The Golden Nugget: Living like a Christian is impossible unless you have Jesus living in your heart.
Daily Verse: “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: in this world we are like Jesus.” —1 John 4:16–17
Daily Message:
Living like a Christian means living life through the lens of Jesus’ teachings. And while our lens reveals how we are to be, our action plans are usually lacking. It is difficult to adhere to all of Jesus’ teachings when they include instructions like:
Be perfect as God is perfect.
If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn the other cheek.
Do good to those who hate you.
Love your enemies.
No one can check off the first. But the others are hard, too—if not near impossible. The consequence for failing to comply with these teachings is most severe, according to Romans 6:23: “The wages of sin is death.”
But with Jesus, your outcome is changed. Though you still cannot be the perfect Christian, you can become the “Christian made perfect” in spite of your faults through God’s grace. Because Jesus lives in you he works through you to produce good outcomes. In Christ all things are possible.
Consider This:
- How is being a “Christian made perfect” comforting to someone who strives to follow God?
- Why is “being a good person trying to do good things” a set-up for failure?
Take Action:
Imagine Jesus was coming to live with you for the rest of your life. Write down what you would want to do to get your house in order for him. Put that list on your bathroom mirror.