31 Days toward Spiritual Maturity — Day 11
February 8th, 2008 Posted in 31 Days toward Spiritual Maturity, Growth
FOLLOWING CHRIST - The New Perspective of Following Christ
Life takes on a whole new perspective when you believe that you’re called! Seeing your life as a calling from God is the best way to live. Life is best when you live for something bigger than yourself - and there’s nothing bigger than God! The apostle Paul described this new perspective on how to live: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Imagine a child playing on a playground, out on the little league field, or on stage at a music or dance recital with his parents watching. As the child plays or performs, he often glances toward his watching parents. How different it would be, how much less meaningful and enjoyable for the child, if the parents weren’t there! In a real sense the child is doing whatever he’s doing for his parents’ benefit. This is the perspective we should have toward life: we’re “playing” our lives to an audience of One! We want to live to please Him.
Sometimes “practicing the presence” of God means that we know He’s watching when we’re tempted to live in a way that would displease Him. This awareness of His watchful eye is good! It’s often for the better that we don’t do things the way our passions, appetites, and fallen nature would lead us. We think it’s a big price to pay to do what He wants - or to not do what He doesn’t want us to do - but ultimately it’s more costly to do things our way instead of His way!
Following Christ is a daily, ongoing experience. It should color the way we view everything and do everything.
In the Toledo Blade newspaper there’s a regular column in which various people are asked what book they’re reading. Jim Spengler, the director of the Metroparks of Toledo, was recently featured in the column. He said that he was reading When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box, by John Ortberg. He described how Ortberg used the example of the game of Monopoly and how, when the game is over, all the pieces, including the properties and money, are put back into the box. Spengler said, “This is contrasted with the game of life, where we often misplace our values on property, possessions, and positions. The most important point of life is how you better the lives of those around you and your relationship with God.” (The Blade, January 6, 2008)
Jesus Christ invented the game called LIFE. We’re wise if we follow His way of playing the game!
We experience God’s gift of acceptance and forgiveness when we’re truly open to Meeting Christ. However, we can’t stop at meeting Him; we must accept His call to follow Him!
Dave
