Christian Moderation

For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. ~1 Corinthians 2:2

The Bible teaches that as we grow in our relationship with Christ, our attention should grow more and more focused on Him to the point that all other things fade and lose all significance in our lives. Today's culture and society goes mightily against this idea. We are told from a young age to be "cautious" and "balanced" in our thinking. We are to have "moderation" in all things.

 This type of thinking certainly has some applicability to those things that we engage in for our own pleasure but, as disciples of Christ, we are not called to half-hearted service to God when it suits us but to full, intimate, personal, and passionate relationship with our Creator. We don't simply add a little Jesus to our already busy lives and go about our merry way. Instead we are to focus all of our attention on Him and in return He directs our paths.

Most people fear this type of talk because it sounds as if its a call to lose their own identity. The reverse is actually true. Focusing our attention completely on God actually allows us to discover and to become the person that we were originally designed and created to be. In all things ask yourself this question: What is the gospel purpose of what I am doing? If you find that you are engaged in any activity that does not serve to reflect the light of Christ's love then consider taking it to the Lord in prayer and asking for His direction.

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 3:13-14

(photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/huskyte/7512877940/)