Ordinary Christian

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

What does the life of a Christian look like? Being crucified with Christ means that our old nature has been nailed to the cross and is replaced by a new nature which is Christ’s. He who loved and died for us now lives in us, and the life we live is by faith in Him. It means sacrificing our own desires, ambitions, and glories and replacing them with those of Christ. We only do this by His power through faith that He gives by His grace. As Christians we need to learn to live an ordinary Christian life for Him. That may sound a little strange. Michael Horton with Ligonier ministries writes,

Radical. Epic. Revolutionary. Transformative. Impactful. Life-changing. Ultimate. Extreme. Awesome. Emergent. Alternative. Innovative. On the edge. The next big thing. Explosive breakthrough. You can probably add to the list of modifiers that have become, ironically, part of the ordinary conversations in society and in today’s church. Most of us have heard expressions like these so often that they’ve become background noise. Although we might be a little jaded by the ads, we’re eager to take things to “a whole new level.” Ordinary has to be one of the loneliest words in our vocabulary today. Who wants a bumper sticker that announces to the neighborhood, “My child is an ordinary student at Bubbling Brook Elementary”? Who wants to be that ordinary person who lives in an ordinary town, is a member of an ordinary church, has ordinary friends, and works an ordinary job? Our life has to count. We have to leave our mark, have a legacy, and make a difference. We need to be radical disciples, taking our faith to a whole new level. And all of this should be something that can be managed, measured, and maintained.

However, to be an ordinary Christian means that you deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him daily. It means that you love your brothers and sisters in Christ. It means that you forgive others, love those who hate you, and pray for those who persecute you. It means you go to church to worship and serve. You see, to live an ordinary Christian life means that each and every day you live your life for Him and not for yourself. In today’s society that’s considered “radical” but to God it is living an ordinary Christian life.

What about you? If the Lord was to call you home can you honestly say like Paul, 

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

May we all strive to be ordinary Christians for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Your Shepherd,

Pastor Mark