Yes, we are to be discerning. Yes, we are to be Christlike. Yes, we are to have godly convictions and not be in love with this world. All that describes us as we we mature into the believers our Lord wants us to be. However, the path is not always a smooth one. No, part of this journey to the Celestial City takes us through severe tests of our faith as well as having to deal with people, governments, and even religious people who are under the control of our enemy….
Therefore, we must become those living sacrifices, Holy and acceptable to God (Romans 12:1) who live our lives as Spirit-led, obedient slaves δοῦλοι (douloi) of our Lord Jesus Christ. As we do this the Holy Spirit will transform us according to the will of God. (Romans 12:2). It is through this along with confessing and repenting of our sins (1 John 1:9) and taking everything to the Lord in prayer with a repentant heart by drawing near unto God so He will draw near to us (James 4:7) that we learn to to be humble and walk before our Lord as His abiding disciples (John 15). As we do this we will not try to hurry through our walk with our Lord, but will learn to wait as Charles Spurgeon shows us in todays Faith check Book.