“I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members” (Romans 7:21-23).

These are the words written by Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, and these are truly the thoughts of every Christian who struggles to overcome sin. They are mine, and I just imagine yours, as well!

In the next chapter, Paul continues: “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit” (Romans 8:5).

Paul speaks of living a way of life that is either consumed by the ways of this world or by one that reflects walking in the Spirit of God. He addresses the classic challenge man has always faced—to choose right over wrong, obedience instead of disobedience and life rather than death!

Being called into Christianity means that we must learn to think differently. We are cautioned with this teaching from Proverbs 23:7: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…”

Our victory over sin begins through a change in the way we think. It is summed up in the new spiritual way of living we have embarked on: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5).

Paul recognized his battle to overcome sin and how he would achieve it—something for each of us to do as well:

“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from the body of death? I thank God–THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:24-25).

How should you and how do you react when another person hurts you and deeply offends you?

Fortunately for us, our private, most intimate thoughts in these kinds of situations rarely become public. Unfortunately, sometimes they do!

Wanting retribution, payback or even taking vengeance might be the all-too-human recourse. However, we who walk as Christians are enjoined by a much different provision: “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).

How did Jesus Christ apply and live by this command? Quite simply, He approached everything He did with an attitude of love—outgoing concern even for those who mistreated Him and then even caused His death. Furthermore, He left it to God—He submitted Himself completely to God’s perfect Will, to God’s promise of ultimate justice!

The Church of God was founded with procedures that govern the relationships we all have—whether among the body of believers or those who are on the outside. Ask yourself (please, make this very, very personal): “Am I taking from God what is His? Am I trying to get back at someone for something that they did to me? Is there a person or are there people to whom I would wish harm or even death?”

Consider once again Romans 12:17-21, but this time in its broader context:

“Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceable with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Therefore ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Just imagine that an example such as this might help someone to change, to be sorry, to right his or her way of living! Just think about the impact that godly love might have on someone who isn’t obedient to God. In fact, it is our opportunity to perhaps even assist God in that which is His ultimate goal for humankind:

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Are you a “good Christian”? Would you say of yourself that you are a “better Christian” than you were last year? How many of us are—day-in and day-out—living the “best Christian” life we can?

The time for us to engage ourselves in our calling is NOW! What we have already accomplished is written, and as to those things that lie ahead, here is what Jesus cautioned us to do, “‘Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble’” (Matthew 6:34).

Solomon, who is known for having great wisdom and knowledge, made this very astute recommendation: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going’” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

Paul teaches the Christian application of this principle: “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality” (Colossians 3:23-25).

We know, and we are convinced that if we do what is right in God’s sight—if we please Him, the rewards are and will continue to be boundless!

In chapters 12 and 13 of 1 Corinthians, Paul addresses how God has organized the Church of God. Beyond the offices and gifts that are a part of the church, Paul makes this challenge: “But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31). That way is summarized in verse 13 of chapter 13: “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

The Father and Jesus Christ are the greatest in their expression of love. In fact, so complete, so all encompassing and superlative are their ways in this respect, that we have this definition: “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16).

If our Christian lives are to attain the “best,” then let us consider and with heart-felt enthusiasm embrace Paul’s exhortation: “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14).

We know what Jude so passionately urged those of his day to do: “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (verse 3).

Paul wrote to Timothy, a younger minister under his guidance, and he, too, warned of destructive variances in beliefs that would arise within the Church of God:

“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:1-5).

Those who contend for the faith must “Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21; compare, also, 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 2 Timothy 1:13). This kind of verification is exemplified by the Bereans, who “…were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).

So far, so good.

However, there is another approach that arises, and that is one of being contentious. We are told to not engage in these kinds of controversies:

“But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned” (Titus 3:9-11).

Furthermore, we are instructed: “But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife” (2 Timothy 2:23). Paul identifies people who are “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7).

Why–what is the basis for such a contentious approach to the Truth of God?

Very simply, it is the approach of an unconverted, ungovernable mind. It is the attitude and practice that caused the children of Israel to stumble time and again during the period of the judges: “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25; compare, also, Deuteronomy 12:8; Judges 17:6; Proverbs 14:12).

We each must examine ourselves in these matters. Are we zealously striving to not only keep but to grow in the faith? Or have we become far too self-satisfied thinking that we know best and that we don’t need personal guidance in our calling? The answer will reveal whether we are contending or whether we are contentious!