As part of my daily walk as a Christ follower, I continually ponder what it really means to be a Christian, or more specifically what outward characteristics would one expect a Christian to exhibit that may give insight to the heart of the believer. I believe that one of the challenges to defining the Christian walk is that we are not saved by our own works, but we are a Christian only by the grace of God to all those who truly believe in Christ Jesus the Lord (Ephesians 2:8 NIV “ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God). Therefore, our works or outward demonstrations of faith are not what specifically makes us a Christian (I Samuel 16:7 NIV, “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’). However, these behaviors may provide insight into the desires of our heart, and therefore may give an indication of our underlying faith (Luke 10:27 NIV, “He answered, ‘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, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’).
I hope that as I explore the issue of loving God with all my heart, soul, strength and mind that ultimately the focus will not be on me, but on God’s love for us, and how that love is transformational in how we live our lives (John 3:16 NIV, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”). And as I share some thoughts, insights and even failures over the next weeks, I hope that you are also willing to explore the depth of your love for God, the creator and sustainer of all things, and how God’s love transforms how you live your life. Next week I will begin the exploration of the Christian walk through looking at reading the scriptures.