As James 2:26 tells us, faith without works is dead – part of living the Christian life is obeying God. God has given us many commands in His Word. Not only are there specific commands for all Christians, but God also promises to give Christians His Holy Spirit to guide us not only through various difficult experiences in our lives, but additionally in following God’s will.

God has commanded that everyone love Him first and foremost, above all things. He is our reason for living; only His Grace can and does save us from Hell. Second in importance to loving God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, is loving your neighbor as yourself. These two commandments, or “calls” are the ones to which I have failed to respond properly the most. I am constantly putting other things before God. Whether it’s because I get “too busy” or have “more important” things to do, putting other things before my relationship with God is wrong and I do it far too often. As far as loving my neighbor as myself, there’s no way I could say that. I have a hard enough time loving my own family as I should, let alone all the rest of the world.

Another command God has given to all Christians is to Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation (Mark 16:15). Although I haven’t gone to any other country to share the gospel, I have done a few things to answer this call (but not nearly enough – there are hundreds of lost people I’m around every day of school to whom I rarely formally witness). I have attended SEMP (Students Equipped to Minister to Peers), where I learned about evangelizing, specifically, to my friends. In addition, we went out on the streets of Chicago a few days and witnessed to people who were out and about doing their own thing. In my public school, we frequently address a variety of moral issues. These class discussions have given me great opportunities to share my Bible-based beliefs with my classmates. Also in school, I try and bring God and/or the Bible into most, if not all of the papers I write. This gives me a great opportunity to practice my writing and complete an assignment, but also to be a witness to my teachers. I’ve really seen God help me with both the essays and the discussions; He’s always right there beside me to give me the words to say. I’ve also put many of these essays, as well as other documents discussing my faith, on my personal web site, for the entire world to see. I’ve gotten many compliments from Christians, and I’m sure God is using the references to and quotes from His Word to change people’s lives.

Another way I have preached the Gospel to all the world – or at least in this area – is my participation in the Railroad Days parade and the March for Jesus events. In these events we sang songs of praise, passed out literature, and held banners proclaiming the Gospel. When I was younger I stood outside an abortion clinic with my family, praying that God would close its doors. I remember also holding a sign boldly proclaiming, “He Is Lord.” Although we got many dirty looks, God answered our prayers and closed the place a few years ago.

The Bible also commands Christians to correct one another when there is something in their lives (or beliefs) that doesn’t add up to Scripture. After September 11, my friend and I became disgusted with all the people who went around saying that we Christians worship the same god Muslims worship, which is completely untrue. We began writing a newsletter, called Underground Hope, that addresses this issue and other similar issues plaguing Christianity these days. God has used the ability to write (that He gave me) and my skill with computers (which He also gave me – Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above – James 1:17, including all our talents) to write the newsletter and to set up a web site for it, so God can use it to touch people throughout the world. All these things I’ve done for God are nothing compared to what He did for me. Without Him, I’d be as lost as any unbeliever out there. I have only accomplished these things because of God’s work in me, and I hope that all Christians remember that without God’s work in their lives, His Word is foolishness (Ephesians 1). As a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven in Revelation 19:1 says, Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. Praise be to God for what He has done and has yet to do in my life.