Christianity is not a part-time endeavor.  Striving to be like Christ is a daily pursuit.  He is the goal at which we aim every day to reach the prize of heaven (Philippians 3:14).   Before we wind down this week, let us give some consideration to what everyday Christianity looks like.

Our Christianity should begin at home.  The devil wants us to think that it is alright to be less than we should be at home, as long as we let our light shine out in the world.  But the devil is a liar.  He has always been so (John 8:44).  Do not let him fool you.  How you behave in the privacy of your home matters.

If you are a married man, it matters what kind of husband you are at home.  You are responsible before God to be the spiritual leader.  Your wife and children should always see you putting God first in your life and demanding that from them as well.  Joshua once said, “…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).  He took the lead spiritually.

If you are a married woman, it matters what kind of wife you are at home.  When no one else is watching or listening, your role is to submit to the final authority of your husband, supporting him as he attempts to lead the family in doing God’s will.  Paul said that wives are to submit to their husbands as to the Lord (Ephesians 5:22), recognizing that to refuse to recognize his authority is to reject the authority of Christ Himself.

Both husbands and wives are to love one another at home, and love is demonstrative.  Children should see their parents treating one another with love and respect, creating an atmosphere of kindness and peace in the home.  When we are Christians at home, the home becomes a safe haven for all members of the family.  Outbursts of anger rarely, if ever, occur.  Disrespectful words are never spoken in a home where Christianity is applied.  Gossip is avoided, and so is a lot of negative talk about the church and its leaders.  When we are Christians at home, the home becomes a place that is conducive to spiritual growth and well-being.

Being Christians at home not only eliminates sinful behavior that causes chaos, but it also produces good works that are helpful for everyone.  When we are Christians at home, there are going to be Bible studies taking place and prayers being offered.  There is going to be hospitality shown to others, a time when Christians are getting together to enjoy one another’s company and talk about spiritual things.

I am not trying to paint a picture of complete euphoria in the home where Christians abide.  The best Christians in the world have faults and flaws that sometimes get the best of them.  Good and godly fathers sometimes lose their tempers.  Loving and submissive wives who love the Lord and live like Christ sometimes let down their guard and say things they later regret.  In short, we all sin from time to time (Romans 3:23).  But when Christians sin, they repent and ask God for forgiveness (Acts 8:22) and try their best not to repeat the sin.  The important thing is that even in homes made up of people who give in to the flesh once in a while (which is all of them), Christianity is practiced consistently, even though there is no one there to see it but God and family, and the home is blessed as a result.

Homes that are filled with Christ because Christianity is practiced in them are happy and blessed homes.  Places of refuge where souls are being strengthened and a place in heaven is being prepared.  Let us all be sure to be Christians at home because if we are not Christians there, we are not Christians at all.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.