Devoting A Lifetime To The Christian Walk

During an interview, the great Polish pianist Ignacy Paderewski (see videos) once stated, “It is not from choice that my life is music and nothing more, but when one is an artist what else can he be? When a whole lifetime is too short to attain the heights he wants to reach, how then can he devote any of the little time he has to things outside of his art?” (source – see under "Acts 11:19-26" heading).

Paderewski’s words should echo the goal and attitude of every Christian.

I’ve inserted a few words relative to what Paderewski stated, making his statement applicable us as Christians:

“When a whole lifetime is too short to attain the heights a Christian wants to reach, how then can he devote any of the little time he has to things outside of his Christian walk?”

In the early church, the disciples were called "Christians" (Acts 11:26), which means “those belonging to Christ.” Their love and service for the Lord and for each other was obvious (Acts 2:44-45; Acts 4:32,34).

Beloved, if a great pianist can recognize who and what he is, and give his entire life to the development of his art, how much more should we as Christians strive to develop our talents, in whatever capacity, molding ourselves into the likeness of our Lord and Savior (Galations 2:20), walking as He walked (1 John 2:6; cf. Acts 10:38).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets