This blog post is aimed at helping Catholics – people like me – have a closer walk with Jesus, thus becoming better Christians.
As in any subject, we need to spend time and learn. We can gain more from the gym if we learn and are guided by a good gym instructor.
Hearing from Jesus and walking in obedience will help in the process of having a more fulfilling Christian life. Often we do not have, as we do not ask. With a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, we can experience a more fulfilling life.
Question 1) What is the 1st key that transforms a Catholic into a better Christian?
Question 2) Which 2nd key transforms a Catholic into a better Christian?
Question 3) Which is the 3rd key that transforms a Catholic into a better Christian?
Question 4) What is the fourth Key that transforms a Catholic into a better Christian?
Question 5) Why are Catholics important to Christians in a unique way?
Question 6) Why am I qualified to write this blog on transforming Catholics into better Christians?
Answer 1) The first key is the first of the Ten Commandments – given by God through Moses. Here it is in blue font as given in the Bible.
And God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:1-6)
The above is from the Old Testament. In the New Testament, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6 NKJV)
From both the verses, only Jesus Christ is worthy to be called our Lord and Saviour. And through Jesus Christ, we come to the Father God. Read both the verses a couple of times so that this sinks in deeply. Also, have a short word of prayer.
Lord Jesus, I desire a closer walk with you.
I want to change.
I am dissatisfied with my walk with You, Lord Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
I want to be a new creation in Jesus Christ.
I want to walk closer to You and hear your heartbeat.
I desire that the light of your Living Word shine within me.
I ask that every kind of darkness be expelled from within me.
I reject every lie and uproot from my mind in Jesus name.
Let the Truth of your Word replace every lie within me.
In Jesus’ name I ask, believing that I receive it totally. Amen.
Daily reading the Holy Bible with hope and expectation of an encounter with Jesus. For this, start the Bible reading with a prayer (link given below). Your expectation and hope open a door of possibilities.
Often, many read the Bible to complete a daily task. Only a few read the Bible with the expectation of getting a specific message and instruction for the day.
These changes do not come easy. After a few days of going to the gym, many wish to stop because of the pains and aches. Only if you persevere beyond this point will you reach a point of benefit.
Why should you read the Holy Bible daily?
Jesus is the Word become flesh. This is mentioned in the Gospel of John
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. ( John 1:14)
Continuing from the first answer. Jesus is the only Way, the Truth, and the Life to the Father. And the best option to know Jesus Christ is to read and think – read and ponder on the Word of God – thus read and think about the Holy Bible.
Here are a few blog posts on the Bible, the power of the Bible, reading the Gospels often, and understanding the Bible. If you are prompted, do read them.
Prayer before reading the Bible
Pray and seek God’s Wisdom, Grace, and Guidance. Pray, pause, and then read the Bible. This prayer is uniquely powerful as it is based on the scripture.
The Holy Bible’s Unparalleled Uniqueness and Power
The Bible is a treasure trove for those who live life using it. It has great power because it is inspired by the Holy Spirit. Read more
Why should you be reading the Gospels again and again?
These books are foundational in our Christian faith. Having a good understanding of these books is important before gaining an understanding of the other books.
Reading the Bible is like milk for a baby. By reading, we get to know Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, the very foundation of Christian faith.
Why is understanding the Bible essential?
Understanding the Bible, we step into the inheritance of Jesus Christ by His cross and His resurrection. The lies of the enemies can be rejected.
Jesus Christ is with us. He is in me, and I am in Him.
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. (John 15:4)
When we have the Word of God abide in us, by daily prayerfully reading the scripture, by daily thinking on it through the day, we can have a daily conversational relationship with Jesus Christ. Eagerly desire it, and you will start experiencing this shift.
Many of us have had six days of ignoring Jesus Christ, neither recognizing His presence nor going to the extent of ignoring Him and displeasing Him. Recognizing Jesus only when we visit a Church is hypocrisy!
We would never do so to our friends or relations. Why dare we do so to Jesus Christ?
In a deep relationship with Jesus, you will experience Jesus guiding and leading you. Just as He was with the disciples in the New Testament, He is with us.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
Right from strategies for studies to marketing strategies, farming ideas, the Lord can guide you in any matter.
I have experienced supernatural grace when I prepared for meetings – He led me to prepare on specific topics, which were discussed and were useful for the meetings. My wife bought a specific gift, which was the very same gift the child had desired very much. Instances abound when you are led to make decisions, and even led to help and guide and spend time with specific people, elders, and young.
These can lead to your farm yielding when it’s drought for farms around you. Even with less experience, you get to deliver a creative and powerful solution.
We know that the lady with the issue of blood was sick for many years, and all her money was spent on treatment and meeting many physicians, before she was healed by touching the hem of the garment of Jesus.
One touch and she was healed completely instantly.
The disciples healed a man lame from birth – he was lying near the entrance of the temple.
Catholics number 1.4 billion. Christians number 2.8 billion. Very clearly, the Catholics are the single largest denomination among Christians. They account for nearly 50% of the worldwide Christians. Catholics are the single largest Christian denomination in the World.
I am a young catholic, with six decades of life experience behind me. As a school boy, I used to greet the Pope on his birthday. On two occasions, I sent birthday wishes to them. They responded – their secretaries. In those days, written communication was through birthday cards placed inside covers with postal stamps of high value, as the cover was to be physically transported from Kochi in India to Vatican City in Italy. It would take a week or two of journey by flight or by sea. The thrill and joy of receiving these covers from faraway cities in distant continents was much. It was like a celebration of possibilities. Using the postal communication in those days was also an exercise of experiencing “patience,” – which is mentioned in Galatians 5:22 as a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Hope and faith – Christian virtues were growing richly in my life garden as I used the postal service of India and many other nations through which the cover was physically transported.
God was a rewarded of my growing these Christian virtues and the fruit of the Holy Spirit within me. After I had waited patiently without losing hope and having faith that one day I would receive a response. After six weeks or more, I received a reply. The reply, since it was from the office of the Pope, excited my class teacher. He encouraged me and got it posted on the school notice board when I was in the sixth standard. I received the glory. There was pride in me. Today, I would have given more of the glory to God, who gave me the thoughts to write in the first place.
I have visited the Vatican – thanks to my Chittappan, who was the ambassador to Italy. My firstborn was also baptised at the Vatican church. I used to have a secret desire to become a Pope. But God, in His loving kindness and tender mercies, enabled my namesake to become the Pope. Something that was not imaginable earlier took place when a man named Francis was chosen to become the Pope. So the Heavenly Father, in His love and great humour, literally gave me my desire. I felt like becoming the Pope, without having the burden to carry.
I have many distinguished Catholic priests and nuns among my relatives.
I have a Catholic heritage of six decades and many unique Catholic life experiences.
This blog will be updated every fortnight.
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