Biblical Pictures of the Christian Life

 

Christian Life as a Journey

 

Gen17:1-2 (NIV) When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him andsaid, "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. 2 I will confirm my covenantbetween me and you and will greatly increase your numbers."

 

Deut5:32-33 (NIV) So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; donot turn asideto the right or to the left. 33 Walk in all the way that the LORD yourGod has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your daysin the land that you will possess.

 

Psa1:1 (NIV) Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

 

Prov5:5-6 (NIV) Her [adultressÕ] feet go down to death; her steps lead straight tothe grave.  6 She gives no thoughtto the way of life; her paths are crooked, but she knows it not.

 

Prov6:22-23 (NIV) When you walk, they [commands] will guide you; when you sleep, they willwatch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. 23 For these commandsare a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are theway to life,

 

Prov12:28 (NIV) In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality.

 

Prov16:17 (NIV) The highway of the upright avoids evil; he who guards his way guardshis life.

 

Jer21:8-9 (NIV) "Furthermore, tell the people, `This is what the LORD says:See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death. 9 Whoeverstays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goesout and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; he willescape with his life.

 

Micah4:5 (NIV) All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the LORD our Godfor ever and ever.

 

Rom4:12 (NIV) And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only arecircumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham hadbefore he was circumcised.

 

1 John1:6-7 (NIV) If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness,we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we havefellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us fromall sin.

Christian Life as a Race

 

Acts20:24 (NIV) However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finishthe race andcomplete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to thegospel of God's grace.

 

1Cor9:24-27 (NIV) Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only onegets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competesin the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will notlast; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do notrun like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached toothers, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

 

Gal2:2 (NIV) I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospelthat I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemedto be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain.

 

Gal5:7 (NIV) You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying thetruth?

 

2Tim4:7-8 (NIV) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Nowthere is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteousJudge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all whohave longed for his appearing.

 

Heb12:1-3 (NIV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud ofwitnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easilyentangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fixour eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy setbefore him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the righthand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition fromsinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

 

Hebr12:12 (NIV) Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.

13"Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, butrather healed.

 

Christian Life as Warfare

 

1Cor9:26-27 (NIV) Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached toothers, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

 

2Cor10:4-5 (NIV) The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary,they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments andevery pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we takecaptive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

 

Eph6:10-18 (NIV) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil'sschemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against therulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world andagainst the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put onthe full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able tostand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firmthen, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate ofrighteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness thatcomes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shieldof faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the wordof God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayersand requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for allthe saints.

 

1Tim1:18 (NIV) Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with theprophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fightthe good fight,

 

1Tim6:12 (NIV) Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life towhich you were called when you made your good confession in the presence ofmany witnesses.

 

2Tim4:7-8 (NIV) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, therighteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also toall who have longed for his appearing.

 

Christian Life as DayÕs Work

 

Job7:1-3 (NIV) "Does not man have hard service on earth? Are not hisdays like those of a hired man? 2 Like a slave longing for the evening shadows, or a hiredman waiting eagerly for his wages, 3 so I have been allotted months offutility, and nights of misery have been assigned to me.

 

Matt 20:1-16 Parable of the Vineyard Workers

 

John9:4 (NIV) As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Nightis coming, when no one can work.