What Does Being Christ-Centered Mean?

Leading a Christ-centered life is easier to talk about than to achieve. Here are four words that form the crux of being Christ-centered:

Goal

The ultimate goal of a Christ-centered life is Jesus gets the glory. Pursuing personal goals is not wrong, but the glory of Christ is what gives direction to all other goals.

We want Christ to be known, honored, obeyed, and worshipped, so we submit our other attainable goals to Him. Rather than selfish desires, new desires that we derive from His love control our decisions. (2 Cor. 5:14-15).

Source

A Christ-centered life focuses on realizing that the Lord is the source of everything that we are. He created us, owns us, gifted us with talents, and is the author of our story. He is the reason behind every blessing we receive (Gen. 1, Acts 17:26, James 1:17).

Moreover, our daily righteousness also stems from Christ. We have no moral ability or internal desire to live up to the standards set by the Bible on our own, but in Christ, everything we need for godly living—we have it (2 Pet. 1:3).

Hope

A Christ-centered life leaves everything up to the Lord. We know that eternity is coming, and this life isn’t all there is (1 Cor. 15:19, Rev. 21:4).

However, a Christ-centered life is more than just a way to stay away from hell. We have hope in the present because Christ has promised us His grace and presence until we return home.

Motive

A Christ-centered life means Jesus motivates us about everything we think, say, and do. Many of us leave little space for Christ in our Christianity—the person of Jesus doesn’t define our faith, our pride in tradition, and our ability to “keep the law” do.

A Christ-centered life is very intimate and motivated by a relationship—you want to know Christ (Phil. 3:10), be a part of His work, please Him, and incarnate His character.

Jesus patiently walks with us and fights for us as we work on making Him the center of our life.