What This Blog is About
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called…”—Ephesians 4:1
Living the Christian life means living a beautiful life.
It is walking like Christ did—loving, serving, giving—all for the glory of God.
But if we’re honest with ourselves, what we are called to live and how we actually live are two different things. What we know is not translated into what we think, say, or do.
We still allow fear to dominate and worry to rule.
We argue and fight for what we want.
We pursue the easy road and avoid the narrow way.
We walk by sight and not faith.
This is very human, very normal for us as believers here on this side of the fall.
But we also live on the other side of the resurrection, looking forward to eternity.
We know the Gospel secures our future forever in heaven, but what about now? What difference does the good news of Jesus have on today?
As it turns out—a lot! The same gospel that gives us hope for the future is the same one that empowers us today to live a life just like Jesus did.
We often think that Jesus must have had it easy while here on earth. As perfect Man and completely God, of course He could always make the right choice.
But we often forget that as the perfect Man, He also felt the temptations we face today far more deeply because He resisted them to the very end. He didn’t give in. We do—which alleviates the tension for us.
No, Jesus didn’t have it easier than we did. He probably had it harder because He didn’t give in. He felt the full weight of the pressure.
And so therefore, for those of us who desire to live a beautiful life, we will need to expect to struggle—with ourselves, with others, with the cultural invitations to conform.
In fact, Paul exhorts us in Philippians 2:12, 13: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
Did you see those words? “Work out”? It will require an investment of time, a commitment to obey, and a dedication to submit our lives to Him and not ourselves.
But when we commit to doing all for His glory, when we lay down our lives instead of fighting for our rights, when we carry out His mandate to make disciples of all believers, we will reflect great beauty.
We become salt and light that points others to God (Matt. 5:16).
We demonstrate that we are His disciples because of our love for one another (John 13:35).
We participate in the blessing of Abraham, joining Jesus in restoring people to their Maker.
This is a narrow road and it isn’t easy. But it is a beautiful life.
For me today, this involves living out my faith day in and day out as a mother of an adopted child with special needs, a homeschooling mom, a pastor’s wife. My days are very mundane indeed.
I know the struggle of the flesh that wants to be lazy and the heart that fails to love. I deal with impatience, give in to the temptation of harsh words, and experience the pain of failure in walking out a beautiful life in a manner worthy of our calling.
But I believe that God has not called me—and you—to an impossible thing. He has promised to be with us, and He has given us His Holy Spirit to live in us. With Him all things truly are possible (Phil. 4:13).
He can take broken, sinful, and unholy people and make them whole and holy. He can use us to impact the world—not just for now but for all eternity.
This blog is my way of working out that salvation, of connecting the dots between what I know and how I live.
I hope that you will join me—and that together, as the redeemed of Christ, we will reflect the beauty of our Lord to a world that desperately needs it.
