Personal Note: I wrote the original Bible study What You Should Be Doing and Why in January of 2020. I intended that it would be a two-part study to help others learn and implement the direct commands of the Lord Jesus Christ. The original study ended with a challenge to myself and others to study what Jesus taught and to implement it daily. After four years of intensive study of the subject and attempts to fully implement His teachings in my own life, I have determined that it is impossible to summarize Jesus’ teachings in a second study. Consequently, I will expand the two-part series into as many installments as necessary to help others become better followers of Jesus Christ. If you have not done so, please read the first installment for context or reread it as a refresher to the subject.  

Over the past four years, I have had to reread the first installment several times to keep my mind on the challenge at hand. Christians are disciples (students) of Jesus Christ; therefore, we must learn from Jesus what we must do. My family and I have spent many weeks labeling the clear and specific commands of Jesus in our Bibles as a response to the challenge of implementing Jesus’ teachings in our lives. I encourage you to do the same as it will help you to be able to find those commands with ease and to share with others. Lastly, please pray and ask God to show what His expectations are for your life before reading this study! 

-Bryant  

Reading through Matthew’s Gospel Account 

For the purpose of this Bible study series, we will focus on Matthew’s gospel account due to its’ comprehensive and exhaustive material. Nevertheless, we will reference Mark and Luke to emphasize certain details when necessary. I encourage you to read all companion verses even if I do not reference them. Remember, it is your duty to do your own due diligence when studying the word of God.  Additionally, do not take my word for anything. Though I have spent many hours studying the Bible, I am not perfect. I invite you to use Scripture to correct me if I display any misunderstanding in the text below.  

Spread Light Rather Than Darkness 

One of the very first explicit commands of Jesus Christ was to, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16) Over the years, I have tried very hard to internalize this command. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12) If you are truly a Christian (a follower of Christ) then you cannot and must not walk in darkness! Not only did Jesus refer to Himself as the light of the world, but He also referred to His early disciples as the light of the world (see Matt. 5:14). This is a tremendous description of Jesus’s disciples. Understand this point: Christians are to be the light of the world because we follow Jesus Christ who is the light of the world. We cannot claim to follow His lead if we are walking in darkness!  

“… A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵ Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.” (Matt. 5:14-15) 

If you are truly following the example of Jesus Christ, then your light cannot be hidden. The light that is in you will shine before men. How???? Reread Matt. 5:16. Jesus says that men may see your good works. Your light will shine before men through your good works. This does not mean to go out of your way to be seen doing good as the hypocrites of Jesus’ era (see Matt. 6:1-7).  

Be sure to look up the definition of the word works in the Greek! Many will tell you that there are no works to do, but this is a gross misinterpretation of Paul’s encouragement to the Ephesians. Read Ephesians chapter 2 (the whole chapter). The context of this chapter is being saved from sins. Yes, it is true that good works do not save you from sin. It is the grace and mercy of God that provides a covering from sin. Now read the following:  

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:8-10)  

Notice that this is a complete sentence and a complete thought. Many separate verse 10 from the others because it does not support their doctrine. We are God’s workmanship. We are created as new men through faith in Jesus Christ unto good works. These good works are the same good works God ordained for us to walk in from the beginning!!! Faith in Jesus Christ is not mere belief in Him. It is believing and keeping His doctrine which the Father sent Him to speak (read John 12:47-50). Jesus came to give us the doctrine of the Father. He came to show us how the Father expects us to live. This is the purpose of this series; to help others understand and implement the commands of Jesus Christ, who spoke what the Father told Him to speak!! 

Jesus told us to do good works so that men would glorify our Father in heaven. This is not about self-glorification. It is about pointing others to the Father. If God has changed you into a new man, the world should be able to see it through your conduct! Does the world see you as a new man in Christ Jesus, or do you still display the old man? This is a serious question and must not be ignored. Rest assured that men will not glorify the Father if we are participating in evil works. If you desire for others to glorify God the Father, you must do good works in His name. You must keep His doctrine which is opposite to the course of this world.  

Let me encourage you not to come up with your own set of good works to do. This is unnecessary and may lead you off course. Remember Eph 2:10 tells us that the good works we are to walk in were before ordained. This means God the Father already has a prescribed plan for good works we must walk in. Most of these good works are about character rather than being a checklist of actions to complete. This series will cover those things that Jesus came to show us that we must do.  

Are You a Hiding Christian? 

I want to return to the point about being a city on a hill or a candle. Jesus says these things are unable to be hid. If there is light in you through the Lord Jesus Christ, it cannot be hidden!!! Truly analyze your behavior. Do you hide the light that God has given you? Do you go out of your way not to stand out or be seen as different? If you do, I want to encourage you to STOP DOING THAT TODAY, RIGHT NOW!!! It is a dangerous game to know the truth but behave contrary to it (see II Pet. 2:20-22).  

Do you suppose that God has lit your candle so He can hide you under a bushel? No matter how dark a place is, a candle will be seen so long as it is not hidden. This is the life of a Christian, to be an unimpeded light in a world of darkness just as Jesus Christ was (John 3:19-21). 

Read the following verses for inspiration and motivation: Eph 5:8-10; Rom. 13:12-13; and I John 1:5-7. 

It is impossible to shine and not be seen. If you truly believe the word of God, then it should manifest in your behavior. If the light of Jesus Christ is in you, it will shine bright despite the darkness of this world! 

Good Works You Should Be Known For! 

In this section of our study, we will discuss the good works every Christian should be known for. The easiest place to start from is God’s moral law. Read Ex. 20:1-17. 

Are you known for having no other God besides the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Are you known for honoring God at all times, even in the face of death? Daniel was known for his relationship with God (see Dan. 2:47). Notice the praise Nebuchadnezzar gave to God because of Daniel. Also read Dan. 3:26,28-29 where the story of three faithful and obedient men of God ends in the glorifying of the most high God.  

Are you known for using God’s name faithfully rather than using His name in empty ways? This is the third commandment, and it includes calling yourself one of His but behaving contrary to how He expects His children to be!!! Read Luke 6:46 and Matt. 15:7-9. Using God’s name in these ways is a serious issue. Christians need to be careful not to dishonor God by using His name to lie, deceive, or teach doctrine that does not originate from God. Neither should we call Him our Lord if we refuse to do what He has commanded. We should be known for using God’s name to promote that which is good!!! 

Are you known for keeping God’s sabbaths? This issue is simple, but some want to make it complex. God made the sabbath for man (Mark 2:27-28). If the sabbath was made for us, why wouldn’t we keep it? Why would we want to change it to another day? Ex.20:9-11 shows that the sabbath points us to creation and it is a day of rest for a man, his household, employees, animals, and foreigners who do not know God.  

Additionally, God has annual sabbaths known as feasts described in Leviticus 23. Verse 4 says, “These are the feasts of the Lord” not the feasts of the Jews despite what is commonly taught. There are verses that prove that these feasts will be kept during Jesus’ millennial reign (see Zech. 14:16-18; Ezek. 45). The cited verses are prophecies for the future and show that the feasts appointed by God will be observed.  

Though the topic is taboo to some, know that the sabbaths of God are a perpetual covenant for Israel and Gentiles who are grafted into the nation of Israel if they have joined the faith and knowledge of the true living God (see Ex. 31:12-17 and Rom. 11). The sabbaths are a sign that the people of God have been separated from the world, set aside to be holy. The sabbaths are to be observed to honor the One who created them.  

Are you known for honoring your parents? This is another simple way of letting your light shine that many ignore. The world puts its parents into nursing homes to abdicate the responsibility of reciprocating the care given to them in their youth. Others weren’t raised in functional loving homes, so they feel no need to show love to their unloving parents. This is not the plan of God! God intended families to support one another until death and make provisions in case of death. Even the Lord Jesus Christ made sure that His mother would be provided for before His crucifixion (John 19:25-27). Also read what the apostles wrote about taking care of elderly women (I Tim. 5: 3-4, 16; James 1:27). No matter what your upbringing was, you should provide for your parents if it is in your power to do so. Do not let past wrongs stop you from doing that which is right in the eyes of God. May be your service to your parents can be the catalyst to bringing them into a relationship with God the Father. 

The word of God also speaks against hitting or cursing your parents (Ex. 21:15,17). The trend of modern society has been to increasingly dishonor our parents as each generation arises. Our society has promoted rebellion amongst the youth and protects degenerate behavior through legislation. This is opposite to the culture God prescribed for His people. The community is supposed to be against the dishonoring of parents as detailed in Deut. 21:18-21.  

To be clear, I am not advocating for the execution of rebellious youth. What I am advocating is that you (who will always be a child of your parents no matter your age) conduct yourself in an honorable fashion towards your parents rather than behave in a manner worthy of death. Be known for respecting your parents. Be known for providing and sacrificing for your elderly parents. Let men see the light of God in your actions towards your parents and be willing to explain why you do it!  

Obviously, these types of questions can be applied to all the ten commandments. Are you known for not murdering, which includes not being angry with someone without cause (Matt. 5:21-22)? Are you known for respecting the marriages of others? Are you known for earning what you have rather than taking? Are you known for your honesty? Are you known for having reasonable desires that have nothing to do with what others have? 

These are the things a Christian should be known for. Christians are supposed be completely different from the world. This is not for the sake of being different. Christians are to be different because God’s prescription for life is vastly different from the way the world lives!!! Allow me to provide one more word of caution: Be careful not to develop an attitude of superiority towards those who are not actively trying to keep God’s law. The goal is to point others to God’s better way of living and not to become arrogant for living that better way. 

You can start letting your light shine before men today. Be known for keeping God’s commandments the way He expects us to keep them. Do not allow yourself to merely be known for being a nice person. Be known for being a follower of Jesus Christ and a child of God the Father!!! 

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (I Pet. 2:9)