Some believers see God as like a chemist, giving out medications for a particular problem. We may think we need a dose of humility, a patience pill or a course of self control. God does not work this way. Our problem is not that we are proud or stubborn or whatever character flaw we may see. The problem is much deeper. It is all that we are. We are born dead in trespass and sin. God's remedy is to terminate the old, dead spirit and give us a new, live spirit. That's what it means to be born again.
It is clear from God's word that Christ is the life of the believer. Yet many try to patch up the soul. We (yes, I did this also) embark on a self improvement program. Christian book stores are full of advice as to how to go about this. That is not God's way. God's way is Jesus. He is not just the Way, not only the Truth, He is the Life. We already have the patience of Christ, the joy of Christ and the peace of Christ. Do we lack love? Don't try to love others. Human love is pathetic compared to God's love. We have the love of Christ in our hearts already. We do not have to try.
How does this work in practice? It starts by confessing our helpless condition. This is hard for some. Self promises us that it can change, that it will reform and do better next time. Self is desperate to survive. Many of our failures are permitted by God to show us that the self life is hopeless when it comes to spiritual things. For example, we know that we should love one another. Yet there is someone in our fellowship that we can't stand. Maybe some has offended us and we turn away. We know what we should do, but it is beyond us. But nothing is to hard for Jesus.
Start off your day by asking Jesus to live out His life in you, through you and in place of what is of self. Then trust Him to do it. Your problems may not evaporate, they may even get worse. But you will have peace in the storms of life, you will overcome problems that once brought you down and you will live in victory.
It is clear from God's word that Christ is the life of the believer. Yet many try to patch up the soul. We (yes, I did this also) embark on a self improvement program. Christian book stores are full of advice as to how to go about this. That is not God's way. God's way is Jesus. He is not just the Way, not only the Truth, He is the Life. We already have the patience of Christ, the joy of Christ and the peace of Christ. Do we lack love? Don't try to love others. Human love is pathetic compared to God's love. We have the love of Christ in our hearts already. We do not have to try.
How does this work in practice? It starts by confessing our helpless condition. This is hard for some. Self promises us that it can change, that it will reform and do better next time. Self is desperate to survive. Many of our failures are permitted by God to show us that the self life is hopeless when it comes to spiritual things. For example, we know that we should love one another. Yet there is someone in our fellowship that we can't stand. Maybe some has offended us and we turn away. We know what we should do, but it is beyond us. But nothing is to hard for Jesus.
Start off your day by asking Jesus to live out His life in you, through you and in place of what is of self. Then trust Him to do it. Your problems may not evaporate, they may even get worse. But you will have peace in the storms of life, you will overcome problems that once brought you down and you will live in victory.
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