- Expresses faith through daily decisions and actions
- Derives moral principles and ethical guidelines from faith
- Willingly shares personal resources with others
- Commits life to Jesus
- Applies faith to political and social issues
“Human being is being with other humans. Apart from this relationship we become inhuman. We are human by being together, by seeing, hearing, speaking with, and standing by, one another as men.” Karl Barth
Taking the beliefs that we affirm in church on Sundays and applying them during the other six days of the week can be challenging, but it is an essential part of expanding our faith and developing a more meaningful understanding of God’s purpose for us. The decisions that we make on a daily basis – how we treat people, how we manage our finances and our health and how we spend our free time are all expressions of our faith.
How so? Consider what happens to us when we leave our comfort zone and use our free time to assist at the food pantry or to provide career counseling for people searching for a job. Or what our children learn when we decide to spend part of our family vacation on a mission project. Or when we allow ourselves to be led by our faith and vote our conscience, rather than choosing for other reasons. When we follow Jesus and allow him to guide our daily decisions and actions, we enrich our own lives and the lives of others.
- Where might God be asking you to go beyond your comfort zone?
- What prevents you from sharing more of your personal resources?
- Which parts of your life do you still need to turn over to Jesus?
- As you look at the world around you, think about some things that are inconsistent with the Gospel message. In what ways might God be calling you to take action?
