I’ve been thinking a lot lately, and I’ve come to this conclusion: it’s hard to live a
Christian life in our contemporary Christian world. Another thought has been it’s not as
hard to live as a Christian in a lost world as it is to live a Christian life in a “churched”
world.

What do I mean?

I love Jesus, and I want to please him. I really do! Like I mentioned last time, we were
created for good works that we may walk in them. However, my world has become
smaller the more I surround myself with my so-called version of a Christian life. The one
that looks like being part of a church service on a Sunday morning, driving to meet my
Christian friends for coffee while amping up my Christian music on the way. Praising
God in public and reading my bible in private. Feeling a bit prideful when I’m able to
complete my morning devotional and receive revelation from God that I soon realize my
Christian friends didn’t, and I’m excited to share it in hopes that I’ll be able to fix their
problems!

I do this on repeat. Week after week. I do it with a misunderstood focus and misplaced
desire.

I hear messages from my favorite pastors like plans, purpose, passion, and pursuit of
Jesus, but it’s as if my life is filled with Christian accessories rather than God’s plans and
purposes, not to mention passion and pursuit.

But isn’t that what Christians do? We go to church, have Christian friends, read the
Bible and listen to Christian music, right?

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Yes, but that’s not all.

I’m reminded in Proverbs 16:25: There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is
the way to death.

This isn’t eternal death, but it is death to the plans and purposes God has for me.

I’ve gotten comfortable.

I’ve been living on bread alone and have forgotten that you can’t live on only bread but
we live on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

My prayer is for a desire to break through the facade of the Christian life I have created
and decorated with bumper stickers and decals and back to hearing every word that
comes from the mouth of God and obeying it!

That means…

Praying before and during church service to see hearts changed and miracles happen.
Not forgetting we carry the Holy Spirit and healing in Jesus’ name.

Actually, listening to the words and directing them to God EVERY time I put on worship
music!

Staying flexible and open to God’s voice if he directs me to do something on the way to
the coffee shop and be willing and able because I’m ready and full of His Spirit always!!

Being quick to listen while my friends tell me their troubles or their victories, and I’m only
concerned about what God is saying will be most useful in that moment and not trying to
show off with some well-meaning encouragement.

The Christian life is not for the faint-hearted. It’s an adventure. We are in the world but
we are not of it. We are in a battle and bringing the hope of the world wherever we go.
We are commissioned and purposed to bring the Gospel of peace in a hurt and dying
world. We are ambassadors for Christ. We have armor and weapons that are out of this
world, not just accessories to adorn a comfortable Christian life while we wait for Jesus
to return!

So I urge you as I do myself, to “awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ
will shine on you.”

Wake up!

Wake up from the path that seems right but leads to death, open your ears, and
walk in step with the voice of God so that Christ will shine on you and change the place
in the world, he’s stationed you with purpose, passion, and pursuit to reach those that
are lost, those that we pass on the way to church to do our “Christian thing”, and those
that are in desperate need of Jesus to shine on them, too!