To live centered on Christ is the difference between the LIFE that God desires for us and just living life with “faith” being a part of it. When we view our faith as simply a “piece of the pie” of our life as a whole, then we end up just living our life how ever we see fit and then when the time comes we do the religious thing. When we live like this, we may think that we are ok and that we have a balanced life, but this is not the Life that Jesus has for us. This way only leads to mediocrity in our faith and for many will lead to giving up the faith all together.

But to live Christ centered is to truly find Life the way it was meant to be lived. This is the life in which Christ (note not religion – but relationship with God through Christ by the Holy Spirit) is the center around which all of lifes activities revolve. When our relationship with Christ is the center, it will impact every area of life and that is what it was meant to be like!

So, how do we do it? How do we live Christ centered?

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Paul gives us a hint at how we can go about living with Christ as the center. He makes it pretty clear – whatever you do….word or deed…do it all. In other words, EVERYTHING YOU DO! Paul doesn’t just limit it to certain activities or parts of life, but all of life. And what he says next is the key: in the name of the Lord Jesus.

To do something in the name of Jesus means to do it as he would do it. How would Jesus wake up in the morning? How would Jesus treat his family? How would Jesus drive to work? How would Jesus interact with his boss and coworkers? How would Jesus treat his neighbors (even the annoying ones)? To do these things, the everyday life things, the way that Jesus would do them if He were you is how you “do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus”. And even though Jesus did not specifically do some of the things that we encounter (driving for example) we have a pretty clear record of how Jesus conducted his daily life in the Gospels. Spend some time reading Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John and take note of how Jesus lived among friends, family, neighbors, even enemies. His life shows the way for our life.

To live Christ centered is to truly Live. It is the way to find wholeness and to experience the power of God in every aspect of life. So, study the life of Jesus and look at your life and ask him to help you do everything in His name.