|
Why do I share these texts? Because Jesus is the POWER and VIRTUE to live out the real Christian life. If we do not enter INTO HIM, as He was in the father then we have-NO POWER- NO VIRTUE. This is our fatal deficiency today. " Having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." 2Tim.3:5
What are we allowing to DISPLACE Christ in our everyday life. Surveys tell us that 83% of people start and end their day sitting at their computer going over their e-mails. Are our e-mails displacing Christ? Of Christ it is written, "In Him was life," John 1:4, then shouldn't we be starting and ending our days with him? If not then we have no power-no virtue, just a form of godliness.
The gospel is not complicated! The gospel is, "the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes." Romans 1:16. That power is Christ! SC18. Have we not left Him off, for the sake of our e-mails, our Internet, our Facebook, our theology, our church work, our good works, our social life, our sports, our self-interests, our overwork, our whatever? I think the real issue is that we want to MANAGE OURSELVES! Yes we believe in the word of God, yes we believe that Christ died for us, yes we believe that we have a distinctive message for these last days. However, we are IN CHARGE, how sad ☹! As long as we remain in charge, not willing to be led, day-by-day and hour-by-hour, we will remain a powerless people.
"When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked his disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the son of man, am?"
"So they said, "some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
God is asking you and me the same question today and every day of our lives, "Who do YOU say that I am?"
When you are under stress, tempted in diet, offended by friends, tempted to stretch the truth, goaded into gossip, immorality, lying, pride or any other host of sins or weaknesses, "Who do YOU say that I am by your life and actions?" Is He the living Christ in your soul? Is He the power and virtue in your life? Or is He just merely the historical Christ in the Scriptures, on the shelf over there--not touching me? I suggest that all we need is, SIMPLY JESUS--in me--beside me--leading me--as a part of us! When we find Him as our way, our truth and our life, as our door and our daily bread, as the light of our world, as our Savior then we shall have power to usher in his 2nd coming and not before.
Again, Jesus is saying, "Who do YOU say that I am?" Am I the alpha and omega of your life? Am I your Savior, Your Helper in Trouble? I want to be. Will you let me in? Or am I going to be displaced today, as I have been so many days of your life. When are you really going to let me come in? I haven't given up on you. I want to empower you. I want to be the strength of your daily life. I want to be your best Friend. I want to talk with you each day and guide you in the way. I want you to trust in My presence, always and ever by your side. I want you to follow Me in faith, as I guide you through the maze of life.
This is what He is saying to you and me. So, in our actions and choices, in our thoughts and feelings, who do we say that He is? Are we complete in him?
Is he the power in our souls? Is it His love that makes our families whole? Can our families being thus united, set the church aflame? Can we Light up the world with His power? He is asking you and me, "Who do YOU say that I am?"
What is our answer going to be? Will it take a crisis, a foxhole, or an emergency to bring us to our turning point of making Christ all and in all? What kind of motivation are we waiting for? Shouldn't it be the love of Christ? If Jesus returned today would you be one of the ABIDING ONES?
It seems to me we've mastered religion, but not Jesus! We've mastered theology, but missed Jesus. I think we have complicated the saving gospel. It's all found IN HIM. Didn't Jesus say, "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of ME. But you are NOT WILLING to come to ME that you may have LIFE." John 5:39-40.
Can we not say a willing YES to our Lord? Are we not convinced that the Scriptures teach this glorious union with Christ? If so, then will we not surrender our whole self to Him, to be possessed by Him? Will we not then believe that He is dwelling in us? Can we not say with Paul, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me." Galatians 2:20. Can we not put off the fatal deficiency of managing our own lives and put on Jesus Christ as our new life? Will we not put to death all the details and distractions of our daily life and let Christ live and work in us instead?
Christ left all to be joined to us; will we not also leave all to be joined to Him? Our Jesus prayed for this divine union, saying, "That they all may be one; as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us." John 17:21.
Away with this fatal deficiency of managing ourselves, being the one in charge and let us find SIMPLY JESUS.
Finding Him,
Jim and Sally
|
