I Accepted Christ: Now What?Sample

Living like a King

We should have been in an interior cabin on the ship, but due to an amazing string of events, we were upgraded to the presidential suite. We couldn’t believe it. Our suite had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a vast living room, and a massive, private, wrap-around balcony. We were living like royalty.

Toward the end of the week, a guest from another presidential suite asked us, “How are you guys enjoying your butler?” He told us his butler made reservations for him, delivered food from his favorite restaurants, handled his laundry, and showed him private areas of the ship reserved only for VIP guests. I had no idea. We might have been staying in the presidential suite, but as far as perks were concerned, we may as well have been living in a windowless, one-room cabin.

The same is often true for Christians. Jesus frees us from sin. He adopts us into God’s family and gives us a new identity, inheritance, power, and purpose. But then we continue to live our lives like nothing’s changed.

Jesus has set us free. The sins that once controlled us no longer have the same power. But we must choose to live differently. Will we practice sin and remain a slave or practice abiding in Christ and be free? Will we continue to strive after the same goals we once did, or will we conform to our new identity? When we need help, will we continue to muscle through on our strength, or will we reach out to our heavenly Father?

After hearing about the butler, my wife and I knew what we had to do. The following day, when I opened my bedroom door, there were two hot caramel macchiatos and a plate of pastries waiting for us on the table. It was the last day of the cruise, but hey—better late than never.

Are you living like a child of the King?

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At FamilyLife, we want to help every home to be a godly home, so we’ve gathered some of our best resources on spiritual growth in one place. If you need more help, please visit our “Accepted Christ ” page.