8 Habits of Highly Effective Christians
Christians today are often mistakenly observed as being intolerant, and overbearing. Partially this is correct. Many take a stand on certain teachings but forget the focus of Christianity; love and humility. Jesus starts his famous Sermon on the Mount by presenting the ideals and traits he was looking for in His followers. Each beatitude contradicts society's typical way of life. Jesus even showed us how to live by each of these by Hid own life. If our goal is to be like Him, the Beatitudes will challenge the way we live each day.
Benjamin Franklin kept a journal throughout his life and recorded his time management technique. It's modeled by businesses and time managers worldwide and popularized by Stephan Covey in his book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. When Ben Franklin was asked about what was important to him his answer was to upkeep a virtuous life. To do this he would list out the common virtues and out to the side he would rank them in the order he felt that he was proficient. He would then pick the virtue at the bottom of the list and concentrate on that one for the day.
In the Life Application Bible (NIV, 1986), the graphic illustrates what I have dubbed 8 Habits of Highly Effective Christians.
Take time to look up and read the references listed and concentrate on the Beatitude that you are weakest in, then move to the next one similar to the method of Ben Franklin.
| Beatitude | Old Testament Anticipation | Clashing World values | God’s reward | How to Develop this attitude |
| Poor in spirit (5:3) | Isaiah 57:15 | Pride and personal independence | Kingdom of Heaven | James 4:7-10 |
| Mourning (5:4) | Isaiah 61:1,2 | Happiness at any cost | Comfort (2 Corinthians 1:4) | Psalm 51, James 4:7-10 |
| Meekness (5:5) | Psalm 37:5-11 | Power | Inherit the earth | Matthew 11:27-30 |
| Righteousness (5:6) | Isaiah 11:4, 5; 42:1-4 | Pursuing personal needs | Filled (satisfied) | John 16:5-11, Philippians 3:7-11 |
| Mercy (5:7) | Psalm 41:1 | Strength without feeling | Be shown mercy | Ephesians 5:1,2 |
| Pure in Heart (5:8) | Psalm 24:3, 4; 51:10 | Deception is acceptable | See God | 1 John 3:1-3 |
| Peacemaker (5:9) | Isaiah 57:18, 19; 60:17 | Personal peace is pursued without concern for the world’s chaos | Be called sons of God | Romans 12:9-21, Hebrews 12:10, 11 |
| Persecuted (5:10) | Isaiah 52:13, 53:12 | Weak commitments | Inherit the Kingdom of heaven | 2 Timothy 3:12 |
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