Devotionals

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How strange it is to hear the phrase “..in Christ” all the time in church and among other Christians but when those who are touting the phrase are asked what it means they draw a blank. Or they rattle off some religious explanation about being a Christian, honoring God and putting Christ first place in their lives. Those things or actions could be considered by-products of being in Christ, but they fall far short of describing what it means to be in Christ.

Have you ever met a Marine? Odds are that you have. They may not have been wearing their dress uniforms or they may not have been 19 years old. They may have been 65 years old mowing their lawn, or in a suit selling you a new car but you have met a Marine. You see, Marines have this saying “Once a Marine, Always a Marine”. It doesn’t matter if they are actively serving within the Marine Corps or if they are retired, or actively doing something else. It doesn’t matter how old they are or what they are wearing. They are, and always will be, Marines.

There comes a time in their basic training when they make a declaration and swear an oath to the United States and to the Marine Corps, and from that moment on they are no longer just Mommy’s little boy or girl…they are “Marines”. If you were to ask them about it they would explain that it is much more than simply belonging to a group or being “in” a club. It is more than simply waking up early and performing a duty. It is a lifestyle.

There seems to be an inordinate amount of Christians that believe that being “In Christ” is an action, or a set of actions that when taken or done all together make up a religious experience. But that is not what Jesus meant when He said we must abide in Him. (John 15:4-7) Jesus didn’t have in mind that we should simply honor God and put Jesus first place in our lives. If that were so He would have said it. In fact when he was asked what was the greatest commandment He didn’t say “Honor the Lord.” He said “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, might, and mind.”(Deut 6:5; Mat 22:37; Mar 12:30; Luke 10:27) And He did not ask us to place Him first place in our lives….He told us to abide in him, and to abide in his Love and then he told us to love one another.(John15)

I am not saying anything strange or anti-God. But I am questioning what most of us “think” is expected from us as Christians. Jesus reminded us that our first and primary goal is to Love the Lord our God with EVERYTHING! Then He told us to love one another. And guess what! If you truly love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength you will love your neighbor…because love and hate can not co-exist.

“Well, I don’t hate them I just don’t like them.” You might say.

But Jesus says that that isn’t good enough. It isn’t good enough to just “not” hate them. He wants us to; on purpose, without a doubt, determinedly love our neighbor.

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