Who Is Your Lord?
Views: 46
Who is your Lord? Why are you a Christian?
I realized over the years that people become Christians for very diverse reasons, and some are very, very interesting.
I made a resolve some time back that has greatly helped my Christian life: that whatever I do in my Christian practice, should be aimed at serving God. So when I go to church, it’s because I want to serve God. When I share God’s word, it is because I want to serve God. When I make friends in church it is because I want to serve God. When I take up any role in church, it is because I want to serve God. I don’t do business in church, I don’t get involved in church politics, and I avoid what I call “church journalists,” who make it their duty to spread rumours and gossip in the church. I have often told my colleagues in church that the day I come to church to please humans, that day would be my last day in church. There is so much of all these in the world outside already, and we struggle with them daily. However, when it comes to practicing my beliefs, I want to use my time in God’s presence — my Sabbath — to focus on Him, and to rest in Him and His presence.
Apostle Paul has some good advice for his protégé, Timothy, in the second letter he wrote to him.
READ 2 Timothy 2:4-7
No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
(2 Timothy 2:4-7 ESV)
Just as a soldier’s aim is to please the one who enlisted him, and does not get involved in civilian pursuits; so is a Christian expected to focus on serving the Lord who saved him or her. It is the only way to get the crown of success.
In the Matthew Henry commentary on this scripture, this is what is written:
“If we have given up ourselves to be Christ’s soldiers, we must sit loose to this world; and though there is no remedy, but we must employ ourselves in the affairs of this life while we are here (we have something to do here), we must not entangle ourselves with those affairs, so as by them to be diverted and drawn aside from our duty to God and the great concerns of our Christianity. Those who will war the good warfare must sit loose to this world. That we may please him who hath chosen us to be soldiers. Observe, 1. The great care of a soldier should be to please his general; so the great care of a Christian should be to please Christ, to approve ourselves to him. The way to please him who hath chosen us to be soldiers is not to entangle ourselves with the affairs of this life, but to be free from such entanglements as would hinder us in our holy warfare.”
Those things that distract us from focusing our Christian practice on God become our lords, and are meant to distract us, make us idolaters (Colossians 3:5-7), and give the enemy an edge over us!
The warfare is tough enough on its own. Let us not get ourselves entangled with other things that will take our focus away.
MEMORY VERSE
“No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.”
( 2 Timothy 2:4)
QUESTIONS
- What is the focus of your Christian practice?
- If it is not Christ, do you know that you are practicing idolatry?
PRAYER TIP
Father, we practice idolatry in ignorance while mentioning Your Name. Please forgive us, and help us.
CREDITS
MATTHEW HENRY BIBLE COMMENTARY, “2 Timothy 2 Bible Commentary,” https://www.christianity.com/bible/commentary.php?com=mh&b=55&c=2
URGENT CALL
By nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God. We ultimately face the wrath of God!
But God in His mercy and love gives us a chance to reverse this trend, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.
The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved.
Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.
It is a very personal decision. No one can make that decision for you.
If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God!
Do you want to make that decision today?
Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer” for
guidance if you want to
make that decision.
We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page.
God richly bless you.
SPECIAL GRATITUDE
Thank you for visiting the Testimony Devotional Website.
We would not have gotten here without your prayers, goodwill and overall support. We are grateful, and humbled.
We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission; and we thank you for sticking with us through this journey.
God richly bless you.
The Testimony Devotional website addresses are:
https://testimonydevotional.org/
https://testimonydevotional.com/