To understand and pursue the high calling of God in Christ, we must understand that we will constantly be given choices. Those who are given to fatalism will have a hard time comprehending this, much less liking it, but it is true and is actually very much a part of every Christian life. This is why the Lord put the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden. It was not to trip up Adam and Eve so they would sin, but there could be no true obedience unless there was freedom to disobey. There can be no...

         I shared how I had built a successful business while running from my calling in the Lord. I do think it was blessed by the Lord, because He will do all He can to bless us, even if we are not being perfectly obedient. However, as we see throughout the Scriptures, the Lord will bless many things He will not inhabit. Good can be the worst enemy of best, and there can be a great difference between good and best. We are all given the freedom to make this choice. Romans 12:2 exhorts,

And...

          I have been sharing some of my own story in this study, not as an example of a great Christian life, but from what I have learned being in pursuit of it. What we are addressing as “The Greatest Christian Life” is the life in pursuit of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus as the Apostle Paul described it. This is available to all who love the Lord more than anything else in this life and who esteem doing His will above anything they could possibly acquire for themselves. 

         As Paul wrote...

         Last week I shared how I had built a successful business while running from my calling. When the Lord finally confronted me and asked me to put my business on the altar, it quickly collapsed. This was also an answer to my prayer, though I was not expecting it to work out like that. Because of the business, I had many entanglements and obligations I asked the Lord to deliver me from so I could return to my calling. I just did not expect the answer to come that fast, but it was right. The judgments...

   As I promised, this week I will interject personal experiences I think could be helpful. However, because the title of this study is “The Greatest Christian Life,” I am not by any means implying my life is that. Some of the important things I am going to share are my mistakes with the hope they will help others avoid making the same ones.

   Looking back over my life, I think I did fairly well as a disciple, but not as good as a bondservant. I have struggled greatly with this aspect of my relationship with Christ. It took...