Monday, March 16, 2009

Who are you living for?

Between a Mark Driscoll sermon on hypocrisy and my pastor's message yesterday, I feel inspired to write something about it.

My pastor discussed the difference between knowing about God and being in a relationship with him. Big difference. I confuse the two all too often. Being a Christian shouldn't just be a proclamation, but a way of life.

I was listening to a sermon by John MacArthur and he discussed how Paul never changed his message. It didn't matter where he was or who he was talking to- the message was the same. He preached the Gospel. It made me think about how many times I change my message.

It reminds me of when I was a teenager and I'd think it was cool to sneak in a cuss word here and there while I was with my friends, but I would never have imagined doing it while my parents were around. Are we the same way with the Gospel? It's easy to talk about it with your Christian, church-going friends. It's easy to be sitting around the table and pray before a meal when you're with your family, but would you do it with your friends? With non-believers? Would non-believers know that Christ is the center of your life? These questions have been on my heart a lot lately.

Christ should be apparent in all aspects of our lives, not just certain parts where it's convenient. Our message shouldn't change depending on who we are or who we're talking to.

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator."-Colossians 3:1-10 (NIV)

*Emphasis added.

3 comments:

  1. I don't think blogging is for me... but blogging is definitely for you Rach. I thoroughly enjoy reading each one you have and can relate every time. Keep doin' God's work homie!!

    ~Mel

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  2. Thank you for the amazing message! Wonderful way to start my week!

    Naite*

    -PS: I'm diggin the background! Niiiice :)

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