Life a Weblog for Young Adults

I re-discovered another passage in Luke 22, the story of Jesus’ final meal with His disciples, a meal Jesus used to help close the normal/un-normal gap. This is the seventh recorded meal scene in Luke and two more remain. Evidently, Luke loved meals. So much happened around the dinner table.

Christianity in its truest form is a celebration of freedom. As Christ-followers, we enjoy spiritual freedom through the redeeming work of Christ, who was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, took the weight of the world’s sin on the cross, conquered it and the grave through His resurrection, and provided redemption and atonement for those who would accept Him as Savior and Lord.

How about a question for Paul: If you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you, then why is your life characterized by hardship, persecution, and suffering more than anything else?

Most of us struggle with effective prayer. I think two main culprits lead us astray in our prayer lives.

If you’ve struggled to start or maintain your devotional life, consider these three subtle but important shifts to make a huge difference in your relationship with God.

We are to demonstrate Christ-like love to those around us, including that reclusive, grumpy neighbor who never returns your wave. God is shaping us to be people who not only understand the gospel, but embrace it holistically so that our lives become reflections of God’s mission in the world, which is to receive glory by drawing people to himself.

Boundaries can be a gift to others as well as protection for your time and resources. Telling someone no can be a sign of trust and respect. Setting boundaries with others gives them permission to do the same.

Have you ever found yourself looking back, amazed at how small, seemingly insignificant steps you’ve taken have brought you to where you are today? While I hope you’ve experienced the wonder and awe of God’s providence in this way, I have to admit I’ve experienced the opposite just as much, if not more.

A little relationship drama is healthy. Strong emotions are evidence that we care about someone. In fact, if a relationship is drama-free, it might lack appropriate passion or commitment. A lack of drama, however, usually isn’t the problem. You know what I’m talking about. You’ve got that relative, coworker, or friend in a relationship who’s all drama, all the time. When drama defines a relationship, you need to find the source and drain it out.

The gospel is worthy of our lives. As Christians, it should be our lives. I pray that you find the joy of committing your life to a cause greater than yourself. I pray that you grow deeper in your understanding of who Jesus is and what it means to advance the gospel in your personal walk. I pray that you move beyond simply consuming the gospel to living and giving of the gospel. And I pray that you begin to see the many opportunities in your day-to-day life to tell the world about Jesus Christ, His love for you, and what it means to follow Him.