Benefits of Christian Practices 10

Memory Verse: …  ‘The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things [in daily life], and the God [who is the source] of peace and well-being will be with you’. Philippians 4:9 (AMP).

Text: Matthew 5:3-12

Spiritual Emphasis: Christian practices are any regular and intentional activities that establish, develop, and nourish our personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. Being a Christian is more about practice than belief. For us to grow spiritually, Christian practices are essential. It is important to note that for us to experience the full benefits of these practices, these elements must form the foundation of our Christian practices – it must be regular, and it must be intentional. Then and only then, we will be able to establish, develop, and nourish our personal relationship with God, and be transformed by Him.

  Benefits of Integrity in the life of a Christian

• Integrity is doing what is right and acceptable before God. This is so because it is almost impossible to live in our world with total uprightness without having a God factor in you. So, ‘acceptable’ and ‘right’ can only be achieved with a belief in God.

1. Self-control: Self-control is one of the most outstanding character traits of integrity. No matter the strength of his own desire, Job would never look at a woman inappropriately – Joseph never took advantage of Potiphar’s wife even when it cost him his position and years in prison – Job 31:1; Gen. 39:7-21.
2. Integrity will teach you not to let go of your faith in God: We have seen or known people who were strong in the faith but who ended up acting extremely unethically. Job was an example of a man of integrity we can learn from. Inspite of his circumstances, he was alert, held onto his faith in God and never let go. Lesson for us here is: Regardless of others, don’t let go of your integrity – Job 27:1-6; 1 Peter 5:8; Job 1:8; Prov. 19:1; Matt. 5:20; 1 Tim. 6:11; Matt.5:16; Phil. 2:14-15.

Questions/Activities: Is it possible to live a life of integrity without knowing the Lord?

Conclusion. Not many of us would disagree that our world would be a better place if people lived with integrity. The damage caused by a lack of integrity today is seen everywhere. All a person has to do is watch the news or read on the internet about someone who everyone thought was the “real deal,” only to learn they had fallen into some shocking behavior. As believers, reading the Word of God daily, meditating on the Word, and doing everything in the Word, is the only way to truly be like Christ and enjoy His benefits He has for us. 

Shalom! Self-Study: Daniel 6:10; Mark 1:35; 1 Tim. 4:15; John 3:21; Rom. 12:13; 2 Peter 1:10; 1 John 3:10; Matt. 6:1; 1 Tim. 4:7-8; Lev. 18:3; Gal. 5:21; 2 Thess. 2:15; 2 Thess. 3:6; 1 Cor. 15:1-3; Nehemiah 2:1-8.