True Christian Living

Yesterday was a yucky day. When I woke up, the wind was howling and it was sprinkling. I did not want to go for a walk. Honestly, once Max got outside, I don’t think he wanted to either. Before we left the house I was looking for excuses not to go. I sipped my coffee longer than I normally do. I took care of a few things that usually wait until I get back from my walk. I finally had to force myself to go for that walk.

As I was walking I was mindful of something C. S. Lewis says somewhere in his writings. It goes something like this, “True Christian living is the tough living, not the easy living. It is the living that you force yourself to do even when you don’t feel like it.” Jesus says it this way, “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matt. 5:44) In another place Jesus says, “If someone forces you to walk one mile, choose to walk a second.” Loving our enemy and walking extra miles won’t always be accompanied by warm fuzzy feelings. But they are acts of obedience. Sometimes we don’t feel like loving or serving others that don’t deserve the love. There are times when it is just yucky out there, and we don’t feel good about having to walk on the godly path. But we need to exercise our Christian life even when we don’t want to.

Jesus’ love for us is never conditional. He loved us even while we were His enemy. He redeemed us even when we didn’t know we had the need for it or want of it. As Christians we need to walk the Christlike path. We need to always be living lives full of compassion, mercy, love and grace. The recipient’s worthiness can never be used as the barometer of our Christian living. We need to live our Christian lives out of indebtedness for what God has done for us.

That’s it! It is not always easy, but it is always right!

May God bless each of us as we strive, run, and fight the good fight of faith.

Peace!

Tom

Matthew 5:44