Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

Three Qualities In Healthy Christians

JOSHUA 24:14 – Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.

THEME OF THE DAY. THREE QUALITIES IN HEALTHY CHRISTIANS. Joshua is giving out his final instructions to the people of God. He has finished his race. He has kept the faith. He will die soon. And he is passing along what is necessary in the lives of God’s children if they are going to honor Him and enjoy His favor as they move into the Promised Land. His sound and wise words apply to us in the days in which we live, too. They are timeless truths applying to our walks with the Lord Jesus to ensure sound spiritual health and consistent spiritual growth.

First, healthy Christians walk in the fear of the Lord – therefore fear the Lord. This is the chief characteristic in the hearts of believers living in close fellowship with the Lord. In fact, the fear of the Lord is the dominant theme in the Bible appearing over 200 times. The Lord, Himself, tells us He puts His fear in the hearts of His believing people – I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of Me in their hearts, that they may not turn from Me (Jeremiah 32:40). He would also add what this fear will do in their lives – prevent them from turning away from Him. To avoid backsliding and worldliness, strive to live in the fear of the Lord. That doesn’t mean being afraid of Him but being in awe of Him; to have such a high regard and reverence for Him that we strive to do nothing, say anything or go anywhere that would displease Him. Basically, to walk in the fear of the Lord is to pursue holiness out of delight and the privilege of living for His pleasure. To be without the fear of the Lord is to be without the Lord; to not be a true Christian. And to not walk in the fear of the Lord as a Christian is to be a disobedient and spiritually sick Christian.

Another quality in spiritually healthy Christians is sincere, faithful, and sacrificial service to and for the Lord – serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness. There is no such identity of a Christian not serving the Lord. This service varies based on gifting, but it will be active in every true believer. If we find ourselves only a consumer in our spiritual lives and in the life of our churches, we are spiritually obese. All intake of the Word and no output by sacrificial service to and for the Lord, and especially toward His people is a spiritual contradiction. We are saved to serve. Without service that is marked by sincerity and faithfulness, which means properly motivated from the inside out, we are sick spiritually. Passivity is not part of the Christian life in spiritual warfare and spiritual service.

The third quality in spiritually healthy Christians is the refusal to have any idols in their lives. Now don’t be fast and say, “Idols? No way, Pastor Jim. I am not an idolater practicing idolatry.” Well, I hope all of us may say that, but let’s not be so quick with our answer. Here is why. Idolatry is defined as placing anyone or anything higher in our minds and hearts than the Lord Jesus. This could be jobs, educational pursuits, money, material things, and yes, even our families – spouses or children. Again, like the other two qualities, if this one is in our lives, we are not spiritually healthy.

May the Lord help us to walk in His fear, serve Him properly motivated in the service, and ensuring no idols are sitting on the throne of our hearts where only Jesus is to be.

PRAYER: “Father, teach me the balanced Christian life – fearing You, proper service, and having no idols.”

QUOTE: “Be on guard of living an imbalanced Christian life. There must be service as well as holiness.”