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Blog by Alan Fadling

A Simple Yet Profound Question

I’ve been reflecting recently on my experience of God over forty-six years as a follower of Jesus. I can hardly believe it’s been that long! We sometimes talk about this as “living the Christian life.”

One of my mentors often asked us the question “What is the Christian life?” It sounds so basic. Wouldn’t even a beginner know the answer? But there are really so many answers that might be given. Here are just a few:

• Prayer or spiritual practices
• Church involvement
• Building community
• Working in ministry, whether paid or volunteer
• Working for justice
• Giving generously
• Sharing our faith with those who do not yet know Jesus

You probably can think of some other good answers.

Would you like to hear how my mentor answered the question? This is what he said:

“The Christian life is an ongoing relationship of intimacy with Jesus Christ.

So, when we talk about the Christian life, we don’t talk about what it is but who it is.”

There is a beautiful simplicity in that perspective!

The Ongoing Invitation of Jesus 

At the heart of the Christian life is not my initiative or my practices or my activities or my involvements. Jesus and my communion with him is the heart of living the Christian life.

One of the implications of this is that I am never on my own trying to live a Christian or Christ-like life for Jesus. Instead, I am learning to live my life and do my work in conversation with him, in interactive relationship. Rather than envisioning myself inviting Jesus into my life, it helps me to think instead of Jesus always inviting me into his life.

And so, I am never alone in this life of faith. The One I trust is faithfully present to me. The One I seek to follow is actually leading me in my moment-to-moment and day-to-day life.

I recognize that there have been seasons when the Christian life has felt burdensome or overwhelming. In the end, that was primarily because my vision of this life consisted mostly of a growing list of tasks and commitments that never seemed to end.

It has helped when I think of the various facets of living a life of growing faith as many spokes in a single wheel. The hub of that wheel is the presence of Jesus with me. The Spirit of God enables me to be awake and alive to Christ who brings everything together.

So, again, the Christian life has Christ at its center rather than my practices or commitments or involvements. All those are simply responses to Jesus, who is always with me in the power of his Spirit.

For Reflection:

• Where am I living for Jesus instead of with Jesus today?
• What would it look like to center my day around his invitation instead of my obligations?
• How might I listen more deeply for the living voice of my Good Shepherd this week?