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For 30 years, Christian leader and spiritual adviser Billy Graham has been offering advice to the thousands of readers who share their problems ...
Read more about By Billy Graham, Tribune Media Services.
For 30 years, Christian leader and spiritual adviser Billy Graham has been offering advice to the thousands of readers who share their problems ...
Read more about By Billy Graham, Tribune Media Services.
How Can I Be a Good Christian All the Time?
By Billy Graham, Tribune Media Services
Q: How can some people be good Christians for a while, but then they
turn their backs on it and wander into all sorts of bad things? This
has happened to a cousin of mine, and I wish I knew what to do about
it because he's really headed in the wrong direction. -- Mrs. N.McV.
A: I'm grateful for your concern for your cousin -- and you are right: When we turn our backs on God (as he has done), we always end up paying a terrible price. The Bible warns, "You may be sure that your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23).
Why do some people who are outwardly Christians wander from the faith or even deliberately turn their backs on Christ? Sometimes, the Bible says, it is because they had never really committed their lives to Christ in the first place. They are "casual Christians" -- perhaps attending church and going through the motions, but not really following Christ as the Lord of their lives. Jesus said that people like this "honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me" (Matthew 15:8).
Sometimes, however, a person may have sincerely given his or her life to Christ -- but then falls into temptation and turns away from Christ for a time. Peter sincerely believed in Jesus -- but when Jesus was arrested Peter gave in to his fears and denied his Lord (see Matthew 26:69-75). But Peter repented of his sin, and later countless people came to Christ because of his witness.
Pray for your cousin, and also ask God to give you an opportunity to confront him -- lovingly and yet directly -- about the dangers he is facing. Then point him to Christ, who still loves him and wants to forgive him and welcome him home.
========
Send your queries to "My Answer," c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C., 28201; call 1-(877) 2-GRAHAM, or visit the Web site for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: www.billygraham.org.
(c)2008 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
This news arrived on: 08/12/2008
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Posted Comments:
08-15-2008 13:55
jan wrote:
Faith COMES by reading and hearing The Word of GOD and we're instructed to be DOERS of THE WORD, not hearers only,deceiving ourselves.Faith is: Forsaking All I Trust Him! Hosea records: My people are destroyed for a lack of Knowledge- and Psalms 32:8 says, 'I Will Instruct You and Teach You in the WAY You Should GO;I Will Guide You with My Eye'-Encourage your cousin to learn to Know God through HIS WORD and to Walk in God's WAYS.GOD IS GOOD!ALL THE TIME! Christianity is A LIFESTYLE- Be Blessed and Encouraged as you Pray and Talk to your cousin.God is Faithful, Just and True to HIS WORD!-and to Your labor of Love.
08-14-2008 05:44
Billy Graham wrote:
Great knowing.....
How can be a good a christian is a good topic me this beautiful morning,thanks so much pastor.It has really helped me this morning,thanks once again.
08-13-2008 03:56
Kay Akharume wrote:
How To Be A All The Time
Christianity is a lifestyle; meaning that it is a continuous process just as Apostle Paul tells us in the new testament that he dies everyday, so also we have to work at being better christians everyday.
We have been told by Christ Himself to ask for our daily bread from God each day, that's the easiest way to live good christian lives. We should not be moved by what we see or hear and experience, except by the Word of God and in so doing we put all our trust in God knowing that He never fails.
As long as we believe and trust in God always, not matter the circumstance, it makes us Christians at all times.
We have been told by Christ Himself to ask for our daily bread from God each day, that's the easiest way to live good christian lives. We should not be moved by what we see or hear and experience, except by the Word of God and in so doing we put all our trust in God knowing that He never fails.
As long as we believe and trust in God always, not matter the circumstance, it makes us Christians at all times.
08-12-2008 09:01
JJ wrote:
How Can I Be a Christian All the Time?
How Can I Be a Christian All the Time? Keep JESUS FIRST IN YOUR LIFE He is first or last you deside
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