Focus: Christ-centered Living

Text: Phil.1:21

"For me to live is Christ..."

Make this Scripture the motivation of your life, especially this year.

This is the sum of the believer's life - Christ. We are to live a Christ-centered life. Paul in Col.3:4 says that Christ is our life.

Do you want to know what Christ's life on earth was? John says, "In Him was life; and the life was the light of men" - Jh.1:4. His life was light. If your life is Christ's, then let it be light to others. In your loving, let others see light. Jesus tells us to love AS he had loved us. He tells us to wash each other's feet even AS he had washed ours. In fact, Jesus says, "For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you" - Jh.13:15.

He also tells the Story of the Good Samaritan, and says to us at the end of it, "Go and do likewise."

Paul tells us, "...forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" - Eph.4:32.

Paul tells us again to be followers of God as dear children (Eph.5:1). Peter tells us that Christ has left us an example that we should follow in his steps. Be a shining example of life as it is meant to be, not life as it is. Life as it is, is terribly substandard, negative, ugly and evil.

Jesus says, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" - Mt.5:16.

That is the light of life and the light of good works. Life that glows. Christ-centered life is a God-glorifying life. Let the life of Christ shine through you. Don't hide it. The life of Christ is meant to be seen by all. You can't hide a city built on a hill. You can't hide cough. Go public with the life of Christ. Don't keep it private.

Christianity is not a private affair and it does not belong only to the heart. Christianity belongs everywhere, in private and in the public sphere. Someone needs to see Christ in the choices you make and in the actions you take, in your attitude and lifestyle, in your words and deeds, in the kind of life you live, in the relationships you keep, in the places you go, in the things you say and do, and in the kind of goals you pursue. Live a Christ-centered life. Amen.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter