“…so that Christ may
dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and
established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people,
to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know
this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all
the fullness of God.” –Ephesians 3:17-19
While I am sitting on my couch in an apartment piled high
with books and papers, with my studying plan in front of me, and while facing
exams in each of my classes this week, I have to wonder why I decided this
moment would be a good time to write a blog. Maybe it’s because I have not been
able to write one in a really long time and I miss it? Maybe it’s because I am
so exhausted from studying and want to procrastinate? Or maybe it’s because the
concept of this blog has been growing and growing in my heart. My blog is
generally intended to reach women, but today I need to blog about a universal
ideal that is resonating in my soul -- the idea of having a heart purely for
Christ.
It is easy to say we have a heart for Christ, but it isn’t
until we ask our Heavenly Father to open our blind eyes to the reality we live
in that we truly see how far off we are. It’s easy to say we have a heart for
Christ, yet not wait those extra few seconds to hold the door open for someone.
It’s easy to say we have a heart for Christ, yet wear clothes that are too
tight, too short, or too low-cut. It’s easy to say we have a heart for Christ,
yet we talk about Him more than we
talk with Him. It’s easy to say we
have a heart for Christ, yet make an unkind comment about someone. You see,
it’s not about what we say. It is all about what we do.
This might seem obvious to many, if not most of you.
However, living on a college campus (which is quite amusing and comical at
times!), being in love for the first time, and trying (notice I said trying) to
be more and more Christ-like, I have seen many shortcomings in myself. I have
also had the honor of speaking with teens and adults who see the same
shortcomings within themselves. As Christians -- and I use that term lightly
because there are many self-proclaimed “Christians” out there who don’t follow
the gospel -- it’s easy to bolster our own faith by comparing ourselves to
others. “Well I haven’t done that, so I am okay.” “He/she doesn’t do this like
I do, so I am okay.” Let me tell you, comparing ourselves and our faith like
this gives us a totally false sense of accomplishment that we are “okay” and
“doing enough” for God.
What does it mean to have a Christ-like heart? Not only a
heart for Christ, but also a heart like Christ. It should go without saying
that absolutely no one who has ever walked this earth, or will ever walk this
earth, had or will have the heart of Christ. No one. That doesn’t mean,
however, we cannot strive for it every minute of our life.
How? Here’s my list of a few things to think about:
- Is the attitude and presence you have during your most stressful week (whether it’s exam week, tax week, kids’ out-of-school week) to the person you love most a forgiving, encouraging, and understanding attitude? Or is it an attitude where you know you can act “less than” and the person will still love you?
- Are the pictures you post on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc. pictures that exude the joy, confidence, and peace found in Christ? Do they represent the purity we are to have?
- Are the texts you send and the words you speak ones that are pleasing to His ears and His ears alone?
- Do you wear clothes that allow men to look at you and see you for you, or are they clothes intended to cause men to lust after you?
- When you are alone, in a rush, and running errands, is the way you treat strangers (elderly, children, cashiers, fast-food workers, etc.) an example of God’s humbleness and passion for goodness?
- Do you always try to go the extra mile for the people closest to you? Leave them encouraging notes? Surprise them with a meal or their favorite candy? Offer to pray with them?
- Are the things you do behind closed doors (by yourself or with your significant other) honoring God? Are they honoring your God-made body? (It doesn’t matter if you’re going to end up getting married in the future.) I know this one is easily “justified” by many people, but there is no such thing as justification for our sins. It’s called repentance…and not doing it again. Although forgiveness is given to us through the cross, it by no means is a free pass to continue our sinful life.
- Are your thoughts about other people, whether you know them or not, Christ-centered? Holy and blameless?
I write these questions as a way to challenge/remind us all
of how we need to be acting, especially those of us who proclaim Jesus Christ as
our Lord and Savior. It’s not about asking for prayers or posting a bible verse
here and there when you need it most, yet going out to the clubs on the
weekends and getting drunk for everyone to see. It’s not about reading
scripture once a week, and then disrespecting others, or complaining about your
life to the whole world. It’s not about praying only when you need guidance and
when you need forgiveness; it’s about praying for other people and praying when
life is awesome. You see, it isn’t about what we say. It’s about what we do. It
is about a life abiding in Christ.
Only by living a life of discipline with our hearts; having
our minds and words full of mercy; having a humble, servant’s heart; and giving
ourselves over for the welfare of others and the glory of God’s kingdom, can we
begin to have a Christ-like heart. We must strip ourselves of the world’s loves
and concerns and live a life that is set apart from the world; one that is set
to do the will of our Father above. As Paul wrote to Timothy, “No soldier in
active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he
may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.” (2 Tim 2:4).
Loving with our whole heart is all about bringing pleasure
to the One we love.
-Love in Christ,
Leighton
