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CHRISTIAN LIVING TODAY
Christians make choices every day about whether to live God’s way.
Too often, we seem to drift through life, not conscious of making any specific choices—for it certainly is easier to follow the status quo and the subtle dictates of our culture. I’m thinking about our actions and thoughts, words and relationships, and the guidelines we follow.
We have a directive from Jesus Himself in Acts 1:8b, where He said, “…and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
What we be means who we are—silent messages. The example we live is our witness, rather than mere words.
To the original hearers, Jerusalem was their Elgin or Bastrop County; Judea was their Texas, and “the end of the earth” was totally clear for them— meaning everywhere else.
Will we allow God to open our eyes? To enable us to see those surrounding us?
For example: People who work at the gas station nearby? When your neighbor mows the grass, do you wonder about his or her spiritual future? What about the young mom pushing kids in Walmart—she may need a word of encouragement and confidence, or a smile. Do you see the teen searching for any meaning in life? Is your heart sensitive to the challenges people face when they wrestle with the consequences of their poor choices or sin?
The Apostle Paul understood life relationships this way. In Ephesians 5:21, he wrote, “…submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” And in 2 Timothy 1:1, he described his task as “…to further the promise of life in Christ Jesus.” In 1 Timothy 1:1, he said he served “by the command of God our Savior,” and that “Christ Jesus is our hope.”
Philippians 2:21 says, “Others are busy with their own concerns, not those of Jesus Christ.”
What concerns do our friends and neighbors face? Can we offer encouragement?
Paul found ways to share his view about the actions of his life—and indicates we are to do the same.
Bottom line: God uses us. We may speak about Him and be His witness. It’s our job to discern what our message communicates.
What is your choice today?
I’ll pray for you about this, and hope you will pray for me, too. Choices challenge each one of us. Until next week, Anita
Onarecker, an Elgin resident, author of “Divine Appointment: Our Journey to the Bridge” and minister to women and adults, earned a Master of Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2007.
