1. No Bible, no
breakfast! Be serious about regular daily devotions.“O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day”
(Psalm 119:97).“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a
workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth”
(2 Timothy 2:15)
2. Memorize the Word
(the Bible). “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin
against You…Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law and keep it with
all my heart…This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived
me” (Psalm 119:11, 34, 50).
“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you…” (Colossians 3:16).
3. Read! Read! Read!
Read good books and read the Bible through at least once yearly! “…but grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). Someone said, “If you do not read, you
will not grow.” To walk with the wise is to read good books. “He who walks with
wise men will be wise…” (Proverbs 13:20).
Books by Catholics, mystics and “health and wealth,” and
emergent church proponents are of no help.
Authors such as: Richard Foster, Dallas Willard, Henry Nouwen, Benny Hinn,
Joyce Meyer, Brian McClaren and spiritual warfare books by Neil Anderson and
others.
4. Preach the Gospel
to yourself and others. “But when the kindness of God our Savior and His
love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have
done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration
and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through
Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made
heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4-7).
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that
not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no
one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good
works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10).
The gospel needs to be proclaimed. Good
works are not the gospel, but the results of the gospel.
5. Live by faith. “But my righteous one shall live by faith; and if
he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him” (Hebrews 10:38). Trust God. He
is Sovereign and we can trust Him. Jesus is our Shepherd and He goes before His
sheep. He leads and cares for us.
6. Love the Savior, love saints, and love sinners. “…You shall love
the Lord your God with all you heart, and with all your soul, and with all your
mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You
shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-39).
7. Build friendships with local believers and fellow missionaries.
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in
unity” (Psalm 133:1).
8. Network for the glory of God. “…but if we walk in the Light as
He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another…” (1 John 1:7).
9. Practice hospitality often whether you are single or married.
“Be hospitable to one another without complaint” (1 Peter 4:9).
10. Dress modestly and neatly. Do not be sloppy in dress. “…for we
have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also
in the sight of men” (2 Corinthians 8:21).“Likewise, I want women to adorn
themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly …”
(1 Timothy. 2:9).
11. Put on humility daily. “… clothe yourselves with humility
toward one another…” (1 Peter 5:5b).
12. Be a servant of Christ by serving others. Remember manners and
serving others are the kindness of Christ in action. “As each one has received a special gift,
employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God…
whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God
supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ…” (1
Peter 4:10-11).
*All scripture NASB
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