Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

The Elements in a Christian Life

LUKE 10:2, 27, 33-34, 38-42-2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

In the tenth chapter of Luke’s Gospel are four pursuits that define the elements in the Christian life. They encompass everything shaping and directing the Christian life from start to finish. Seek them. Know them. Embrace them. Live them, and the fruitful life will be ours as well as a closeness to the Lord Jesus that is a living reality. They unfold in logical order, even building on each other, but never separated from each other.

The first and foremost element in the Christian life is earnest prayer–“Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord.” Yes, the context is seeking the Lord for laborers, but prayer extends far beyond. Prayer is the lifeblood of the Christian. It is the language of love between God and His reconciled children. Neglect it and we become spiritually stale and lifeless.

From prayer, and the natural conclusion, is the second element in the Christian life; obedience to the Great Commands–“Love the Lord your God will all your heart, soul, strength and mind and your neighbor as yourself.” It is natural because if prayer is taking us to the heart of God in fellowship, we will be changed to have the heart of God; a heart of love.

As we pray and love, the third element in the Christian will flow–sacrificial service toward others. Enter the Good Samaritan – But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. Praying and loving always leads to serving people and that at great cost to ourselves, but a cost of delight. We cannot help but serve as an outflow of prayer and expression of love.

Finally, the last and so important element in the Christian life is cultivating our walk with the Lord through His Word. Enter Mary-Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Mary sat at the Master’s Feet learning from Him. And so must we. The Christian life is not only a serving life but a growing life; growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus who is the Christian life, requiring disciplined time in His Word.

Luke’s gospel, chapter ten, is very instructional. It provides for us a road map of the necessary elements in the Christian life. May God help us to see them, then live them!

PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for the privilege of prayer, of loving You, of serving You, and of knowing You.”

QUOTE: “Praying to the Lord, loving the Lord, serving people for the Lord, and knowing the Lord is what life is about.”

Because of Him,

Pastor Jim