7 Steps to See Good Days, part seven

I Peter 4:16—"Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God."

We're going to take our stand and let our colors be seen. We're going to run our flag up high. We are not lowering the flag to halfmast; we are putting it up to the top. And if we suffer, we will praise God for the privilege of bearing the reproach of Christ—like Moses did in Hebrews 11:26.

The Christian life is a good life. Glean the most you can from it. Get as much as you can from it. Feed yourself upon it, and God will lead you and bless you right to the very end of your sojourn.

—This concludes our 7 part series on How to See Good Days. These posts were used with permission from the Sword of the Lord newspaper and condensed for this series. Author, Dr. Harold Sightler.

7 Steps to See Good Days, part six

I Peter 4:16—"Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed."

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek"—Romans 1:16.

If any person suffer as a believer, let him not be ashamed.

If they are heaping persecution on you, saying all manner of evil about you, don't be ashamed.

If you suffer as a Christian for doing the right thing, believing the right Gospel, serving God in an acceptable manner, then don't be ashamed.

When you live right, dress right and walk right, you will suffer. And if you suffer as a Christian, don't be ashamed. That's how you can love life and see good days.

7 Steps to See Good Days, part five

Not all of us minister in the same way. Some give themselves to evangelism, others to Bible study, others to missions and to other aspects of the ministry. It is wise to present the whole counsel of the Lord in a well-rounded ministry.

The text implies that we are given different abilities and different degrees of ability. I am to be satisfied with whatever my ability is or whatever degree of that ability I may possess.

If you're complaining and finding fault and are a bit jealous of the blessing of God upon another, then read I Peter 4:11.

If any man will love life and see good days, if he labor, if he 'minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth.' When God gives that ability, learn to take what He allows you to be and be happy with that.

7 Steps to See Good Days, part four

Oracles of God are Bible terms, Bible statements, Bible quotations. The Proverbs are the oracles of God. Many New Testament texts contain the oracles of God. When you speak, quote the oracles of God. 

You will be surprised what that will do when you fellowship with people. We live in a generation given over to profanity and obscene language. We need somebody in the crowd to say, "Praise God!"

7 Steps to See Good Days, part three

Let the man who would "love life, and see good days...seek peace." As much as in you is, be at peace with all men (Romans 12:18).

Don't have enemies. Somebody may not appreciate you and may be your enemy—but don't you be the enemy of anybody. Those who despitefully use you—we are commanded to pray for them.

Be at peace with every man—as much as possible, even your enemy. Then 'ensue it'. Make it a life policy as a peacemaker. Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God" (Matthew 5:9).

I didn't say compromisers. God's people aren't to compromise, but we are to stand, especially when truth is at stake. Be peace-loving people.

7 Steps on How to See Good Days, part two

"Let him eschew evil, and do good..."—I Peter 3:11a

There are the positive and the negative in one short sentence.

Step 2 to see good days:

Let him despise evil; let him avoid evil; let him separate from evil and start out on the positive side of the ledger doing good—not to be saved, but because he's saved.

Avoid evil communications. Avoid fornicators. Have no fellowship with the wicked, the ungodly. Have no fellowship with the one who doesn't believe this Bible. Then, set out to do good.

Find something to do for somebody. Carry a widow a pounding of food. Go visit one who may have nobody else. Every community has scores of shut-ins. Do good to them. Set out to do good.