Your life is made of the choices you make. Every moment and every decision helps to shape your character and your habits. Effective Christians are determined to make choices that will make them more and more useful to the Lord. Paul said it this way in Philippians 3:14:

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Effective Christians are not satisfied with their current progress in godliness. This is the second in a series of five posts designed to provide habits which will help Christians extend their Christlike qualities beyond the church building and into their life every day.

In 1 Corinthians 9 Paul wrote about the importance of examining your life to be sure no roadblocks are standing in the path of the gospel. He changed his lifestyle and habits to be acceptable to the people around him so that they would listen when he spoke to them about the gospel of Christ. Verses 22 and 23 summarize the priorities which directed his life:

“I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.”

His salvation and the salvation of the people around him were Paul’s priorities. He was not always well received, but if some were saved by the gospel then whatever pain or difficulties Paul faced were of no concern (Rom. 8:18).