In my experience, redeemed followers of Jesus will readily communicate their desire to live Christ-centered lives. It only makes sense that those who have been saved from the eternal consequence of their sin would want to leverage their lives for the glory of the God who rescued them. For so many of us, the sentiment is spot-on, but the implementation is desperately lacking. We say that our lives are Christ-centered, but the fruit of our lives tells a very different story.
As you launch into this new week with your mind set on living a Christ-centered life (and for those of you who are married living a Christ-centered marriage) it might prove beneficial to do a quick inventory. Take a quick look at your calendar and see if the priority of your faith is evident. Evaluate your daily routines and see if personal spiritual development is obvious. Pull up a bank statement and see what percentage of your income is going to Christ-centered work, locally and around the world. Honestly evaluate your parenting priorities and see if they primarily exalt the spiritual health of your children.
It has been true in my own life, and I have seen it in many others over the years: we say we want Christ-centered lives and marriages, yet the evidence suggests we are centered on lesser things. If you look at your calendar and notice there are no regularly scheduled meetings with other believers that sharpen your faith, your life and marriage may not be as Christ-centered as you thought. If you evaluate your daily routines and have trouble finding consistent times of Bible study and prayer, your life and marriage may not be as Christ-centered as you thought. If you look at your bank statements and are unable to find a pattern of giving generously to your church and other Gospel-focused ministries, then your life and marriage may not be as Christ-centered as you thought. If you take a sober look at your parenting priorities and notice you are more supportive of your student’s academic work, athletic commitments or musical gifts than you are of their spiritual development, your life and marriage might not be as Christ-centered as you thought.
I think you will benefit from auditing your life and priorities because we are so easily fooled into believing we are Christ-centered when so often we are not. Once you do the audit, if you are able to celebrate the fact that your life and marriage are Christ-centered, then by all means, celebrate. If you discover you are not as Christ-centered as you assumed, don’t beat yourself up. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Praise God for your newfound clarity and commit to making the necessary changes.
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
— Colossians 3:17