Keeping His Commandments

A bishop once said he was attempting to know each of the biblical commandments because he wanted to obtain the promised blessings that come from keeping each of them.

I would suggest that may be a valid pursuit, but start by being obedient to those contained in the Bible's New Testament first, if you aspire to be a good Christian.

While Christ declared that he didn't come "to change one jot or tittle of the law," He did declare those commandments which he was taught by God to teach on earth.

Are God's commandments, as given to Moses, even in the New Testament?

Certainly by implication (from Christ's remark that He had not come to change the law) his disciples knew they were expected to keep the Ten Commandments, but He taught what the spirit of those commandments was meant to be.

If we took each of those ten commandments and searched the New Testament to see what Christ taught about each of them, we would find that He taught and clarified each of them by example, by parable, and directly.

It has been said that thinking you are a Christian because you can occasionally be found inside a church, is like thinking you are a car because you are occasionally inside a garage.

If we are reverent only in moments of prayer, or when we are inside a church, we may have misunderstood what being reverent entails.

Some football fans revere a favorite player. They will stick up for him whenever the player's contributions to the team are questioned. They watch the games the player plays in, and they avidly read articles about him. Doing so defines a devoted fan.

Christians revere God and His Son. They will stick up for them whenever their contributions are questioned. They see their handiwork in daily life. They read and study what is written about them, and their actions display how devoted they are.

For a Christian, even in the midst of persecution there can be peace and calm.

That peace and calm is derived from faith in God the Father, Jesus the Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. The light of a Christian's countenance shines forth love for all of God's creations, including for even those who have sworn to be their enemies.

Many Christians accept to become missionaries part time and full time, not for money and status in this world, but for the glory of God and their testimonies of Christ their master.

Other Christians are found in every endeavor, testifying of Christ by their example, and in loving service freely given to others. Their friendship shines in their countenances, too, and they sweat for many worthwhile causes while believing that "actions speak louder than words" and that "Christians are believing 'doers not doubters."

As with anything that improves with constant practice, even those new to their own Christian beliefs will find that keeping Christian commandments becomes easier, even automatic, the more they practice them in their daily walk with Christ.

And in their growing joy, their peace and their calm, they will be the first to share their joy, peace, and calm with others they meet in their life's journey.

© 2018 Demas W. Jasper