6. You are learning how to love others better
Jesus Himself had said that the Law was fulfilled in just two commands: "Love God with all you have" and "love your neighbor as yourself". Love is typically defined today as "doing everything you can to not offend or 'judge' others". But this is really just self-protection: protecting one's self from awkward conversations and letting others in close. There is a standard set by One who is above us (our Creator, Provider, and Redeemer), and this is why we all consider right and wrong to be so important (see Romans2:14-16).At the same time, it also isn't any good for a religious person to act like the morality police around everyone else, telling everyone when they're breaking the standard (as though you are the Holy Spirit!). God's love which flows through His people is the love that Jesus showed: Grace and truth (John1:14,18). The grace to patiently forbear with people the way He does with us...forgiving others when they wrong us (Matthew6:14-15), and earnestly loving them with a desire for their knowledge of the truth (because without love, this "knowledge" is useless...see 1Corinthians13:1-3).
7. You are learning how to tell the truth to others better
But also there is willingness to speak the truth even if it means awkwardness and hatred. It isn't loving to pretend that the most loving thing we can do is let people continue on doing things that are going to destroy them in the end. Sin is sin, and if left unchecked, it will win and we will lose (Matthew13:22).Belonging to Jesus is the only way to bring about the grace and truth balance. And as we walk with Him, we see His perfect "tough and tender" love embodied, and, by His grace, it becomes part of our character as well. An example of this is seen in Paul--his desire was for the Jews to believe the Gospel, so much so that he would weep for them and even wish a curse upon himself if it meant that they would believe (cf Romans9:2, Philippians3:18). At the same time though, he would make clear the condemnation the Gospel speaks over those Jews who refused to submit to the truth, and he would leave and move on to those who might listen (cf Acts13:46, 28:28).
8. You have new desires to be obedient to God
God has given us everything that pertains to life and godliness, and it is through His promises in the Gospel that we "put on the divine nature" (2Peter1:3-5). The Gospel is based on the promises of God, and through faith in these promises, we are not only adopted into God's family, but we even begin to have His nature put inside of us. We don't become God by any means, but we become like Him in much the same way a child begins embodying his or her parents' characteristics. Because God is holy, His people are to become holy as well (1Peter1:15, Hebrews12:14). Following the Bible's commands is not a chore to children of God--it's a privledge and a pleasure. They want to follow God's Word; although the flesh might be at war with the Holy Spirit inside of them, it's the Holy Spirit's desires that the Christian really wants. See Galatians5:17.9. You trust Him
While Peter walked out onto the water and began to sink, Jesus then asked him, "Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Matthew14:31). Peter rightly lacked faith in himself and the water, but he began sinking when this lack began eclipsing His faith in Jesus and His perfect command. Surely no one should have complete faith in fallible humans and created things. But Jesus' command is completely trustworthy regardless of how untrustworthy everything (and everyone) else is.A Christian may struggle with doubts at different points in the journey, but Jesus' death, resurrection, and continual intercession for His people until He returns becomes enough for them to trust Him even now. You might be prone to fail, and so might the water. But Jesus doesn't. As Christians are transformed by the renewing of their minds (Romans12:2), they believe more and more that although they are prone to sin and faithlessness, He is faithful (2Timothy2:13)...and in this they not only rejoice, but their faith increases.
10. You pray for His will, and really want it
Finally, one of the first things Jesus taught His disciples to pray for was God's will to be done:First, that God's name be hallowed (regarded as holy);
Second, that His Kingdom come; and
Third, that His will would be done on earth as in Heaven (Matthew6:9-10).
To pray that God would have His way can be faked (as it is anytime one prays this prayer as a religious rite, but don't really mean it). But to earnestly desire His will being done requires one's trusting that His will is best, and one's trusting that God can bring it about (which is why they're praying for it!).
Seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew6:33-34) isn't like one seeking to end world hunger--a goal that isn't yet reached, and that's why they're trying. Seeking first God's Kingdom is what one does because the Kingdom has already made a home in them! The Kingdom has already been established--not in its fullness yet--but established nonetheless. Those in Christ desire that His Name be made much of, and His glory fills the whole earth, because His glory fills them. Called to proclaim His excellencies, one believes He is most excellent, and this pushes them to desire His will to be done.
Again, I hope this has been helpful for you. Grace and peace!
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