Playing to Win, Not Just to Stay in Bounds
The Christian life isn’t cautious edge-walking—it’s following the God who is Love into the lives He wants to touch through you.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said,
“Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God's will.”
“Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God's will.”
Yet many believers live as if they’re walking on spiritual thin ice—constantly afraid of misstepping, falling through, and taking Jesus down with them. Every decision becomes an internal debate: Is this of Him or me? Is this sin or not sin?
The Purpose Is More Than Staying Inside the Lines
Imagine a basketball player whose only goal is to avoid stepping out of bounds. Technically, he’s in the game—but he’s not playing the game. He’s missing the point.
The Christian life isn’t about cautious edge-walking—it’s about fixing our eyes on the God who is Love and letting Him lead us to those He wants to love through us.
Love Is the Command—and the Power
When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, He didn’t give a list of “don’ts.” He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart… and love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37–39).
Here’s the beautiful thing: God’s commands always come with His power to fulfill them.
We don’t just muster up love; we let Him love others through us. The pressure’s off—you don’t have to manufacture the love; you have to stay close enough for Him to pour it out through you.
Eyes on Him, Hands Ready to Serve
When our eyes are on Him, we stop obsessing over self-monitoring and start noticing who He’s placing in front of us. The conversation with a coworker, the kindness to a stranger, the phone call to a friend—these are the plays He calls when we’re willing to move beyond “safe” and into “Spirit-led.”
Reflection