Fear God, and keep his commandments:  for this is the whole duty of man.  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Eccl. 12:13-14). 

Borrowed and enlarged

--Dub Mowery