Restoring Faith

Some people think that the Christian life is something one does one day a week, and the rest of the week is for real life. Most of us Christians know better than that.

Some people think that the Christian life begins at one place and then just moves on steadily from there. As if there was nothing else to do but to have faith at first.

Some people see the Christian life as a lot of ups and downs, beginning with a spiritual high and then going down from there. That’s pathetic, but it is many people’s experience of life in Jesus.

Some people think the Christian life is a series of spiritual highs, going from one retreat to another revival to another move of the Spirit. So they are sadly always seeking out the next emotional experience, as if getting a blessing is what Jesus is about.

The Christian life is a life of faith. This faith is best expressed by an ongoing commitment to Jesus as our Lord. Jesus is the King we have chosen and His kingdom is our nation. His law is the law we follow and His life is the model for our lives. In His death is found our hope, for in this the kingdom began and the basic principle of being humble to obtain blessing.

Jesus’ kingdom at times seems the opposite of the kingdoms around us: Jesus’ kingdom is invisible, but we can know who is a part of it. It has no specific land except a world that exists in another universe. Jesus’ kingdom has few basic regulations, but a very strict code of conduct. Jesus’ kingdom is made up of people of all races, all languages and all nations of the world. Jesus kingdom is worldwide, but not of this world at all. The power of Jesus kingdom is not in economics or in armies or in weapons, but in spiritual power that is more effective than all these.

Jesus as a world ruler seems pretty strange as well. Jesus is never seen, but often heard from. He does amazing work in the world, although he doesn’t step on it. Jesus has millions in his kingdom, but no standing army. Jesus meets and consults with his leaders completely in private. And Jesus is at the source of the greatest Power the universe has—the Force that actually created the universe to begin with.

On the surface, the people of Jesus seem pretty rag-tag and disorganized. They don’t have a common agenda. They often disagree with each other. Loudly. They are often poor and with little to give. They are often self-absorbed. They often completely ignore their leader, preferring to focus on what they can get. And yet, the work of Jesus is done through them throughout the world.

Why should we choose to be a part of this kingdom? Because Jesus is the only one offering any real hope in the world. And as faulty as his people seem to be, Jesus followers are welcoming, giving and are actually changing the world for the better.

The Christian life is a commitment to this King, this kingdom and to this people. It is a commitment to give sacrificially to God’s work and to love all without exception. It is a commitment to the way of the cross. It is a commitment to trusting Jesus, even when it seems hard.

At one point of our lives, through baptism or a dedication or a prayer or a simple action, we committed ourselves to Jesus. And Jesus wants us to recommit ourselves. Because the life of the Christian is a life of re-commitment.

• We recommit ourselves through the taking of the Lord’s Supper, taking on the death of Jesus into ourselves.
• We recommit ourselves through praying the Lord’s Prayer.
• We recommit ourselves every time we act to serve another in Jesus’ name.
• We recommit ourselves when we help someone in need in Jesus’ name.
• We recommit ourselves when we do good to those who hurt us in Jesus’ name.
• We recommit ourselves each time we listen to and live in the Spirit.
• We recommit ourselves when we see Jesus in someone else and encourage them.

May every day, even every hour be another moment in which the Lordship of Jesus shines forth.