Responsible Living The Gift Of My Life

How can I live responsibly before God and others?

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)

While in recovery we learn to accept responsibility for our actions, even when we are powerless over our addiction, over others around us, or over certain factors in our circumstances. 

We often wander through months and years of our life not satisfied with the person we are, and/or, the circumstances we find ourselves in.  We blame individuals and organizations for not doing what they should have done to take care of us.  Some of us have deceived ourselves by justifying our behaviour and the consequences of the bad choices we have made.  We have hurt others with our angry, hurtful words and behaviour, or chosen to stay silent to avoid dealing with the shame and pain that came from the negative choices we made.  With time, it becomes clear that all our actions yield consequences and that we are accountable for the choices we have made. 

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. (Galatians 6:7 NKJV)

Our life is a gift from God and our faithful use of that gift is primarily a function of our relationship with Him.  We have been given free will to make life choices and it is our responsibility to use well what He has given us.  If we start from any other base we will demand more of God, people or situations and use failure to live up to our standard as an excuse for our own poor behaviour.  We were created by God for specific plans and purposes.  When we actively choose to live in loving relationship with God, seek His will with all our hearts and carry out His will in our daily living, we will experience a life that no one, and no set of circumstances, can steal from us.  We will experience a richness of God's blessing that we will not know how to contain and contentment that is deeper than we ever thought possible.

Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.  You know the saying, Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. (John 4:34 NLT)   (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT)