Faith is often most visible not in what we say we believe, but in how we live, work, serve, forgive, and respond when life becomes difficult. On Living My Faith with Chuck Coker, Christopher Hazelip of Rogers Towers, P.A. shares a deeply personal perspective on what it means to follow Jesus in everyday life.
Christopher Hazelip is an Attorney/Shareholder with Rogers Towers, P.A., a locally-owned, full-service law firm that has operated in Jacksonville for over 120 years. In this conversation, he reflects on the Christian calling to reconciliation, the importance of obedience, and a life-shaping moment that significantly deepened his faith journey.
Faith in Everyday Life
When asked how he actively lives out his faith at work, at home, and in the community, Hazelip offered a simple but meaningful answer: he strives to follow Jesus, including His teachings and example, in all aspects of life.
That kind of faith is not limited to a church service or a private devotional moment. It reaches into professional responsibilities, personal relationships, community interactions, and the way we view others. For many believers, the challenge is not merely understanding faith, but practicing it consistently in ordinary decisions.
Following Jesus in Work and Relationships
In a professional setting, living out faith can mean choosing integrity, patience, humility, and compassion. It can also mean remembering that people are never just problems to solve or roles to manage. They are neighbors, colleagues, clients, family members, and community members worthy of dignity.
Hazelip’s perspective points to a practical truth: faith becomes tangible when it shapes conduct. The way a person listens, responds, serves, and treats others can become a daily expression of what they believe.
A Scripture That Defines the Mission
One passage that has been especially meaningful to Hazelip in this season is 2 Corinthians 5:14-21. He explains that it reminds him that genuine Christ-followers have been forgiven and made “new” by God’s grace.
That reminder carries a responsibility. Hazelip describes the believer’s ministry going forward not as one of judgment or labeling others, but as a ministry of reconciliation.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
Reconciliation is a powerful theme in Christian faith. It begins with God’s grace and extends outward into how believers engage the world. Rather than leading with condemnation, reconciliation calls people to reflect the mercy they have received.
For readers seeking to live their faith more intentionally, this is a practical invitation. Ask: Am I building walls or bridges? Am I quick to label, or willing to listen? Am I remembering the grace I have received when I interact with others?
These questions can reshape daily life. They encourage a faith that is both grounded in truth and expressed through humility.
A Defining Moment in His Faith Journey
Hazelip points to one experience that significantly deepened and shaped his faith journey: being held hostage by a distraught gunman on Aug. 4, 2004.
Moments of crisis can confront people with questions that are difficult to answer in theory. Fear, uncertainty, vulnerability, and dependence can reveal what is most deeply rooted in the heart. While every person’s story is different, experiences like these often become turning points that clarify what matters most.
Faith Under Pressure
Faith is not proven only in calm seasons. It is often tested in moments when life feels fragile and control feels out of reach. Hazelip’s willingness to connect that experience to his faith journey offers an important reminder: hardship can become part of a deeper testimony.
For anyone walking through uncertainty, this perspective can be encouraging. Faith does not require that we understand every circumstance. It invites us to trust God, seek His presence, and continue walking forward with obedience.
Advice for Those Wanting to Grow Spiritually
When asked what advice he would give someone who is struggling to live out their faith or looking to grow spiritually, Hazelip shared a quote from George MacDonald:
“Get up, and do something the master tells you; so make yourself his disciple at once. Instead of asking whether you believe or not, ask yourself whether you have this day done one thing because he said, ‘Do it,’ or once abstained because he said, ‘Do not do it.’ It is simply absurd to say you believe, or even want to believe in him, if you do not do anything he tells you.”
The message is direct and practical: spiritual growth is connected to obedience. Rather than getting stuck in endless self-analysis, a person can take the next faithful step.
Start With One Act of Obedience
For someone who wants to grow spiritually, the first step does not have to be complicated. It may be forgiving someone, speaking truthfully, serving quietly, praying honestly, showing restraint, or choosing compassion when frustration would be easier.
Faith grows as it is practiced. One act of obedience can help form the habit of discipleship. Over time, those small daily choices shape character and deepen trust.
What Readers Can Take Away
This conversation on Living My Faith with Chuck Coker offers several meaningful takeaways for anyone seeking to live with greater spiritual purpose.
1. Faith Should Touch Every Part of Life
Following Jesus is not limited to private belief. It should influence work, home, community involvement, and everyday interactions.
2. Grace Leads to Reconciliation
Remembering that we have been forgiven and made new should change how we view others. A ministry of reconciliation begins with humility.
3. Difficult Experiences Can Deepen Faith
Life-shaping moments, including painful or frightening ones, can become part of a deeper journey of trust and dependence on God.
4. Spiritual Growth Requires Action
Belief is strengthened through obedience. Doing what Jesus teaches, one step at a time, is a practical path toward maturity.
About Christopher Hazelip and Rogers Towers, P.A.
Christopher Hazelip is an Attorney/Shareholder with Rogers Towers, P.A. The firm is a locally-owned, full-service law firm that has operated in Jacksonville for over 120 years.
His conversation with Chuck Coker brings together professional life, personal faith, and the call to live as a follower of Christ with sincerity and purpose.
Conclusion
Living out faith is not always dramatic, but it is always meaningful. It is found in the decision to follow Jesus in every area of life, to approach others with grace, and to take the next step of obedience even when the path is difficult.
Christopher Hazelip’s reflections on Living My Faith with Chuck Coker remind us that the Christian life is not a ministry of judgment or labeling, but a ministry of reconciliation rooted in God’s grace.
To learn more about Living My Faith, visit https://livingmyfaith.com. To learn more about Rogers Towers, P.A., visit https://www.rtlaw.com.
