Living in Jesus Christ!

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” – Colossians 2:6-7 ESV

Many of us would go to churches to serve Jesus Christ enthusiastically only Sundays by volunteering every kinds of church work, or we go to religious events—just to serve the Lord. We may even serve Him full devotedly, only when we feel empowerment from the Spirit of God. This is because we have not yet surrendered before Christ to follow Him until the end of the age. However, the truth is that all of us need to surrender our lives before Him (Galatians 2:19-21) because all of us actually have been created by God, to be His image (Genesis 1:27). “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” (Romans 8:29-30) In addition to this, the actual reason why we are in this world is to worship God, the Almighty, in Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:15-23). God wants to see us worshiping only Him throughout of our lives—until the end of the age (Romans 6:8-23), since He is also the Creator (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 24:1) and our heavenly Father (Ephesians 4:4-6).

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)

Secondly, we have to know that the world is full of sin as the world urges us to know that we are our own savior and lord. It is not like we are not supposed to enjoy worldly things throughout our lives; we can enjoy them but we must not get addicted to them. This is because 1 John 2:15-17 calls us not to love the world since the love of God is not in them and all of worldly things are passing and fading away, even though God has created them. The main reason why that God has created them is to help us to do the will of God, such as blessing and serving God and others through them (Matthew 6:19-24). Since all of us have been created to be the image of God, we are called to be the salt and the light of Jesus Christ to the world (Matthew 5:13-16).

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

Furthermore, if we want to truly be established in the faith of Jesus Christ, it is not only necessary to abide in the Spirit of God (John 14:15-27; Romans 8:1-17) but we also have to get in the Word of God as well. This is because the Word of God is full of Christ’s teachings (Psalm 119) and it is able to help us to become the righteousness of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Romans 1:16-17). “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him. (Philippians 1:27-29)

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3)