Everyday Christian Living
Philippians 3:14
I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
“I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (Philippians 3:12-14).
As Christians, we look forward to Heaven and the “sweet by and by,” but God intends for us to live in victory in the “nasty now and now.” (Quote adapted from Adrian Rogers, https://www.lwf.org/articles/how-to-gain-and-celebrate-victory-article)
Many years ago, in my early 20s, I accepted a role as a student director in a church near my home. The church was looking for someone to lead the student ministry and my life circumstances had brought me back home from seminary to care for my dad. This church had some of the sweetest and kindest people I have ever known. In fact, through social media, I have been able to keep up with many of these people. There was one particular husband and wife for which I have tremendous affection. Their names are Jack and Kay. They had long known my parents and had greatly influenced our family life. Getting reconnected with Jack and Kay was a genuine blessing. They are two of the most godly people I have ever known. Both deeply loved Jesus and deeply loved the church of Jesus. In my first few weeks there at the church, Jack and Kay gave me some advice I have never forgotten, even though it has been almost 40 years since then. They simply encouraged me to “start out like I want to finish.” They were challenging me to look ahead to what I wanted the ministry to look like when I left and then to start just that way. Now that is sound counsel!!!
It is not only great advice for someone starting a new job or career, it is also great counsel for living the life of Christ every day. Start each day the way you want to finish each day!
Would you consider a few questions today?
How do you begin each day with Jesus?
What does it mean to live every day wholeheartedly following Christ?
What does everyday Christian living look like?
Is it really possible to live every day in surrender to Jesus?
How do I live each day for Christ when each day has obstacles and challenges?
How can I live each day for Jesus in a world that has gone absolutely crazy?
In Philippians 2, the Apostle Paul made it clear that he had not achieved perfection. He emphatically tells us to press on each day for the calling of God. The apostle Paul makes it absolutely clear that the Christ life is a pursuit for every child of God and that the pursuit occurs each and every day!
That brings us back to our questions today: Can I live each day in pursuit of God, pressing into Him and striving to follow Christ in obedience each day? Let’s be clear, this is not an easy task. In fact, I really believe it is one of the greatest challenges you and I will ever face. Just consider the obstacles.
First of all, the world and its pagan philosophy and belief system stand totally against the Bible’s worldview. As Christians, we face the challenge of how to stand for Christ in the middle of a world whose operating system is completely opposite of Jesus.
Also, the flesh is literally at war against Christians each and every day. We are bombarded with things such as pride, lust, greed, and idolatry every day. Every day we are tempted to live in the power of the flesh and not in the power of the Holy Spirit. And then there is the enemy himself, Satan, and his army of demons that fight against us with evil schemes and strategies.
Living the Christ life is no easy task. But here is the good news: it is not impossible. In fact, through the resources God has provided to us, we can not only live the Christ life each day, we can actually live it in victory!
What resources you may ask? We have the Word of God, the presence and the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the mind of Christ, and the fellowship of other believers. And though everyday Christian living isn’t easy, it is possible.
This has been heavy on my mind for the last few weeks and so beginning today and for the next several weeks, we will be looking at some words and Scriptures that can help us live every day for Christ. I hope you will join me each Thursday!
Before you go today, would you take a few minutes and forward this to a friend or two? Send them the link or forward them to email. I suspect you know someone who needs encouragement today.
Philippians 1:21, “For me to live is Christ!”