“Heed instruction and be wise, And do not neglect it.” – Proverbs 8:33
Here are 5 New Testament commands that we, as Christians ought to pay special attention to never neglect.
1. The WORD
“So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.” -Acts 6:2
The minister must be careful to balance “the work “ of the ministry with the “ministry of the word”. In the same way, every Christian must find the balance of work, family life, and service to God, with personal study time in the word. The word of God is a lifeline to relationship with God.
2. The GIFTS of the Spirit
“Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.” – 1 Timothy 4:14
God gives divine enablements by the Holy Spirit to every believer. (For further study on that see 1 corinthians 12, Romans 12) I think what Paul was instructing Timothy to do, was to “keep on keeping on”. Remember that Timothy was both young and timid, and he, like many of us, needed to be constantly encouraged to fight beyond personal limitations such as timidity, to employ ourselves within the scope of God’s gifting, to serve Him.
3. The SALVATION of God
“…how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard…” -Hebrews 2:3
Of course, this is the primary thing, isn’t it? We must first be saved, and not only to be saved, but to live saved. Someone described salvation as “a past work that has both present and future consequences”. “Not neglecting salvation” includes frequent looking back to the cross of Calvary, where sin was atoned for, where it was removed and it’s power to condemn was satisfied in Jesus. It means living today in the light of the truth that we are set free -free to not sin, free to serve God, free to love with His love… oh the depths of this position is unfathomable, -you will never come to the end of it. Saint, do not neglect living in the light of the cross! But then we also look forward to what salvation will, when it’s course is complete, yield- resurrection life!
4. The LOVING SERVICE to others in His name
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” -Hebrews 13:2
Here is one of the more practical things -kindness, compassion, this is the fruit of the Spirit. Remember that Jesus extended kindness to you while you were a stranger to Him, a stranger to His word and His ways. It was, after all “His kindness that (led) you to repentance.” God would have us keep in mind, when we serve others, we are serving Him. “For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.” – Matthew 25:35-36
5. The GOOD WORKS & sacrificial GIVING, as is fitting
“And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
-Hebrews 13:16
Doing good and sharing. Sometimes we are good at one or the other, but Jesus command us to do both. Do good. Help others, serve others, follow His example, He, who laid down His own life -for others! Give. Give to God, give to His work on the earth. What a special obligation we in the Western world have… “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! -James 5:1-3
“Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.” -Malachi 3:8-10
#KEYSTOLIFE
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