In my small group tonight, we talked about the passage of Scripture where Paul says, “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me!”
It’s taken me a long while to realize that I am a dead man and my calling is to simply yield to the life that Jesus wants to live in and through me. I was ransomed and my life is no longer my own. Any good attribute…positive characteristic, loving quality is an express of His life in me but all too often, I am faced with the depravity of my flesh and its desire to express itself…thumbing its nose at the Creator whose Spirit is alive within me.
Eventually, the discussion rolled around to this question – “In what areas do each of us need to be encouraged in order for the life of Christ to be more fully expressed?”
Here were my reflections…
- Do not settle – our life in Christ always calls us to MORE…more abundant life, more healing and wholeness, more of His life expressed through me. I don’t want to stop where I’m at…to be too comfortable and just settle for life as it is. My dependence on Jesus wanes in this state.
- Move into my fears – as we move upward and into more life in Christ, we will be opposed…most commonly by fear. Fear of failure…fear of the unknown. Fear is the natural enemy of hope.
- Continue to die – Yes…I am a new creation in Christ but pieces of me continue to die. Remnants of pride, lust, anger and selfishness still exist in my flesh. These pieces of the natural (carnal) man must be dragged, kicking and screaming, to the Cross to be put to death. This is a daily activity of the normal Christian life!
- Yield – “…not my will but Thy will be done” Ask for His guidance…Listen for His reply…Move forward in His strength. My true calling is to live a life fully yielded to the Spirit – if I do that, everything else falls into place.
- Trust - trust that His plans for my life are good no matter the outcome. Trust steadily, Hope unswervingly, and Love extravagantly.
So…how do you need to be encouraged so that you’ll see more of Jesus’ life lived in and through you?
Filed under: Freedom in Christ, Ian Thomas, Jesus, Love
Scott, I love this. it is so hard to die to our flesh and allow Christ to live and love through us. Thank you for your encouragement here.
Wow! I see you’re reading “The Indwelling Life of Christ” by Major Ian Thomas. I haven’t read his books, but have ehard him speak. What a message! – Betsy