![being a Christian Student on the campus - eating and drinking Christ, and staying in the Body! [picture: CASS Business School, City University, London, UK]](https://i0.wp.com/agodman.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/cass-business-school.jpg?resize=300%2C249&ssl=1 "being a Christian Student on the campus - eating and drinking Christ, and staying in the Body! [picture: CASS Business School, City University, London, UK]")
After a few years of work experience in banking, the Lord brought me back as a student studying finance abroad (in London). In spite of my busy and stressful schedule at the school, there were three things upholding my church life – which was so full of supply – and making me vital as a Christian student here.
Not merely being delivered out of the authority of darkness but those serving the Lord as the royal priesthood
1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people acquired for a possession, so that you may tell out the virtues of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
During my first month in the UK, with the grace of the Lord, I had an opportunity to blend with the brothers here. This time gave me a vision of the Lord’s move in Europe and a deeper understanding of the Christian life. In 1 Peter 2:9 we can see that we are not merely those who have been saved from our sin and sins but also those who are priests serving the Lord. As a result, we can see that our education is not just for getting a better job but it makes us functioning members of the Body. By studying hard at school we are made capable to set up a proper testimony among the classmates and colleagues in the future, and we have the opportunity to preach the gospel to the people around us.
Eating and drinking of the Lord is the foundation of the church life
John 1:4 “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”
We are what we eat. The food we eat every day constitutes our being. Therefore, eating and drinking of Jesus is crucial for the church life. In John 1:4 we can see that “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” When we enjoy the Lord by eating of Him, the fountain of the water of life will gush up. Although I did not make it to read the Word every day, I can testify that whenever I enjoy His Word, His riches supply me and fill my heart with Himself spontaneously.
Staying in the reality of the Body of Christ makes us vital
1 Thessalonians 2:7 “But we were gentle in your midst, as a nursing mother would cherish her own children.”
2 Timothy 2:22 “But flee youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
John 21:15 “He said to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You. He said to him Shepherd My sheep.”
Staying in the reality of the Body of Christ caused me to see the three aspects to make us vital. Firstly, the elder saints nourish us as our spiritual father/mother, supplying us with the riches of Christ and taking care of us in our daily life. Next, with the spiritual companions, we pursue the Lord together and support and encourage one another no matter what spiritual status we are in. Thirdly, in the reality of the Body, the love of Christ constrains us to shepherd His sheep, making us turn to Him to pray for and take care of others. Those three aspects will truly vitalize us and uphold our church life.
Forgetting the things behind and stretching forward to the things before
Philippians 3:12-14 “Not that I have already obtained or am already perfected, but I pursue, if even I may lay hold of that for which I also have been laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I do not account of myself to have laid hold; but one thing I do: Forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before.”
Finally, I would like to encourage all the Christian students (and myself also) with these verses in the chapter 3 of Philippians. As a Christian living in this current age, sometimes we might experience a failure of our spiritual life. Sometimes we might trip and fall a bit. Just remember the power of the blood of Jesus Christ. Just remember that even the apostle Paul said “Not that I have already obtained or am already perfected” and then the next phrase says, “But I pursue.” Yes! We can pursue! We have the right to pursue our precious Lord! Pursue Him with the saints! Let us forget the things behind, stretch forward to the things before, and pursue toward the goal together to the New Jerusalem.
