Jay and I have the honor and joy of teaching the Exploring Peachtree class together. During the class, Jay reviews what it means to be a Presbyterian. He explains that one of the tenets of our reformed faith is that we are to bring glory to God. For much of my life, I would not have been able to explain what that really meant.
Dallas Willard says it this way: “I am learning to live my life as Jesus would live my life if He were I.” If Jesus were living life as a grandmother, a lawyer, an accountant, or a stay-at-home mom, how would He live that life?
A few years ago, I attended the funeral of Marty Mann, president of a large mechanical engineering company here in Atlanta. In the pulpit at Peachtree, one person after another told story after story of his influence on their lives. One of Marty’s friends told the story of a young employee who was arrested for drinking and driving, and, as a result, was no longer able to drive to work. If I had been his boss, I would probably have fired him pronto. But what did Marty do? He picked him up for work every day. Marty brought glory to God and lived out his life as if Jesus were the president of his company. Can you imagine the impact Marty had on the life of that young man? And on others who saw what Marty chose to do every day?
The goal of our Christian life is to become more and more like Jesus so that each one of us, through the power of the Holy Spirit, can live our life as He would live it. While such a goal might seem lofty and unattainable, what greater goal is there for the Christian life? Though we may stumble, we continue onward toward that goal, from glory to glory. Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.