Becoming an Effective Christian

 What does it take to be an effective Christian? I believe that is a question for each of us to answer in our own heart. After all, God saved us for a purpose. We need to know how to fulfill that purpose and assess how we are doing. Of course, it is not rocket science. Any believer can become effective in the faith, but we do have to learn certain things and do certain things. If we don't, we will live an ineffective life, missing the opportunities to be used by the Lord in His service. Paul gave us a great insight into how we can become effective in his letter to Philemon. (Philemon 6) He prayed that Philemon's participation in the faith would become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ. Sounds pretty important to me. What about you?

What good things do you have in you so that you may become effective in the faith and bring glory to Christ? We have every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 1:3) God has set aside all we need to live the Christian life, but we must access it from Him by prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit. We have everything that pertains to life and godliness. (II Peter 1:3) We get this through our knowledge of Jesus and through knowing and living His precious promises to us. Then, we apply those promises to our lives, and we grow in our effectiveness in the faith. (II Peter 1:4-8) Make no mistake, we can't become effective by our own efforts. It is only by the grace of God working in us through what we learn and what we do in obedience to Christ and His Word. However, that is God's will for us so that we live and love like Jesus every day and everywhere we go. Then, Christ receives all the glory from who we become.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Hebrews 1-3.