Weekend, March 14, 2020
Practical Spirituality
“For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.” (Philippians 1:10 nlt)
When I think about the great hospitals and universities in our nation, in almost every case (at least in their original state), they were founded by followers of Jesus Christ.
Or look at the great relief organizations in the world today. Many of them are Christian organizations. Christians are constantly on the front lines wherever people are suffering. It doesn’t matter whether the people they’re helping believe or don’t believe. If there’s a tragedy, if there’s a calamity, then you’ll find Christians providing help.
C. S. Lewis said, “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next.” How true.
Real spirituality is practical. In fact, the most godly men and women I’ve had the privilege of meeting over the last forty-plus years always have been very down-to-earth, genuine people. And they’re often fun-loving with a self-deprecating sense of humor.
Heavenly minded people are gracious and approachable. They’re accessible. I think the apostle Paul was an example of this in so many ways. He cared about the church. But he also said, “I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live” (Philippians 1:23–24 nlt).
And of course, there’s no greater example of this than Jesus Himself. Jesus was practical. He was God in human form, walking among us. Jesus lived a real life on Planet Earth. He was an actual, living human being, but He also was God.
Some people criticize Christians by saying they’re so heavenly minded, they’re no earthly good. But the reality is that when you’re truly heavenly minded, then you’ll be of the greatest earthly good.
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