SATURDAY, JULY 1
1 Peter 4:12-19
1 Peter 4:16

"…if any man suffer as a Christian,
let him not be ashamed…"

A SANCTIFIED CHRISTIAN LIFE

Many think that they are Christians because they have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, have been baptized, and go to church on Sundays. They may be very active in their church and fellowship groups. They may even serve the Lord as church session members, pastors, missionaries, evangelists, lecturers and professors at Bible colleges and seminaries, and so forth. Many "Christians" read the best-selling "Christian" books, surf the most visited "Christian" websites, listen to popular "uplifting" messages and "Christian" songs, watch popular live "Christian" TV programs, etc, thinking that they are edified and their "Christian life" is growing! Are they true Christians? How do we know for sure that we are true Christians? We must follow the Lord Jesus Christ’s words of wisdom: "Ye shall know them by their fruits" (Matt 7:16).

Many others blindly follow their church leaders and popular "Christian" speakers, church planters with their leadership networks worldwide, or scholars and theologians with their credentials acknowledged and accepted by most Bible colleges and "Christian" churches. Their success and credentials are measured by number and size! Many regard them as God’s servants whom God has blessed with their mega churches, big membership, big church buildings, big funds for social works under their names or their churches’ names, etc. However, are they God’s true servants living a true Christian life? How do we know? "Ye shall know them by their fruits."

True followers of Christ or Christ’s "disciples were called Christians first in Antioch" (Acts 11:26). They were not popular in terms of number or size. Contrarily, they were despised and hated by the world, and they were still willing to "suffer as a Christian" (1 Pet 4:16). However, through their holy life they were recognized as Christians. What about yours and mine? Are we living a sanctified Christian life as "the salt" and "the light" in this dark, sinful, and ungodly world (Matt 5:13-14)?

THOUGHT: A true Christian must live as Christ lived (1 John 2:6).
PRAYER: O Lord, help me live a true Christian life as Thou lived.