Becoming a Joy Fulfilled Christian in the Twenty-First Century and Beyond

Membership has its Privileges!
A popular phrase that many fraternities, sororities and other social organizations often say is “Membership has its Privileges”. That saying is quite true and is applicable to the Christianity. So what are the privileges or benefits that are available to Christians and how may a Christian appropriate these privileges or benefits? Are the benefits available to all Christians or just to some, and are the benefits equitably available to all Christians regardless of age, gender, nationality, length of time (years, months, weeks, days) of being a Christian? Then are there responsibilities, duties and stewardship that are expected or demanded of Christians? These questions and others are explored in this book. If you join a fraternity or a sorority or any social or professional organization and all you do is simply join without participating in its activities, are you really an active member of that organization? Supposed you join the organization and you meet your monthly or annual financial obligations – you are in good financial standing, but you are not involved in any of the events of your organization that you ‘love so dearly’, Are you entitled to all the benefits that your beloved organization offers? So what about the most important ‘organization’ on earth –Christianity – are there obligations that a Christian must comply with in order to receive optimum privileges and benefits of being a Christian? We will reflect on these thoughts as you read this book.
The main focus and first priority of a Christian is on receiving eternal life, and there is absolutely no substitute on such focus and priority. However, a Christian is in the world until he or she dies and/or until Jesus comes again and receives him/her to Himself. So how does a Christian live in this world, with the available privileges, benefits, responsibilities and duties applicable to a Christian in this physical life? Is there a model for the Christian lifestyle? Are there teachings in the Bible that may guide a Christian in living a purposeful, joy fulfilled and peaceful life on this earth?
Jesus says that “I am come that they (those who believe in Him –Christians -- might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10: 10). Yet many Christians seem and appear to be sad or joyless wherever and whenever you see them. Why is that so? There may be many plausible, but unacceptable reasons that I will explore and debunk, in an effort to assist Christians in living joyfully on this earth. God wants the best for those of us who have accepted His precious gift. He wants us to take full advantage of that gift; not like some people who sometimes do not open gifts for months or even years, perhaps because they do not want to tear and destroy the beautiful wrapping paper, which may be more beautiful than the gift inside. Luckily for you and me, who might like to keep the gift with the wrapping in tack, God’s gift did not come in a pretty package. The gift is the package. He came wrapped in swaddling clothes, and later stretched out on a cross and wrapped in grave clothes. So it is the gift that is important and accessible to all, not the wrapping paper, or the swaddling clothes. Christians have received and accepted the marvelous gift, however, they must use it all to get its full benefits while living on this earth. The interesting thing about this special gift of God is that He is sufficient to share with the entire world, and He cannot get used up. The more you share this gift the more it is used and share, the more there is to use and to share. Christians are required to receive, accept, use, and share the gift of God -called Jesus Christ- in order to gain full benefits of being a Christian. Membership does have its privileges, benefits, responsibilities, and duties, especially membership in the Christian Faith –Membership in the Body of Christ. Jesus Christ has provided the formula for becoming a Joyful Christian: SeekingàReceivingàAcceptingàand Sharing the Gift, which increases in all dimensions and impact as the Gift [He] is employed and shared. Let us explore together, on the following pages, how Christians may appropriate the privileges and benefits appertaining to their membership, and meet their obligations pertaining to these privileges and benefits. I believe that the message contained in this little book with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit is about to transform your life. You will be the joyful person who God want you to be.
It interests me to notice when I attend a church service that there are always a few people who appear joyful, while many others, if not most, seem so sad. Similarly, often times when I meet Christians on the street, at the shopping mall or at the work place, some appear joyful, while many appear to be so sad or joyless. Perhaps some Christians do not understand that being a Christian is a special privilege that provides them with access to the joy that only God gives. I am afraid that many Christians might be saving/banking their joy until they get to heaven. Well, I have good news for Christians who are storing away their joy, and those who might not be accessing all their joy. The good news is that there is plenty of joy where your joy comes from – God - so there is no need to hoard it or store it or limit the amount you take and use, or to have any hesitation in sharing it. In fact, the more you use or share you joy, the more there is to access and use; and the more you share it with others, the more there is to share.