Are we living it?

Christianity is more than a confession. It's more than filling a pew on Sundays. It's so much more than playing a part.

Why do some churches preach grace and love and peace but shy away from teaching obedience?

Why are there so many people that will claim christianity but live lives deprived of morals?

Maybe we forget that christianity is an active thing. It's not something we confess, it's a life we actually live. Or maybe we struggle with loving God the way we should.

I'm embarrassed to say that I was tempted to steal a few days back. Let me explain.

I was at Walmart with my kids, shopping after work for their birthday party. It was late into the evening so we went to the deli and grabbed a cup of popcorn chicken. You know, the kind that they fill in a cup and you pay for it at the end of your shopping experience.

We ate the chicken, shopped for everything and paid for our stuff. Once out to the car, we loaded up and I looked over at the basket.. and you guessed it, that empty cup was up in the front of the cart. We hadn't paid for it.

The car was already on. It was hot. My cold stuff was ruining in the summer heat. Kash was already belted in his seat. But Jaedyn looked at me and said, "awe man, now we have to go back in!"

Of course we had to go back in.... for a Christian that's a no-brainer, and I was proud of her for saying it. But... it cost 2 dollars total and there was a piece of me that wanted to just get in the car and leave. After all, many people steal from the deli in grocery stores. It was only a couple bucks.

With my daughter looking at me for approval, we went back inside and paid for the cup of chicken.

And I realized... Satan is very good at what he does. He created the perfect situation for me to be tempted to steal that little cup. The late evening, the tired mama, the hot sun...

Truly, I'm embarrassed that I was tempted to steal. But the point is... we have to be committed to more than just a claim of faith. We have to live it. Even when temptation comes. And sometimes that means doing the inconvenient. Or the unpopular.

It means committing to purity before marriage. It means working as to the Lord even when your boss is hard to work for.

It means putting others ahead of yourself. It means humbling yourself to admit when you are wrong.

It means committing to fixing a relationship that is broken because you know it effects your spiritual walk.

It means forgiving when it's really, really hard.

Bottom line, it means bending our will to His.

We can't be "Sunday Christians". That's not what God has called us to be.

Let's be committed to living the life He has called us to. Because that's how we shine His light. And maybe, just maybe, that's how others will see a difference in us and want to know more about Him.

Isn't that what it's all about?

"If you love me, keep my commandments."- John 14:15