Last week we established from the Scriptures that being a Christian is not a “part-time” job. In that article, we showed how this truth applies to parents as they rear their children. However, this concept has many other vital applications in our lives as Christians. Think about how it applies in the three areas mentioned in the following paragraphs.
True Christianity has no part-time encouragers of brethren. Look at the example of Paul and how his life reflects the life of Christ. Paul said, “Imitate me just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). His letters show how he uplifted other Christians with encouraging words. He said, “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all” (Rom. 1:8); “I thank my God always concerning you” (1 Cor. 1:4); “I…do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers” (Eph. 1:6); “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request of you all with joy” (Phil. 1:3-4). (See also Col. 1:3; 1 Thess. 1:2-3; 2 Thess. 1:3; 1 Tim. 4:12; 2 Tim. 1:3; Tit. 1:4; Phile. 1:4). Imagine how encouraging it would be to know that Paul was praying all the time and mentioning you in every prayer. Space does not permit discussing Barnabas who was given this name by the apostles because it means “son of encouragement.” We need to imitate these men whose lives encouraged others!
True Christianity has no part-time pray-ers. Reread the previous paragraph to see the truth that we must never be those who casually and sometimes pray for the church and our brothers and sisters. This is far different from an occasional mention of them in prayers. James said, “Pray for one another…the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (Jas. 5:16). Prayer is not simply a crisis management activity. Pray for others; pray for the weak; pray for the lost world. It cannot be a “part-time” section of our lives.
True Christianity has no part-time soul winners. Lift up your eyes like Jesus. He came to be a soul winner. He truly saw more than people. He saw lost souls. He saw the souls of ignorant and unlearned fishermen, of the woman taken in adultery, of the woman at the well, of the thief on the cross, of children, of the hypocritical Jewish leaders, of the disciples who ran away and left Him alone in Gethsemane. He saw souls and did all He could to save them. He never met anyone who He did not seek to bring them one step closer to God. It was who He was and who He still is.
True Christianity is not a Sunday morning only activity. It is not just coming to worship regularly. It is not just what we do some of the time, nor what we do most of the time. Christianity is not a part-time job. It is not like a full-time job. It is who we are! He gave His life for us, and we give our lives to Him.