Once I had come to believe, to step out in faith, and to embrace the truth of God’s offer of salvation, I wondered, What do I do now? Some have summed up the Christian life after first believing as Trust God. Clean house. Help others. Pretty vague that. What exactly comes next?
A good starting point for me was what some have called, The Daily Deal, beginning the day with regular, two-way prayer: talking to God — and listening. Then, it was important to find a faith fellowship where I could learn and grow in the company of believers, which then included me.
After that came reading my Bible and putting it into action. Growing (which means changing) began. Someone said, “If you stole horses before you came to believe, you not only start a lifelong spiritual journey, but you stop stealing horses.“
Back in 1938, a new shampoo without soap was introduced, advertised on the radio in the 1940s with a jingle that ran, Halo is the shampoo that glorifies your hair! Someone hit on the idea from the old paintings of saints with glowing circles around their heads, which makes them stand out from everybody else in the picture.
But the real life of faith has nothing to do with appearing pious. Saints aren’t carvings on a cathedral wall or china figurines. Saints are simply God’s faithful people — you and me, living the life in Christ, called to do what God has given us to do.
“I … beg you to walk (lead a life) worthy of the [divine] calling to which you have been called [with behavior that is a credit to the summons to God’s service, living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another.” (Ephesians 4:1-2 AMPC)
Humility is the number one requirement of “sainthood”. The life of Christ on earth gives us the example that God set us to follow, foreshadowed all through the Old Testament, then depicted in the Gospels and fully explained in the Epistles. Someone said that the very best way for us to learn anything is to start by discarding our halo!
“And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], and put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:23-24 AMPC)
Prayer: Dear Father God, we acknowledge that we are sinners, not saints, until Your grace and mercy begins Your work in our hearts. We ask You to put our feet on Your road to righteousness and to keep us today close by Your side, living in constant touch with You and Your Word. Without Your help, we can do nothing. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Copyright © 2021, by Rose DeShaw <rise370@gmail.com>, first published on the PresbyCan Daily Devotional presbycan.ca .
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Reprinted from PresbyCan with author’s permission
