The Christian life is difficult. The person who says otherwise hasn’t tried it. As difficult as it is, it can be much easier if you follow some simple rules. It is virtually impossible if you neglect them. Here are four of the most important rules for Christian living.
1. Read your Bible daily. Your spiritual life needs food—spiritual food. Where do you find this spiritual food? In the Bible, the word of God. The Bible is as essential to the Christian’s life as milk is to a baby’s life. We are to “desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). Read your Bible, study it, meditate on it, memorize it. A great percentage of the difficulties you will experience as a Christian can be traced to lack of Bible study and reading.
2. Learn the secret of prayer. Jesus said, “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1). You will either pray or faint (fall out) in Christian living. You cannot afford to be too busy to pray. A prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian.
3. Attend church regularly. John Wesley once said, “The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion.” Christianity is a religion of fellowship. Following Christ means practicing love, righteousness, and service in a way that can only be achieved through social relations. These social relationships are to be found in the church. Nothing can take the place of church attendance.
4. Share your faith with others. If you faithfully practice the first three rules, this one will take care of itself. A Christian should never be ashamed of his faith. You are to take your stand and let all those around you know that you are a Christian.
Try these rules. They work. Not only have I tested them in my own life, but I have also seen them tested and proved in the lives of hundreds of others. Keep them and they will make Christian living easier.