Living for the Lord

As Christians, I’m sure most of us will have heard the phrase “living for the Lord” used in conversation at some time. I recall a time when a woman’s whereabouts was questioned. She was a Christian, and was divorced. Her father explained that she had re-married a divorced man, and moved from Canada to the U.S. The reply, made in a sympathetic tone, was “oh, then she’s not really living for the Lord right now.”

Seems to me that not “living for the Lord” indicates some type of backsliding behaviour. Like no longer attending church, being in a questionable relationship, taking up drinking or gambling. Using my example above, remarrying after divorce would indicate to some that you had stopped living for the Lord.

Now, if you were living for Jesus, you would likely be committed to a church, involved in ministry, having daily devotions, witnessing, and fellowshipping with other Christians. And if you were really living for Him, you may attend Bible College as well, and go into full time ministry.

I have been thinking of this recently, since hitting my current “low” state. I certainly haven’t been doing many of those things that would indicate loyalty to the cause of Christ. My prayer life is sketchy, and there are days when I don’t pick up my Bible at all. God seems as far away as the outermost reaches of the universe. I don’t particularly want to see anyone, or go anywhere, let alone get out there and “witness for Christ.”

My immediate, and usual, reaction to this spiritually distanced existence is to feel guilty. For not being at work. For not doing more around the house. For not making more of an effort to get better. For not praying enough, or reading my Bible more. For not pushing myself out the door every day. For not doing a hundred other things that I “should” be doing.

If someone were to mark me at this moment on an “Are You Living for the Lord?” quiz, I think I would flunk. Badly. Just the thought of this could pull me down even further into negative thinking, and self condemnation. But I won’t do it. I might gang up on myself for not trying harder. I might resolve, once more, that tomorrow will be a better day. But I will not let myself slide into a state where I start to think that God is disappointed with me. I won’t start comparing myself with others who are, by His grace, up and running and “out there” for Jesus. I know that would be wrong. I know it would be based on a wrong belief.

You see, even though I am a slow learner, I find that I can still learn. And I am learning about grace. I am learning about this life that I now live, and this Life that now lives in me. It’s not so much about me living my life for Him, as Him living His life in and through me. And though I’m not one hundred percent sure of all that means, I am confident that His Life carries on in me, even when I feel as though I am barely living. That’s the marvelous thing about this exchange. It doesn’t depend on how well I do at any given moment. It depends on Him, Jesus Christ. His faithfulness, His purposes, His power. I can’t see the purpose, I don’t feel the power, but I do know about His faithfulness. Oh yes, I know about His faithfulness.

If you are in a "slump" of any kind, don't stay too long in the land of "should." Don't get stuck in the rotten rut of regret and self condemnation. Look up to Jesus. Look at Who He is, and what He has done, and what He has yet to do; in you, through you, and for you. You might not "feel" the truth of these things, but thankfully, His faithfulness doesn't depend on our feelings.

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." (Gal 2:20)