How to be a Christian
By Joe Cruz
Shenandoah, Va.
A Christian’s journey of faith through this life, on our way to heaven (Habakkuk 2:4; Hebrews 10:38), has been described as running a race (I Corinthians 9:24). So as a runner must do let us:
–discipline ourselves to stay in good shape and be strong and healthy (I Cor. 9:25-27),
–be aware that many are watching us and lay aside all sin that would be a burden to our souls and slow our running (Matthew 5:15-16; Hebrews 12:1),
–not grow weary in well doing (II Thessalonians 3:12-13; Hebrews 12:12-14),)
–persevere in faith through all the temptations, trials, and testing (Matthew 5:10-16; Romans 5:3-5; I Peter 4:12-14) that comes to us in this life like our forerunner Jesus did while here on earth (Hebrews 6:19-20; 12:2-4).
So let us keep our eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) as we keep on keeping on in running our race (James 1:12).
Brother Joe “running my race” Sturz Friday, July 15, 2022
I became a Christian when I repented of my sins (I John 1:9) and trusted personally in Jesus Christ’s suffering and dying on the cross in my place to take God’s punishment for my sin (I Corinthians 15:1-4) and secure a place in heaven for me (John 14:1-3).
I now follow Him (John 8:31-32) in praying, reading, and obeying the Bible every day, belonging to a Bible-believing church, and sharing my faith with others (Acts 2:46-47) as I seek to bring His kingdom to earth in all areas of my life (Matthew 6:33). I now see my life as running the race of this life that is described in Romans chaps 6-8). Here the apostle Paul describes the new life in Christ (John 6:3-17) then his struggle with putting off his sin ( Romans 7:8-25) and then breaking through to victory over sin (Romans 8:1-19). However, the more victory he gains the greater struggle with sin then eventually occurs (Romans 7) again which then leads to greater victory over sin through the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8).
This repeated pattern in Romans 7 and 8 describes our growing in grace more and more (Hebrews 5:12-14; II Peter 3:17-18). ). Let us follow Jesus Christ as He through the power of the Holy Spirit changes us (Acts 1:8; Galatians 5:22-25; Titus 3:5-8) step by step to be more like Him (II Corinthians 3:17-18).
Let us follow Jesus Christ as He through the power of the Holy Spirit changes us. (Acts 1:8; Galatians 5:22-25; Titus 3:5-8) step by step to be more like Him (II Corinthians 3:17-18).
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Joe Sturz is a Christian counselor at Sturz Christian Counseling Service and lives in Page County, Virginia. You can learn more at www.sturzchristiancounseling.com. Joe has a passion for ministering to people with problems and sharing what the Lord has taught him through: His Word, his (Joe’s) mistakes, failures and successes and over 47 years as a Biblical counselor applying all of the Bible to all of life in daily messages on Facebook and email.
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