Issue 1528 – Choices – August 19, 2024
Can we talk? Well, we can’t actually converse since you are not here. Still, I have something on my mind that I’ll share.
I hear a lot of chat about Christianity being a “decision.” It’s true to a point, dependent upon your theological perspective. Most people seem to have a moment in their lives where they “choose” to accept Christ. The mechanics of that moment aside, most Christians will agree with that as a general idea.
The problem is that our faith cannot be limited to making a decision for Christ. At best, that is a moment in a lifetime.
“Taking Jesus into your heart” is a lifetime commitment—at least a temporal lifetime because it extends beyond that point.
From the moment we belong to Him, everything we do is as Christians. We might be faithful and effective followers or unfaithful and ineffective, but we represent Him.
As Christians, we are not just followers. We are ambassadors for Christ, representing Him in all that we do.
From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Now, we have growing to do in order to be good ambassadors. We need to live and love as Christ commands us. We have the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to guide us. We have the body of Christ to assist us.
We represent Him in good times and bad, and we represent Him when it costs us to do so. Make no mistake: being a Christian carries a cost. It might be as simple as minor teasing or as profound as persecution leading to martyrdom. There is a cost.
Jesus has paid the entry fee, and we are saved by faith alone in His finished work. It’s an ongoing process of becoming more Christ-like.
Every day, we are given the opportunity to choose between God’s way and the way of the world. Praise God that we are forgiven for the days we choose poorly.
Are you actively growing and serving as a believer? Or are you stuck in thinking that having made that one decision is all you must do?
I’m not suggesting that our works save us; the Scriptures teach us that it is by faith. Yet, the Scriptures also teach us that true faith leads us to works. Jesus’ brother James teaches firmly on this concept in chapter 2 of his New Testament epistle.
How well do you represent the Lord? We should all be growing in this area, for we will never hit 100%. It is time to make changes if you examine your heart and see no progress.
May all of us grow more like Jesus every day.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV)
© K.F. “Kevin” Corbin 2024 – Used by permission – All rights reserved.