Day 73 "Telltale Signs (Attitudes) That You Are Really A Follower of Christ"

There is an expression-"The proof is in the pudding"- that we often use to say that if something is true, it will prove itself. Taken from its original context "the proof of the pudding is in the eating," I found the following information at phrases.org.uk:

What's the origin of the phrase 'The proof of the pudding'?

'The proof of the pudding' is just shorthand for 'the proof of the pudding is in the eating'. That longer version makes sense at least, whereas the shortened version really doesn't mean anything - nor does the often-quoted incorrect variation 'the proof is in the pudding'. The continued use of that meaningless version is no doubt bolstered by the fact that the correct version isn't at all easy to understand. The meaning become clear when you know that 'proof' here is a verb meaning 'test'. The more common meaning of 'proof' in our day and age is the noun meaning 'the evidence that demonstrates a truth' - as in a mathematical or legal proof. The verb form meaning 'to test' is less often used these days, although it does survive in several commonly used phrases: 'the exception that proves the rules,' 'proof-read', 'proving-ground', etc. When bakers 'prove' yeast they are letting it stand in warm water for a time, to determine that it is active. Clearly, the distinction between these two forms of the word was originally quite slight and the proof in a 'showing to be true' sense is merely the successful outcome of a test of whether a proposition is correct or not.

So, what's the point? The point of all of this is to say that if one claims to be a follower of Christ, one of his disciples, that there are telltale signs (attitudes) evident in that person's life that, indeed, provides evidence that what the person is saying is really true. These seven attitudes were taken from W. Phillip Keller's book, "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23:"

1) Instead of loving myself most, I am willing to love Christ best and others more than myself.

2) Instead of being one with the crowd, I am willing to be singled out, set apart from the crowd.

3) Instead of insisting on my rights, I am willing to forego them in favor of others.

4) Instead of being boss, I am willing to be at the bottom of the heap- a servant to all.

5) Instead of constantly finding fault with life and always asking, "Why?" I am willing to accept every circumstance of life with an attitude of gratitude.

6) Instead of seeking to exert my will, I am willing to lean to cooperate with his wishes and comply with his will.

7) Instead of choosing my own way, I am willing to choose to follow in Christ's ways: simply to do what he asks me to do.

I found this to be a great list of attitudes that profoundly testify as to what is going on in a person's heart. For me, I would just add three more to the list:

"And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love

one another as he commanded us." 1 John 3:23

8) A follower of Christ has a belief that Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, that he has totally paid the penalty for our sins which provides us with a full pardon-that in Christ, we are forever free from the condemnation of our sins past, present, and everything in the future.

9) A follower of Christ has become a lifetime student of what it means to be loved and to love others.

We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19

10) A follower of Christ lives life under God's grace, fully loved unconditionally, as one of God's children. The law of the first covenant, the need and requirement to perform and live up to the religious laws and requirements have been fulfilled by Christ, himself, abolishing the need for any of his followers to have to live under the law, themselves. We have been freed as slaves to the law to embrace a better way to live out our lives, one that is under a second and better covenant than the first, one which was instituted by God's unconditional love and grace and which is initiated and maintained by faith alone. We are now to live our reconciled relationship with God solely by faith- from first to last in our actions- for perfor- mance no longer holds sway over us. Christ has broken its hold over us!

"But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code." Romans 7:6

"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all of our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross." Colossians 2:13-14

"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children."

Hebrews 8:16

"because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:2

"in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." Romans 8:4

Christianity is not about following a list of moral codes and religious requirements. If it were, it would reduce Christianity to a mere group of followers all bent on following the same religious doctrines and beliefs. We already have enough religions that do that. Instead, Christianity is all about having a living relationship with God, himself, made possible through Jesus Christ and living life by his Spirit and love, not by a set of religious doctrine.

One of the hardest things to do as a Christian, which is one of the greatest hindrances to growing in an intimate relationship with God, is to set aside our focus on "self"-putting our interests before the interest of others. But the antithesis to being shackled by "self" is to be set free by learning to live one's life by love. Love is the purest of all motives and the liberator that sets us free from all fear.

"Perfect love casts out all fear." 1 John 4:18

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort

from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and com- passion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humilty consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!"

Philippians 2:1-8

Surely, if you are looking to following a leader, Jesus, the servant-king, is the only leader worthy to follow. Through the exploits upon the cross, the victory won on our behalf, the full pardon secured shielding us from any condemnation, for reconciling our relationship with God and making us God's children, we are forever deeply indebted and completely set free.

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Why? Why would you follow Christ? If it is to gain something more, then you are still seeking to put your interests first, still play the "What's in it for me?" game. But Christ's ways are higher and more noteworthy.

"Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. " Matthew 10:39

May you discover the real Jesus, the one who helps us realize that life isn't about "me."

"Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

In his love, I will see you tomorrow...

"Carpe Momentum in Love" (Seize the moment in love)