Sometimes I fall into a rut. With everything going on in daily life, it can be tempting to just go through the motions day after day without questioning much. In such times, it is helpful to reflect on why you are doing certain things.
When we look at the reason for doing something, we find that it either makes sense or it doesn’t, and from this we can decide if we should continue or not. If it doesn’t make sense, don’t be afraid to challenge and possibly change it.
Repetition with purpose can be very valuable; empty repetition, however, can suck the joy out of life. It’s important to know why you do things. [Tweet this!]
So I’m going to ask you a question today, and I hope you’ll answer in the comments section.
What does it mean *to you* to daily live the Christian life?
Try to answer in just a few sentences or less.
Please note that I am looking for honest, real, practical answers here. I’m not really looking for Bible verses or doctrinal statements. Also, I’m not asking how someone becomes a Christian, but instead what it means to live a Christian life in the world today.
I’m looking forward to your responses and I’ll post mine later this week.
Follow the Life!
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We’ll as of my own self I cannot live the Christian life..I know that I have Gods divine life living inside of me and he lives his Christian life with me participating with him..his life flows out of me as me for his expression and I am his instrument for the flow.
Yes, only Christ can truly live the Christian life and we participate with Him. Well said!
Mark,
I’d say for me it means to follow the Holy Spirit’s prompts. This happens often during the day. It could be to go here or there, or it could be to listen to a particular song or read a particular book/passage. As I follow these prompts, which could be a blend of thought, emotion, and something else which I can only describe as the ambiguous sounding word “spirit.” As much as I’m in step with this voice/person, I am living the christian life.
For example, I was riding my bike saturday and felt prompted to listen to the country station on pandora. I never listen to country but I did it nonetheless. 1-2 songs into it there was a guy singing about being with this girl and he saw a no trespassing sign and I happened to look to my left and there was a no trespassing sign. I’ve had countless incidences like this since HS starting arranging these little interactions roundabout 2003. At first I thought I was supposed to interpret it to get guidance one way or another, and occasionally that did happen, but usually it turned out to just be Him saying “Hi” in a way I would recognize. It brings my attention back to Him, just like it did saturday with the country song.
Yes, you are one “tuned-in” brother!
Thomas “receivingtheholyspiritfrequency”
For me, right now (who knows, it might change next week – or next decade) it means stepping aside and letting Jesus live through me, have control, for me to join him in what he is doing at that moment (however you want to say it). This can be in small things like how I speak to a co-worker or student of mine, how I treat my fiancee – or it can be in ‘big’ things. “That in all things, He might have preeminence”
Right. Participating with Christ. Thanks for adding some practical examples, too!
Interesting question and thoughts….
To me it means going through life with a general sense of what’s going on with you and Jesus, but not really knowing jack squat.
There are two paths we can take in life: 1) One is walk a path of our making, to try and control and manage every area of our lives, making our own outcomes. That path is pretty clear, for the most part. “I’m gonna do this, I’m gonna to do that, and this outcome will happen.” This one, though it has better visibility, is full of labor and strife. 2) The other is the path set out for you by Him. That one is foggy with very low visibility. You may be able to see as far as the next 24 hours, but not always. However, that path is the easiest going, even in the rough patches. In this path we allow Destiny (Christ) to stear our life. This is a path of rest and infinite adventure.
We are allowed to jump from one path to the other. He allows this. But it’s always apparant when we’ve jumped from the easy route to the difficult one.
“We make plans, and God laughs.” I don’t remember who said this, but I’ve heard it many times. Great thoughts. Being open to Christ’s direction and fully trusting in Him is the way to Peace. Thanks for sharing!
If anyone is following the comments, I posted a follow up to this question with my thoughts today:
http://www.marklake.org/toliveaschristiananswer/