How to Live Right
As a Christian we have an obligation and responsibility to live right. What does that mean? Well, the apostle Paul put it this way, “Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” In Colossians 1:10 he says we are to “walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;” Living right simply means to conduct our lives in a way that is acceptable and pleasing to God. In other words we are to “walk the talk”! How do we do that?
Made Right verses Living Right
Before I answer that question it is important we understand that living right is not what makes us right with God. (read my post “How to be Made Right” – CLICK HERE) Living right is not what saves us. Eternal life is a free gift (Romans 5:15; 6:23). Jesus paid for our sin, so we could be made right with God! Christ took our penalty for sin at Calvary’s cross. We receive that gift of righteousness by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8) For us to now try and bear the burden of our sin and then try and earn our salvation by living right would be to deny the work of Christ. We live right because WE ARE RIGHT (saved, born again)!
So, how do we live right? Let me begin by saying– it’s impossible–that is on our own. Attempting to live right for God in our own strength and effort is like a boat on dry land, it just doesn’t work. For a boat to get anywhere, it needs to be resting on the water. For a believer to live the Christian life, we need to rest in the Lord and depend upon Him.
4 Keys to Living Right
1). The first thing we need to, do to live right, is “depend on the Lord”. It is “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, Says the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6) Living right is not a work of the flesh. It’s not something we accomplish by our own will power. We live right by the Spirit of God that lives in us. Paul put it this way, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) Christ now lives on the inside of us by the Spirit. (1Corinthians 6:19) He will warn, guide, and help us live a right life. To live right depend on the Lord!
2) The second thing we need to do to live right is “get our thinking right”. Right thinking leads to right believing and right believing leads to right living. Proverbs 23:7 tells us “For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” We are what we think. So, getting our thinking right is crucial. Paul tells us in Romans 12:2, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” If we continue to think like the world we will live like the world. That means we need to change the way we think. The apostle Peter puts it this way in 1Peter 1:13-14, “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;” How do we prepare our minds? How do we get our thinking right? We have to renew our minds and thinking with what the Word of God teaches. In other words we need to get rid of “stinking thinking”. To live right we have to get our thinking in line with what the Word of God says.
3. The third thing we need to do to live right is OBEY! Absolute obedience to the Lord is essential for us to live right. Disobedience never produces right living it will always take us in the wrong direction! “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17 NASB) To live right we must obey! Not obedience out of terror, but of love. Not obedience as a slave, but as a child of God. Not obedience out of dread, but of faith! The obedience that God is looking for is never a work of the flesh, but that which is by faith- a work of the Spirit. Living right is not about following someones list of do’s and don’t it is about following the Lord. We are not called to a life of sin and
4. The fourth thing we need to do to live right is ask for more GRACE! Grace is God’s ability working in us helping us to do right. “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” (Hebrews 12:28) We need His grace to live right. Grace is not just available to get saved, but also to serve Him. There is more grace for you. “But He gives more grace.” (James 4:7) (CLICK HERE for my post on “How to get God’s Grace) To obtain that grace we need to ask Him for it. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16) We need God’s grace to help us stand and serve – to live right. Come boldly to His throne and obtain it!
How do you live right? Depend on Him, get your thinking right, obey Him, and ask for more grace. Begin each day realizing that Christ actually lives in you. Then depend on Him and His grace, renewing your mind with His Word, so you will be able to follow (obey) Him. Remember, “You can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) This is how you live right!