In Chi Alpha we have three pillars that we are challenged to live by. To be devoted, to live in community, and to take responsibility. Today I want to offer that challenge up to you, because these should be things prominent in every believer’s life.
The first pillar is to be devoted. Now, what does that mean? We need to be devoted to Christ, not just on Sundays when we go to church, but in every aspect of our lives. We need to show our devotion to God in the way we live. Devoting our time by reading our Bible and spending time in prayer. Devoting our finances by giving tithing. Devoting our lives by striving to live like Jesus every day. This shows that we are trusting God. Everyone is busy. You may be reading this thinking you don’t have time in your day to dedicate to reading your Bible or spending meaningful time in prayer. By taking that time and setting it aside to specifically devote it to God shows that you trust Him with your time and you know He will provide enough time in your day to get everything you need done.
When I get up in the morning the first thing I do is read my Bible. If I end up sleeping in, I make sure to do it that night. I try to read 4 chapters every day, two from the Old Testament and two from the New. I also take 15 minutes to just talk to God, no matter what it’s about. Whether it’s sitting docile for Him to speak to me or going through a prayer list, I talk to God for 15 minutes. I also set aside time to write this blog because I know this is something that God wants me to do. I try to show my devotion through the way I live, the way I talk to others and interact with people. Jesus said to, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” and trying to do that in your everyday life is a great way to show your devotion to God.
The second pillar is, to live in community. This means spending time with other believers. God wants us to go out and spread the gospel, but it’s also important to grow in your own relationship with Christ and spending time in fellowship with other believers is one of the best ways to do that. Join a Bible study. Take some time and have lunch with a friend from church. Even just taking the time to chat with some people after church instead of rushing home can do amazing things for your relationship with God. I’ve experienced this first hand.
Growing up, I didn’t really have any Christian friends. We didn’t start going to our home church until I was in 6th grade. The majority of my friends were Mormon and I only had a couple of friends from church. When I started college things changed a lot. I started going to Chi Alpha and met some of my very best friends there. Being surrounded by Christians grew my relationship with God enormously! I finally had people I could talk to about what God was doing in my life that were my age! The impact that living in community and fellowship with those Christians had on my life has been amazing. I have grown, in God, so much in the last year. I don’t even think I would recognize the person I was a year ago! Spending time living in community with other believers is life changing and gives you someone to live life with.
The last pillar is, to take responsibility. This one is a bit harder for all you introverts out there like me. Taking responsibility means to pour the love of God into others. God told us to, “go out and make disciples of all nations.” So go out and do it! Pick someone (or more than one person) in your life that you’re going to pour into this next week or even the next month or year. Talk to people about God and pour the love of Jesus into their lives. Take responsibility for helping God’s kingdom grow!
At the end of Chi Alpha this year they gave us a little card for the summer. On it we were supposed to write three things; a believer, a non-believer, and a residence hall floor at ISU. Those two people and the residence hall floor were what we were supposed to take responsibility for this summer. I prayed and God gave me more than just those three and I’ve been praying and doing my best to pour love into those people that God put on my heart. Sometimes it’s hard because a couple of them I don’t know very well. Luckily, all I have to do is trust God and He will give me the courage to start up a conversation and give me the words that will speak to their hearts!
The Chi Alpha pillars are what a believer’s life should look like. We need to be devoted to God, to live in community with other believers, and take responsibility for the job God gave us. My challenge to you this week is to think about how you are living out the pillars in your life and take time to live them out. Take time to read your Bible every day and pray. Spend some time with a fellow believer. Pray and ask God to point someone out in your life that you can take responsibility for. I would love to hear about how doing this impacts your life. Let me know in the comments.
I’m just the daughter of a small town girl… standing on the pillars God gave me.
Images taken from Google.
Just a Small Town Girl dot dot dot 