7 Always

 ~ The Christian Should Always… ~

Consider seven things the Christian should always be.    

Be Focused  ~  “I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved” (Psalm 16:8).  God is to be our constant focus. 

Be Living Right  ~  “Let your garments always be white, and let your head lack no oil” (Ecclesiastes 9:8).  The garments of the life are to be kept white by righteousness.  God the Father sees us covered with the garments of Christ’s Righteousness.  Oil in Scripture is often symbolic of the Holy Spirit.  If we live sensitive to the Spirit we will live a pleasing life to God. 

Be Obedient  ~  “Therefore you shall love the Lord your God, and keep His charge, His statutes, His judgments, and His commandments always” (Deuteronomy 11:1).  The commandments of the Lord are to be obeyed.   

Be Holy  ~  “You shall also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet: HOLINESS TO THE LORD.  And you shall put it on a blue cord, that it may be on the turban; it shall be on the front of the turban.  So it shall be on Aaron’s forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things which the children of Israel hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall always be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord” (Exodus 28:36-38).  Holiness is to be the key feature in the character of a Christian.    

Be Prayful  ~  “Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:17-18).  Prayer is the oil that helps the believer run smoothly through the friction points of life. 

Be Joyful  ~  “Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).  Joy is the outcome of the recognition of the Lordship of Christ.

Be A Witness  ~  “And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually” (Exodus 27:20).  The light of your witness and testimony will burn brightly if fed by the oil of the Spirit.  “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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7 Activities

 ~ 7 Christian Direct Involvements With Their Savior ~

Walking With Him (companionship)  ~  “Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.  And they talked together of all these things which had happened.  So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them” (Luke 24:13-15). 

Talking To Him (fellowship)  ~  “Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.  As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.  And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem” (Luke 9:28-31). 

Listening To Him (instruction)  ~  “Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word” (Luke 10:38-39). 

Abiding With Him (joy and peace)  ~  “Jesus said to them, ‘Come and see.’  They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour)” (John 1:39).   

Living With Him (oneness)  ~  “Jesus said to them, ‘Come and see.’  They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour)” (John 1:39).  

Waiting On Him (power)  ~  “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31).  

Watching For Him (expectancy)  ~  “So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him”  (Luke 8:40).  

additional note  ~  For us today our Lord’s command is clear, “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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7 Actions

 ~ Jesus Christ in Action ~

Introduction  ~  Looking back at the history of “Abundant Life Now” posts, we discovered that there have been 60 posts entitled “7 [topic]” through June 2021.  Surprisingly, that equals two months’ worth of daily posts since the beginning of ALN on October 21, 2009.  During each day of this seventh month of 2021, each ALN post is a “7 [topic].”

The Scene  ~  “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.  And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.  After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.  Then He came to Simon Peter.  And Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, are You washing my feet?’”

Key Concept  ~  In just three verses we see Jesus Christ taking seven actions as the ultimate servant-leader in action!

The Actions  ~  “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose (1) from supper and laid (2) aside His garments, took (3) a towel and girded (4) Himself.  After that, He poured (5) water into a basin and began to wash (6) the disciples’ feet, and to wipe (7) them with the towel with which He was girded” (John 13:3-5). 

Emotional Impact  ~  In looking at this passage it is easy to overlook the fact that the “Beloved Disciple” is writing about a personal experience which occurred some 60 years earlier!  The fact that he remembers such details makes it clear that the Savior serving His followers left an indelible memory.  John’s personal time with Jesus had long-lasting impact.  

Concluding Thought  ~  How much lasting impact does your time alone with Jesus (in the Word of God and in prayer) have on you and the actions of your life?  How do you measure up as a servant following in your Master’s footsteps? 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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