What does it mean to live the Christian life? What does the Christian life look like? If you walk along a busy city street Christians are not easily identified. They look just like everyone else. Or do they? In this podcast, we explore what it means to be a Christian, what we have to “give up” to become a Christian and how the blessings overwhelming triumph any perceived restrictions.
In this three-part series we will discuss:
- What does this mean
- What does this do for us
- What does this mean for the rest of our life?
Thanks to our sponsors, Like Arrows – a wonderful movie on family life.
For a Christian life has meaning, it has a purpose and all that happens in life is not wasted. The first step is often some type of profession of faith in God. As I’ve discussed many times we can’t have faith, or love a God we don’t know. God is amazing and He reveals Himself to us. We can’t possibly know anything about God unless He shows us!
Think about that.
John 15:16
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
Somewhere along the line, whether it was a faith passed down by our parents (for me I say thank-you mom and dad it is because of your faith, and love of God that I had a hunger in me at a very young age to know more about God.) For others who grew up without faith, it was a profession of faith, perhaps accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior at a church or with a friend. I did what I considered a re-acceptance of God with a college friend and prayed a salvation prayer with her. In essence I recanted past sins and asked the Lord into my heart in a deeper way, pledging fidelity to Him, and Him alone. Some people call it being “born again.” A personal relationship with God.
John 3:1-21
I believe that God calls us and we have the ability to answer the call with a yes – or a no. And that is in essence what we are called to do – as my pastor says, “Make the fundamental option.” It is fundamental in our walk with God it is fundamental in how we live our lives it is fundamental in everything we do.
We can do nothing without God. Just try it. We long for peace in our hearts and we long for a happy life but a life devoid of God even if you have all the material things of this world do not bring you happiness. We often look at what we don’t have instead of looking at what we do have. (Think about this, pray about this!)
God said we can do nothing without Him (John 15:16)
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
This passage talks about bearing good fruit that will last – we can not do this apart from him.
John 15:5
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.
It doesn’t say – you can not do much, it says you can do nothing apart from me. Is this restrictive? Truly for those who believe it is very freeing – which I will discuss more in the next session on what Christianity DOES for us…
Friends, each day is new – each day lived as a Christian is an experience of walking not alone but with God alongside us—He will never leave us.
As a Christian spend time with Him each day, allow God to reveal Himself. We will never fully understand as we are limited with human intellect but we can and should allow the Lord to fill us each day with every good thing relying on Him and asking His help daily.
As my pastor often teaches us to pray – Lord, I love You as You Know Yourself to Be— not as I understand but as he reveal…
Let’s pray:
Dear Lord, I do pray to love you as You Know Yourself to Be – it is difficult to comprehend all that it means to be a Christian, and in my brokenness I am limited but I do not want to limit your providence and will in my life. Lord I profess you as Lord and Savior as the great, I AM – I ask that you come into my life in a deeper way, each day. I give you permission to reside in my heart, in my will, in my life. I thank you for calling me, and allowing me to bear good fruit that will last, and doing this with You. I never want to be apart from you Lord—please Be a part of my life. I pray for those in my life who are apart from you, those who have wounded me, and those I still need to forgive. I ask for the grace to be healed of any injustices or illness and I pray this in Jesus Name. Amen.
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