Living in the Light: Moving from Religion to a Life-Changing Relationship with Jesus

Summary

Many grow up religious yet remain in spiritual darkness, knowing about God without a changed life. Like Paul before his conversion, believers can oppose Christ through pride and harmful actions toward fellow Christians. Living in the light begins with personally encountering Jesus, surrendering to His authority, and embracing the ministry He assigns. God calls all believers to witness, serve others, and reproduce spiritually. Authentic faith transforms living.

From Religion to Relationship

Being brought up in the church, I had certain advantages. Church attendance was a habit (my father enforced it!). I regularly heard God’s word preached and taught. Nevertheless, without realizing it, I lived in the darkness. I knew about God. But it did not change how I lived.

Zeal Without Knowledge

Some people who live in the darkness try to serve God. The Apostle Paul was once zealous toward God (Acts 22:3) while actively opposing Him. Many religious people live like that.

Paul said that the Jews had zeal for God but not according to knowledge (Romans 10:1-2). They tried to establish their righteousness. They did not submit to the gift of God’s righteousness (Romans 10:3). I did the same without their zeal.

Many people know about God but do not know Him. They profess to believe Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross for their sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Yet their beliefs do not change how they live. Many things are more important to them than serving Christ. Life after “belief” is the same as life before it.

Persecuting Christ by Hurting His Body

At one time, Paul took great pride in persecuting Christians (Acts 22:4-7). In the name of serving God, he persecuted Jesus’ servants and Jesus Himself (Acts 22:7).

He persecuted Jesus because believers are part of Jesus’ body (Colossians 1:18). Tragically, we sometimes whack away at other believers through criticism, spite, jealousy, envy, rudeness, or a desire for power. Jesus, the Head of the body, feels the pain. Have you persecuted Jesus lately?

A Personal Encounter with Jesus

Living in the light begins with a personal encounter with Jesus. It is as real and the results as obvious as Paul’s encounter on the road to Damascus. On that road, a light came on inside Paul. The same happens to us when we encounter Jesus. Turn on the lights in the living room of your life.

Living in the light means personal submission to Jesus. Paul asked, “What shall I do, Lord?” (Acts 22:10 NIV). His words drip with repentance—turning from self-centered to God-centered living. Submission to Jesus is repentance’s firstborn child. Does Paul’s question describe your attitude toward God?

Living in the Light

Living in the light includes God’s calling you from a dark, purposeless existence to a specific Kingdom-building ministry. He told Paul to go to Damascus. There, he would be told what to do. What has God chosen you to do? It is a vital discovery.

God chose Paul to be a witness (Acts 22:14-15). He selected him to be fruitful and to reproduce spiritually. He chose you to do the same. Your tasks are evangelism, nurturing, and serving believers in the faith so that they, in turn, will do the same.

That is living in the light. The Kingdom of God has no twilight zone! See additional free spiritual growth resources for Christians.   #freediscipleshipresources #freeevangelismresources #freechristianleadershipresources

God has empowered me to write His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength. It’s a free, evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship e-book. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead 7,541 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 17,361 people. I invite you to explore and use it in your setting.

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