![]() The more grace you live by, the more joy you’ll have. And since you’re not trying to earn your way to heaven, you can relax.Įvery morning, remind yourself of God’s grace by praying, “Lord, today I am reminding myself that I’m completely forgiven.” You find it easier to forgive because you recognize that God continues to forgive you. On the other hand, how do you know when you’re living by grace? When you’re living by grace, you’re gracious to others. Why would you want other people to feel good about themselves when you don’t feel good about yourself? That’s because it’s easier to be critical of others when you don’t feel accepted and loved yourself. How do you know when you’re being legalistic? When you’re being legalistic, you’re often judgmental of other people. ![]() It’s not about your performance it’s about his pardon. ![]() In other words, the way you earn the love of God is this: You don’t earn it. He said in Philippians 3:9, “I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ” (NLT). It’s following a list of rules and regulations to prove yourself worthy, and it’s a trap that keeps you from relaxing in God’s grace. Legalism is trusting in what you can do for God instead of trusting in what Jesus has already done for you. The Bible says, “We Christians glory in what Christ Jesus has done for us and realize that we are helpless to save ourselves” (Philippians 3:3 TLB).Įach time you forget this truth and think you’ve got to somehow earn God’s love, that’s legalism-and it robs you of happiness. In times of conflict, follow Nehemiah’s example.Realizing there’s nothing you can do to make God love you more is one of the most liberating feelings in the world-and it is a key to happiness. Proverbs 11:27 says, “If your goals are good, you will be respected” (GNT). Don’t appeal to their worst instincts, fears, or prejudices. ![]() If you want to be respected, bring out the best in others. And they did what Nehemiah said, because they respected him. You must restore their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and homes” (Nehemiah 5:9-11 NLT). They are free, and once downloaded can be played anytime without an Internet connection. but now let us stop this business of charging interest. A podcast is a multimedia file made available over the Internet for download and playback on your computer, iPod, or any mp3 player. He told the insensitive leaders, “ What you are doing is not right! Should you not walk in the fear of our God. If you want to be respected, do it God’s way. He says in Matthew 18:15, “ If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you” (NIV). Series broken down onto clear teaching without controversy or academia turning off your mind as you listen. This is also the way Jesus commanded his followers to handle conflict in churches. The Bible says that he “called together a large meeting to deal with them” (Nehemiah 5:7 NIV). He first tried to build a bridge with the offenders who were taking advantage of the poor to increase their own net worth. When he saw the injustice that was happening, Nehemiah didn’t start with a public protest. Instead, we need to be “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (James 1:19-20 NIV). In today’s world, people quickly spout their ideas about injustices without ever thinking. He thought it through before he spoke, putting his mind in gear before opening his mouth. This means he carefully considered the situation. And before he responded, he “pondered them in mind” (Nehemiah 5:7 NIV). He listened to the complaints and charges the Israelites had against those who exploited them during a famine. Nehemiah paused to think before he spoke. Here’s how Nehemiah did it and how you can do it too: Nehemiah is a great example of someone who earned the respect of others by the way he handled conflict. Why? Because any time you’re involved in a disagreement, people will watch to see how you’re going to react. One way you earn it is by how you handle conflict. In fact, Proverbs 22:1 says, “ A good reputation and respect are worth much more than silver and gold” (CEV).īut being respected doesn’t come automatically-you have to earn it. One of the deepest needs in life is the need to feel respected by others.
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