Kingdom Minded

What does it take to get to heaven? I recently got into huge debate with someone that vigorously and whole heartily stood by Romans 10:9 (NIV), which says If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved and she was convinced she didn't have to change her ways. Afterward I had to do some confessing and repenting for what I said to her, the word is true, so if you confess and believe you are saved. Plus it's God not me that decides who has truly been saved, but my point was that salvation is a gift that keeps on giving. 

With true salvation we grow in our faith and spiritual walk, which gives us a boldness in God, we will have a new heart, a heart to please God, and a renewed mind. When we are saved, we become a new creature in the Lord. We now have new desires, new ambitions, a new home, new gifts and a new love for God and for fellow man. God's will for Christians is to become more and more like Jesus Christ. That happens by becoming immersed into doing right by God and to live and seek His approval. When we get baptized we become immersed into water to symbolize a death, burial and resurrection. After baptism we become babies in Christ, like babies we have to learn and be taught what is God's will and how to live in it. As we read the bible more, pray more, fellowship with others who are living according to the word, we grow more and more like Jesus. 

Everyday will be an adventure to seek ways to be of service to God, which would certainly please Him. With salvation comes a hunger to seek after God and know more about Him. That hunger would cause us also to seek after the things God cares about. Those who are saved have answered God's call to be saved. (Romans 8:28) 
2 Peter 1:3, says His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Consider also 
1 Thessalonians 1:5 which says, The gospel came to us not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. 

Just getting into Heaven shouldn't be our only goal, God's plan for our salvation is to deliver us from sin. John 3:16-17, says that God's love for us is so great that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 
1 Timothy 2:4, says He wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. As stated in Romans 12:1-2, we must present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship. We need not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of our mind, that by testing we may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

Even though good works won't get you into heaven, we should look to do good, so we store up treasures in heaven, (Matthew 6:20)(Matthew 10:41) When we live sacrificially for God or serve Him by serving the body of Christ, we store up treasure in heaven. We have to be careful of our motive. Those that do go works for praise here on earth have already received their reward. So whatever you do, do it for the uplifting and glorifying of God.

Attitude of Gratitude

Having an attitude of gratitude will keep us in a grateful frame of mind. Being thankful and praising God even in the midst of a struggle sends God a message that we trust and have faith that He is sovereign (head, leader, supreme) in our lives. 

Praising God in the midst of struggle can be a difficult task, but just like Jesus laid down his life to save me, I will lay down my frustrations, lack and fears to praise God for who He is. Proverbs 16:9 says that God establishes our steps. I'm grateful for being chosen and called into the family of faith. Ephesians 1:11-12, says In God we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 

Ephesians 1:4-5 ESV, says Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, I'm grateful that no matter what is going in my life, God is always there ready to fulfill a good work through me. Romans 8:28 ESV, says And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 

I'm grateful that where I am weak, broken, lost or confused, God is my strength, my rock, my refuge, my fortress and my redeemer. Thank God, He is my everything. Adopting an attitude of gratitude will condition me to exercise my spiritual fruits, which are having love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and be open to forgiving those who have sinned against me, like God has forgiven me of my sins.  Having an attitude of gratitude will also keep me from focusing on the negative, so I can constantly seek God to receive direction and instruction.  

To God be the glory, Amen.