#152 CHRIST OUR LIFE 9-18-26
There is a difference between knowing about Christ and having Christ at the center of our lives. Jesus is not simply a teacher whose words we admire, a historical figure whose story we remember, or a Savior we call upon when trouble comes. He is Lord. He is the One “through whom are all things, and through whom we live” (1 Corinthians 8:6). Paul could summarize his entire existence in these words: “For to me, to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21). Christ was not merely part of Paul’s life. Christ was his life.
CHRIST OUR LEADER
Jesus calls us to follow Him. When He said, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19), He was not inviting people to add Christianity to an already established life. He was calling them to a new life under His leadership. “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24).
The world has plenty of voices telling us where to go. Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). His voice must rise above every other voice. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). We do not follow Christ merely when His direction agrees with ours. He is the Shepherd, and we are the sheep. “He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3).
To follow Christ is to trust His wisdom more than our own. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). He knows the road because He is the road. He knows where He is taking us because He has already gone before us.
CHRIST OUR LOVE
The Christian life is also a life of love because Christ first loved us. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). The cross is the great announcement of that love: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
His love changes the way we see everyone around us. “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you” (Matthew 5:44). That kind of love cannot be produced merely by human determination. It grows from a heart that has been captured by the love of Christ. “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us” (Ephesians 5:2).
Christ teaches us to love when love is difficult, forgive when forgiveness is costly, serve when service is unnoticed, and bless when we receive nothing in return. “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).
CHRIST OUR LIFE
Finally, Christ is not merely our Leader and the One we love. Christ is our life. Paul wrote, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). He later said, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).
This is the heart of Christianity. We have died to the old life and have been raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). Then comes the glorious conclusion: “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:4).
Christ is our Leader, so we follow Him. Christ is our Love, so we love as He loved us. Christ is our Life, so we live for Him. “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself” (Romans 14:7). Whether we live, whether we serve, whether we suffer, whether we die, we belong to Him.
May we never be content merely to have Christ somewhere in our lives. Let Him lead our steps, fill our hearts with His love, and become the very center and substance of our lives. For when Christ is our life, everything else finds its proper place.
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Lord Jesus, lead us, teach us to love as You love, and become the center of everything we are. Help us to say with Paul, “For to me, to live is Christ.” Amen.
BDD
