Real Christians Lean
Series: Authentic Living in an Artificial World – City Church of Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN
Several years ago Bill Gaither wrote a song, entitled “Learning to Lean.” Leaning is not something that comes easily to many of us. Our stubborn independence causes us to view leaning as a sign of weakness. However, leaning is a good Biblical word and is another one of the marks of a real Christian
REAL CHRISTIANS LEAN AWAY
Proverbs 3:5, Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; acknowledge him in everything you do, and he will direct your ways. Life brings us face to face with the issue of trust. The Hebrew word for trust means “to lean your whole weight on something in order to rest on it.”
Trusting always involves risk. Solomon gives us two options regarding trust: God or our own understanding. Real Christians live victoriously in the realities of life.
They acknowledge God and his truth in every aspect of life: the mysteries and in the known.
Often, life is like flying the dark, and we must choose between flying by the instruments or by our perception. Real Christians lean away from conventional wisdom and
trust in the wisdom of God.
REAL CHRISTIANS LEAN INTO
Philippians 3:12-14, I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me…But one thing I do:
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Real Christians embrace God’s call and lean into it. Real Christians are Plan A people in a Plan B world. They live as aliens and strangers in the world (1 Peter 2:11). They live as Children of the Light (Ephesians 5:8). Real Christians lean into God’s destiny to be… (1 Peter 2:9)
A Chosen People
A Royal Priesthood
A Holy Nation
A people belonging to God.
REAL CHRISTIANS LEAN ON
Galatians 6:2-5, Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ…Each one should test his own actions…for each one should carry his own load. Independence is not always admirable. Interdependence is a Biblical principle which carries the idea of mutual dependency. Real Christians understand the value of community. There is a difference between leaning on and using. 1 Thessalonians 5:14, …Warn the idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
Lean away…from conventional wisdom
Lean into…divine purpose
Lean on…the community of faith.
