PHILIPPIANS 1:27 – Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.
THEME OF THE DAY. THE 24/7 CHRISTIAN. Here is a brief two question theology test for us. Everyone will get 100 % and without the giver of the exam grading on a curve. Really. No one will fail. Question # 1 – Is God all-knowing? and Question # 2 – Is God present in all places, at all times? The obvious answer is “yes” to both questions. Now, we move into a two question life test for us. Everyone will be answering these questions for the rest of their lives with the “pass” or “fail” grade revealed on the Day of Judgment. It won’t be a pass or fail grade concerning salvation, but it will be a grade of loss or gain of rewards – For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done (1 Corinthians 3:11-13). If we want to greet that day with the certainty of God’s unmerited favor in rewarding us, it will require living as “the 24/7 Christian” and this type of believer is defined by the Apostle Paul in today’s scripture – “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Let’s make some application toward a life lived worthy of the gospel of the Lord Jesus.
First, a gospel-worthy life is lived for the things of eternity not for this temporal world. One of the most confusing things a Christian may do, and one in complete contradiction of what the gospel has done in their lives is to live worldly; to be focused, invested in, and attached to the things and pleasures of this world. The Apostle John gives us a strong warning about the luring power of the world and a strong command to fight against it – Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever (1 John 2:15-17). The gospel frees us from loving the world. It doesn’t save us and then leave us still in love with and living for the world.
Another trait in a 24/7 Christian living out a gospel-worthy life is walking daily in the awareness of God’s presence, not an awareness of His felt presence, thank God for those times, but they are not constant in the Christian life. They cannot be for we live by faith, not feelings. But a mature, 24/7 Christian knows God’s Presence is real and that all the time. This motivates a person to ensure speech, conduct, and attitudes are lived before Him because the Christian is literally always before Him.
The 24/7 Christian. It is the only type of Christian. That is what Christ’s Gospel does to a person. May He help us to not only realize this Biblical truth but live it out for His glory!
PRAYER: “Father, may I live always with the conscious awareness of Your Presence.”
QUOTE: “Be Christian in everything you do, in everything you say, and in everyplace you go.”