THE POWER OF APPRECIATION CAN HELP ANYONE BECOME CHRISTLIKE - PRINCIPLES OF VICTORY IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE - Part X

Who does not like to be appreciated ? To be appreciated is not necessarily the same thing as being praised. Praise may at times have some undesirable side effects but proper appreciation can strengthen and motivate. The consciousness of being appreciated is a wonderful stimulus and satisfaction. To appreciate means to value and to be appreciated is one of life's most satisfying joys. Satisfying joys give vigor to the mind and health and vital energy to the body. Who knew that appreciation was so important to health ? Certainly Jesus Christ did. Notice how He reemphasizes the worth of every human being - But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12:7) God desires to be appreciated too and the appreciation of His character is another fundamental principle which will aid in obtaining the victory over sin.

APPRECIATION OF THE CHARACTER OF GOD AND OF CHRIST

a) God desires from all His creatures the service of love--service that springs from an appreciation of His character. He takes no pleasure in a forced obedience; and to all He grants freedom of will, that they may render Him voluntary service. God does not force the will or judgment of any. He desires that the creatures of His hands shall love Him because He is worthy of love. He would have them obey Him because they have an intelligent appreciation of His wisdom, justice, and benevolence. And all who have a just conception of these qualities will love Him because they are drawn toward Him in admiration of His attributes.

b) In the Bible, Jesus is symbolically represented by a variety of beautiful illustrations. He is referred to as the "Bright and morning Star" and the "Pearl of great price." The whole Bible contains revelations of the character of Christ that can only be treasured and valued by those who continually see more and more clearly the desperate selfishness of their own hearts apart from God's grace. When we are fully awake to our own sinfulness, we shall appreciate Christ.Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, sin will become hateful to us.

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. (Matthew 6:24)

c) Moral power increases by dwelling upon the goodness, beauty, mercy, and love of Christ.

d) God has granted freedom of will to all, endowed men with capacity to appreciate His character, and therefore with ability to love Him and to choose His service. Loving God or rejecting His love would not be possible without freedom of choice. 

e) When the sinner has a view of the matchless charms of Jesus, sin no longer looks attractive to him or her; for he/she beholds the Chiefest among ten thousand, the One altogether lovely. The more one studies the character of Christ, the more attractive will He appear. The more attractive Christ appears, the less appealing sin becomes and the more we are preparing to spend eternity with God as our lives are brought more into harmony with heaven.

John 3:16,12:32,14:15,21,23/

Psalms 45:7,97:10,107:43/

Matthew 12:30,22:37,13:45,4/

Romans 6:18.20/Isaiah 26:3/

Ephesians 3:14-19/Proverbs 3:31/

Philippians 1:22,3:8,13,14,4:13

Deuteronomy 30:19/Revelation 22:16/Joshua 24:15/Mark 12:30

© 2010 Tyrone Keels

www.issues-of-life.com

You have just been reading from page 9 of a booklet entitled, "Principles of Victory in the Christian Life" Look for more pages from this booklet in future blogs...