Living the Christian Life (Part 1)

November 14, 2021 Cyndi

As Christians, we want to be ‘Christian’. Sometimes, without really knowing what that is. We try our best (and sometimes don’t). We make resolutions for ourselves and believe we will stick to them. But then our daily business distracts us, our children draw all our energy out of us, work takes our full attention, worries cloud our minds, carelessness steps in, or laziness and tiredness slowly creep in. Before we blink our eyes again, we have forgotten all our good intentions and ended up merely existing instead of living the Christian Life.

How can we prevent this from happening? Well, to find out, we must first pause and ponder about what living the Christian life is. Because without knowing the answer to this question, we should not even attempt to live it. So, what is living a Christian life about? What do Christians do? What do they say and what not? Should they stick to boundaries and sets of rules and regulations?

What is it that makes the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian?

Rituals and traditions?

Often, when non-Christians observe Christians, they see rituals and traditions. Non-Christians see these outside marks as being the Christian life.

Rituals are the functions, events, ceremonies, festivals, etc., that are marked by certain acts that are perceived to have a symbolic value. Traditions are the acts and behavior handed down from one generation to the other and help individuals in a society to know how to act and behave when interacting with others.

Rituals and traditions may form part of the Christian Life, but they are not the core. Jesus made this very clear (Matthew 15: 3 & 6b):

“Jesus replied, ‘And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God?’”

“And so you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition.”

Rituals and traditions are part of the Christian Life but they don’t guarantee a ticket to heaven. When we believe that by following and obeying these strictly, we will be saved, we are wrong and deceive ourselves. Why? Rituals and traditions did not save us, they did not set us free.

“For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” I Peter 1:18-19 (NLT).

Rules?

Rules are the regulations or principles governing conduct and procedures within a particular area of activity (in Christianity too). They are important and govern our lives. Rules tell us what to do and what not to do. Without them, everyone would follow their own whims and wishes, and things would become messy.

Christian Rules, however, do not make the Christian life. If they did, then even unbelievers could follow the Christian rules and would become Christians merely because of obeying regulations. Following rules, however, cannot sustain us and cannot set us free.

“You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, ‘Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them’.” Colossians 2:20-22 (NLT).

If rituals, traditions, and rules are not the Christian life, then what qualifies?

Hearts and attitudes?

Rituals, traditions, and regulations are outward actions. They are needed and can give us some form of satisfaction, but they are not the Christian Life. Living the Christian life is done with our hearts and our attitudes. Both in the old and the New Testament are many examples where God makes it clear He doesn’t look at our outward but our inward man. He is interested in our hearts.

“The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16:7b (NLT).

By obeying the rules, observing the rituals, and following the Christian traditions, we won’t impress God. We may get acknowledgement from fellow humans and may be seen as ‘Christians’ by others. We may even pride ourselves on it, but it won’t help us in any way if we do not do it with the right motives. It is that still small voice inside of us that tells us whether we act for God or ourselves.

Serving God with the wrong attitude

I will never forget what happened the first time I volunteered for church work after I got born again. On a Saturday, I served in the children’s ministry. Everything went chaotic, and I seemed not to control the kids. I kept redirecting them and, after some time, I wasn’t even sure about what I was doing, though I kept going.

At the end of the day, I was exhausted and completely depleted. I had no satisfaction and felt so bad. Initially, I did not understand why I felt that way. A self-review showed me the reason: I had volunteered out of a desire to get praised and recognized by my fellow Christians. I learned my lesson the hard way. Since then, I always check my inner motives, the attitude of my heart. If I catch myself attempting to do anything in church with the wrong motives, I rather not do it. People may look at me and judge me, but I rather be judged by them than by God.

“People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.” Proverbs 16:2 (NLT).

And at the end, we will always get what we deserve, based on the attitude of our hearts, not based on our actions.

“But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” Jeremiah 17:10 (NLT).

We live the Christian Life with our hearts

Our hearts determine whether we live for God, not our actions.

“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” Matthew 15:8 (NLT).

When we serve God with our hearts, we will give our all to Him and His work. We will happily do whatever we have to do. And the bonus is that we will get God’s reward. However, this is not the reason, it is just an extra benefit.

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24 (NKJV).

Being a Christian is from our hearts. It is following Jesus.

“Not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.” Ephesians 6:6 (NKJV).

Can we live the Christian Life by ourselves?

No! We cannot. We need grace to live for Christ. We are saved by grace and we live by grace.

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT).

Even if we believe we are the ones working for God with our whole heart, we deceive ourselves. Whatever good thing we do, we don’t do it out of ourselves. We do it because God plants the desire and the capability in us.

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” Philippians 2:13 (NLT).

We do not live by or for ourselves, we live by God and God alone.

“For in him we live and move and exist.” Acts 17:28a (NLT).

Then what should we do to live the Christian Life?

After becoming Christians, we continue being Christians by choosing to live in God’s will daily. By keeping our hearts and minds fixed on and in Him.

We do that by:

Learning from Jesus by fixing our eyes on Him (Hebrews 12:2-3).
Praying and asking for directions (Isaiah 30:21).
Being copy-cats like our children: copying Jesus (Matthew 18:3-4).

Take-away

We are saved by grace, therefore, live the Christian Life by grace. Don’t pump yourself up and don’t try to do things by your own efforts. Follow the three R’s:

Receive (from God).
Rely (on God).
Relax (in God).

Remember, it is not you but Christ in you:

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 (NLT).

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