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The world is divided.
No matter how loudly some people scream about having only one race, it’s still relatively complex to experience a sense of unity. With billions of people traversing it, each having their own beliefs and opinions and living their own lives, there’s no questioning why there’s only little space for peaceful coexistence. Humanity is composed of unique individuals fighting for their survival and growth. Hence, personal desires often have to precede the intentions of any unifications.
If only there were a way, a common ground, to unite everyone.
A Book About a God-Centered Life and Humanity’s Unity
For the Love of God, a spiritual book by Tony Antonellis aims to solve this ever-pressing problem. To write the book, the author has dug back into the earliest of times to come up with a way to unite a divided world. In his search, he found that the answer was right before everyone’s eyes all along: God-centeredness. Tony Antonellis believes that God is humanity’s common ground, the one that will connect everyone and diminish their differences.
In his book, the author calls for people to unite and connect through religion. But is it possible? Ultimately, the ideal answer would be yes. Yet, at a time when some have gradually distanced themselves from their spiritual beliefs, this can pose a problem.
Everyone comes from different backgrounds, has different perceptions of life, and is pursuing other paths. However, at their core, they all have the same creator. In times of vulnerability and trouble, people universally seek divine guidance to help them through. They all have the same source of strength, a channel to communicate their woes and find salvation – God.
Among many devout individuals, the author believes that when unity is the destination, a God-centered life is the way.
What Is a God-Centered Life?
People’s lives each have a center, the one thing that fuels their motivations and their decisions. For some, this can be survival. They go through their lives seemingly on autopilot, their choices geared towards whichever feels safer and more beneficial. For others, their center could be wealth or material goods. This drives them to pursue activities that won’t necessarily fulfill them but will provide them with such desires.
A God-centered life poses a similar situation, only that He is at the center. People’s pursuits are all organized to cater to His calling, a life revolving around His character.
In a world where temptation is prevalent and other idols demand to be experienced, a God-centered life shuns these away as the focus is reverted back to Him. Everyone experiences life through His lens, which means everything is done in His glory. This not only ensures that people will all do good but also reassures everyone that they’re on the right and fruitful path.
As in Tony Antonellis’ book, God-centeredness is a unifying agent bringing people closer together. It’s a commitment to be good and do good regardless of upbringing, beliefs, passions, and desires because it is what God has tasked everyone to do.
However, it can be easy to fall victim to distractions in a world brimming with temptation and other priorities. With everything happening simultaneously and different “gods” begging for people’s attention, it can be easy to live a self-centered life rather than a God-centered one.
How to Be a God-Centered Person?
Things can be easier said than done. People can claim to turn themselves to Him and live a God-centered life. However, only when they take a leap will they realize how challenging this concept is in this contemporary age. Fortunately, all people must do is act cautiously and constantly commit to accepting God’s stewarding. Here’s how:
Immerse in the Wonder of His Existence
There’s no better way to live a God-centered life than by genuinely knowing who God is. When people put His story to heart, choosing according to His will becomes easier.
People draw closer to Him by reading about the God that has revealed himself in the Scriptures, conscience, and creation. They will understand not only His background but will see clearly His values, behaviors, and the wonders of His existence. Understanding His story and seeing the events happening from His eyes will give people a new perception of life.
Forgive, Fear, Fight
If God is anything, He is merciful yet just. He knows how to forgive people’s wrongdoings but does so by showing them the consequences of their actions. Hence, to live a God-centered life, people must embody a similar concept of forgiveness.
Forgive Others. Fear God. And fight for goodness.
This should be the maxim everyone lives by, especially when interacting with each other.
It can be easy to bear grudges against another, but this will only weigh down on the individuals doing so. Instead, they must be mindful of how they’ll react to other’s betrayal and hurt. This doesn’t mean they become doormats and accept life as it is.
Instead, it means they know not to hold grudges against those who hurt them and wait for Him to judge them Himself. If people live in fear of God, they will find the wisdom and strength to stand above those who have cruelty cultivated in their hearts. Yet, as they fight for goodness, they know not to retaliate and inflict the same pain on others.
Living a God-centered life is every Christian’s calling. It guides their choices, molding them into people who deserve to be in God’s Kingdom. If you want to know more about God-centeredness, grab a copy of Tony Andonellis’ For the Love of God.
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