Living Life

Yesterday, in our Staff Meeting, Ricky C delivered our staff devotional. He was talking about our responsibility as Christians to live holy lives—set apart. Here’s what he said, “We are to live lives separate from the world, but not isolated from it.”

That is something that as a follower of Christ and as a Christian parent I am trying to balance. This past weekend, we had a wonderful time of retreat with our Praise Team members. We didn’t talk a lot about music. We didn’t focus on calendaring. We retreated. We spent time in the Word and with the Word. We carved out just a few hours for God to speak to us about living life. It was an incredible time together. I want to share with you all one of the passages that we studied.

2 Chronicles 14:2
Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God.

As I read that, I was amazed. Can you imagine God inspiring someone to write that statement about me or you? What an honor that those words about Asa exist for all time! Here’s what Asa did. He was King of Judah. He removed foreign altars, he commanded Judah to seek the LORD. Here’s what 2 Chronicles 14-15 says about Asa. Azariah came to see Asa, and old him basically the following things:

• Live right & serve God
• You are surrounded by nations crushing nations. You are surrounded by turmoil on every side. Don’t cave into what you see others doing, but lead YOUR nation to seek God.

This is a very contemporary thought! This is something that we encounter every day as Christians. We are surrounded by worldliness. Think about that and how it applies to your families. In your jobs, do you see backstabbing? How about your children’s sports or school activities? What about your neighbors? How many of your children’s friends still live in a home with both their mother and father? We are surrounded by nations crushing nations even today! So here is our challenge, too, from Azariah’s lips:

• Live right & serve God
• Don’t cave into what you see others doing, but lead YOUR household to seek God

Easier said than done, right? But Asa obeyed and did it. Read with me 2 Chronicles 15:12-15, 17

They entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul. They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side…Asa's heart was fully committed [to the LORD] all his life.

Asa’s heart was FULLY COMMITTED to the Lord all his life. WOW!
How do we follow Asa’s example? It’s a journey. But, God tells us in Colossians 3 how to live:

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

It’s a journey that we’ll be on for the rest of our lives. And, we’re going to have failures along the way. It doesn’t happen overnight. And satan will use every opportunity to discourage you, derail you, demoralize you. Don’t let him. Stay attached. Know that YOU make a difference. You are important to this ministry and to the believers around you. You are a blessed child of God!

My closing prayer for us is this…taken from the last few verses of Colossians 3:

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.