Posted on by Dr. J

Christianity in practice

We cannot be said to be true Christians until the religion of Christ becomes our animating motive and our predominating principle and pursuit as much as worldly things are the predominating motive, principle, and pursuit of worldly men. Thus no man ought to flatter himself that he is in the favor of God whose life is not consecrated to the service of God.

Christ has been made unto us both righteousness and sanctification, both a right standing before God and right living before God, 1Cor 1.30. Christianity therefore must not only cast our opinions into a new frame, but our hearts into a new mold. Regeneration is a transforming principle which changes the taste, giving new activity to new desires, and brings a new heart, producing a new life–even if only one step at a time. 

Therefore–get this–Practical Christianity is simply the actual operation of Christian principles. It is standing by on the lookout for occasions to exemplify Christian principles. It is exercising ourselves unto godliness in practical, real life situations, 1Tim 4.7.
For example, we may have no way of knowing in the morning what opportunities we may have of doing good during the day; but as Christians, we’re to keep our hearts open, our minds prepared, and our affections alive to do whatever good arises in the way of our calling during the day. We are, as it were, to standby awaiting the orders of God’s providence. And since doing good is our vocation, we reject no duty which comes within the sphere of our rightful calling. Moreover, once we’ve done one good action, it is so far from furnishing us with an excuse for avoiding another that it rather provides us with a ground from which we can better embark upon another good action. In this light we’re able to look not so much at the works we’ve accomplished as at the works which we still have to do. And what a model for our humble imitation is provided by the Son of God who was clothed with our humanity! He dwelt among us that the pattern for practical piety might be brought near and rendered more engaging and that the conformity might be made more practicable, 1Pet 2.21. For His life was one unbroken series of good actions. 

On the same note, it should therefore be our sincere endeavor to illustrate our morning devotions by our actions throughout the day. So that if, for example, we utilize the Lord’s Prayer in our morning devotions, then we should try to make our conduct during the day a practical exposition of that prayer. We should desire to hallow the name of God in our sphere and to promote the advance and coming of the kingdom of Christ with our own hands and mouths. We should endeavor to do and suffer all that God requires of us that day and to forgive others as we ourselves have been forgiven. We should resolve to avoid that temptation into which we prayed not to be led and we should labor to shun that evil from which we prayed to be delivered. In this way we make our prayers as practical as our conduct and we labor to render our conduct as spiritual as our prayers. 

As you finish out this last day of another week and prepare to be in God’s house and presence tomorrow for worship, may the Lord show you those areas of your life in which you’re not living out the prayers you pray and may you find mercy and forgiveness in His love. And as you come into His presence tomorrow, may He open your ears to hear His direction, open your hearts to receive His counsel, and enable your wills to live out the faith you believe, to practice your Christianity in the coming week, in your marriage, your home, your school, your work, your very life.

Enjoy a blessed Lord’s Day!