No Lounging in Christ (Pt. 1) - Damon J. Gray

Sometimes, Alean and I will jump into the Jeep and go for an aimless drive. We have no destination in mind. We just pick a direction and start driving, trying, if possible, to select roads we have never previously driven.

When we do this, our goal is simply to get out of the house and see something beautiful in Whatcom County. It is entirely possible that there is not a more beautiful spot on the face of the earth than Whatcom County, Washington.

Aimless. Just there for the ride. Drifting with the currents.

When it comes to life in Christ, this drifting approach will not serve us well.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. – 1 John 1:7, ESV

Our calling in Christ is active. We walk in the light. That involves movement, decision, effort.

I’ll risk being labeled as judgmental and say that I see far too much lounging in the body of Christ, and far too little walking in the light. We easily fall victim to basking in the light, coasting with Jesus when our entire call to follow Jesus is a call to action.

Our discipleship is not a destination, but a journey. We do not coast with the currents, but rather take deliberate, decisive action as servants of Yeshua.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. – Galatians 5:25, NIV-1978

We are led by the Spirit of God in our walk, and by definition, if we are “led,” that means we are moving. We are active.

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. – Romans 8:14, ESV

We are pressing on toward the goal of our upward call in Christ (Philippians 3:14). and just as we say “yes” to a decisive life of action as one walking in the Spirit, this same calling is a decision to say “no” to a damaging lifestyle.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16, ESV

A life of submission to the Holy Spirit of God enables us to crucify the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:24) Our desires become aligned with the Spirit’s desires, and we feel no loss at the removal of worldly passions from our inner drives.

Remember the beautiful redundancy from Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” We are free to completely indulge ourselves – in fruit – spiritual fruit.

• We are free to love.
• We are free to spread joy.
• We are free to live in peace.
• We are free to be patient.
• We are free to exude kindness.
• We are free to dispense goodness.
• We are free to be faithful.
• We are free to embody gentleness.
• We are free to exhibit self-control.

Please understand that we are free to indulge ourselves to the extreme in any or all of these virtues and find ourselves in no trouble whatsoever. We generally do not stir up difficulty or contention with others by being overly gentle, or just way too kind and loving.

Next week, we will continue our contrasting examination of walking in Christ versus lounging in Christ.