Accepting the Challenge

By Mark Ray

People are at their best when they rise to meet a challenge. Anyone can live a mediocre life that settles and never strive for excellence, but all that will be left at their end will be a sense of what might have been. Living a life committed to following Christ is the most challenging life of all. Some view Christianity as a dull, boring way of life; yet the truth is just the opposite.

Are you willing to:

• Remain pure in a world filled with immorality (Phil. 2:15)?
• Be kind when you are offended? (Eph. 4:32)?
• Control your tongue when others slander you (James 3:1-10)?
• Control your desires when bombarded by enticing commercials (James 1:14-15)?
• Refrain from revenge when hurt by others (Rom. 12:17-21)?
• Walk in the light while in a world of darkness (Eph, 5:8)?
• Refuse to listen to “juicy” gossip (Prov. 17:9)?
• Set your affections on things above when materialism surrounds you (Col. 3:1-2)?
• Hold in check your physical drives when fornication and adultery is practiced so openly by others (1 Cor. 6:9-11)?
• Appreciate what you have when others think that more is better (Col. 3:5, 15-17)?
• Control your temper while incurring an injustice (Eph. 4:26)?
• Select a holier vocabulary than that used by the world (Eph. 4:26)?
• Tell the truth even when it hurts (Eph. 4:25)?
• Esteem others more highly than yourself, even though society is told to assert itself and take control (Phil. 2:3-5)?
• Bear with a friend even when he’s wronged you again (Col. 3:13)?
• Deal gently with erring brothers (Gal. 6:1-2)?
• Forgive one who has shamed you (Col. 3:13)?
• Stand for truth when it is unpopular (Gal. 4:16)?
• Study God’s Word and pray daily (1 Tim. 2:15)?
• Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, in spite of other organizations, events, opportunities and individuals that vie for your attention (Matt. 6:33)?
• Resist Satan as he repeatedly attacks you (Eph. 4:27, 6:11)?

G.K. Chesterson writes, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.” Are we ready to step up to this greatest challenge?

- Mark Ray; via The Encourager, the weekly bulletin for the Calvert City church of Christ, Calvert City, KY. Lance Cordle preaches for the congregation. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com