Being a “good” Christian doesn't need to be complicated

Many of us worry about how to be a "good” Christian. When you start to examine yourself as a Christian and work towards a deeper understanding of what it means to walk with the Lord, this can be an intimidating question. Trying to figure out what a "good” Christian looks like, and what's more, how to become one, can turn from a healthy reflection of faith to a mini-obsession. A concept that is so bewildering and large that it becomes crippling instead of motivating. 

That's okay. We need to ask ourselves the big questions every now and then. But, we also need to remember the basics. If you want to be a good Christian, than all you have to do is look to the best example we have – Jesus.

If we're going to be Christians, we should be ready to live up to the namesake. When you go about your daily life, are you doing so with Jesus in your heart? Do your actions reflect his attitudes and teachings? If so, you're doing fine. If you look inwards and see yourself acting and feeling in ways that Jesus wouldn't, you know where to improve.

Please, remember though, the idea is to emulate Jesus, to try and be more like him, not to be perfect. We're humans, fallible beings who are inherently imperfect. You'll never make the right call 100% of the time, you're going to stumble, give in to momentary doubts, anger, temptations. That's okay too, the Lord knows we're not perfect and is always willing to forgive our mistakes.

What's important, is the chase. To be actively seeking to be more Christ-like in your daily life. That's the path that you need to be on. 

Emulating Jesus isn't just about acting correctly and doing the right thing. It's about allowing Jesus into your heart and to work within you. It's about giving up control and becoming obedient to the Spirit. It's about allowing God to transform you and your life.

The more you seek to live a Christ-like life, the more you internalize those lessons. You'll spend less time fretting about how you should behave, and more time acting with the confidence and clarity of a person who is in-step with the Lord.

It might seem like an over-simplification, but being a good Christian isn't, and shouldn't, be about jumping through hoops or making impressive displays to prove your devotion. 

Open your heart, allow Jesus to take control and walk in his footsteps. Treat others with the grace, generosity, and mercy he has shown you. When you let Christ's love do the driving, you don't need to constantly analyze your worth as a Christian.