As Christians we believe in the truth of scripture, and when we read that Jesus abides in us and we in Him, we know this to be true. So let’s ask ourselves a question... if we have faith as believers in Jesus, and believe that He abides in us, then shouldn’t we also believe that God does as well? Jesus tells us this rather directly.
How many times has God told us to do something, and we neglected to do it because of our disbelief, or because we stumbled over our pride? We pray for the Lord to heal us, feed us, or provide for us in some way, but when He asks us to join Him in the effort we often refuse to obey because what He has asked of us is beneath us, or we can’t imagine Him demanding something so seemingly ridiculous of us. Sometimes our lack of faith bridles us, or our self-image is so prideful that we turn away; then, in our failure, we blame Him for not answering our prayers. Does this sound familiar?
It is one thing to acknowledge God, and recognize Jesus as His Son, but unless we give ourselves over to them, becoming transformed into new men and women, and longing for the return of Christ, then the job of faith, and righteousness, has not been completed in us. Newborn babies can feel the air about them, but until they take the first breath into their lungs, then life is not fully established in them. We may say that we have been born again, but have we breathed in Christ, and established the life of His New Covenant within us? Have we been transformed from certain death, and given an ever increasing, and joyous, life?
God’s promises are not such that they might or might not apply to us, no, each one begins with our individual name written into it. Do we believe this, and do we trust in the fact that He will do everything He has promised? In the New Covenant Jesus makes some new promises, but we must understand the stipulations that are placed on them, and God’s Will for us. Jesus said that we will have eternal life, but before that can happen He tells us that we must believe in Him... not simply by saying that we believe, but really, truly, believing.
The New Covenant was prophesied time and time again in the Old Testament, sometimes boldly, but at other times in less straightforward fashion, but the prophesy was believed nonetheless. So why is it that so many Christians today can’t see that this covenant has arrived, and that we are living under it? Why can’t we see that this prophesy has been fulfilled by God through Christ, and is ours to be followed today, and every day.
God made covenant with Israel when he led them out of Egypt, and it was written by His finger on stone, and recorded by the scribes on paper, but this covenant was broken repeatedly by them, because they were unable to live up to all that was given them. However, thanks be to God for His mercy, and the fullness of His grace that was to come. Now, through Jesus Christ, we have God’s law written on our hearts, and governed by our love for Him, and in this way our obedience to His will has become our greatest desire. No longer do we see God from afar, but we carry Him within us as He abides there with Jesus, and His Holy Spirit... always.
As we look back on our lives, even the times before we came to know God, and Jesus Christ, we recognize God’s hand moving in them. As we mature in faith we come see that His plan, and will for us, was at work long before we were able to know it for what it was. The love, and thoughts of God are surrounding us always, and He knows each of us, those who are good, and even the bad, down to our most intimate thoughts and life’s details. He asks us to humbly abandon our ways, and seek His, but are we walking this lofty road he has prepared for us? Are we seeking to know His thoughts for us?
Today is Easter Sunday, and if you have never believed in eternal life, this is the day to rethink your position because today our Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead, and we who were once lost, have been redeemed from our sins through Him. On this day all those who heard Him speak of the resurrection and of life that lay ahead for Him, and likewise for us, can finally see the truth in His words. In as much as His resurrection has been found to be true, then so is ours, and so are the other things He has spoken to us! This day is a joyous celebration of God’s love, grace, living water, and life everlasting! Do you believe?
Today is Holy Saturday, the day after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This is a day when the world, during the time of our Lord, either took a breath and sighed amidst its weeping and tears, or exhaled in relief, believing the man Jesus was dead. This is the aftermath of a day that had been a whirlwind mixture of violence, sin, and God’s love. Yes, on this day long ago, many pious Jews were celebrating the death of Christ, but Christian Jews were either mourning His loss, anxious as they struggled to understand what had happened, or feared that all they once believed about this man had been lost. Then there were those who simply dispersed, and went home to resume their earthly lives. But given the historic perspective of what we know occurred during Holy Week, how do we choose to see this day?
Today is Good Friday, a day that God chose to bring His love for man to a crescendo through the sacrifice of His beloved Son. For His part, Jesus begins this day as a captive of religious men who claim to worship God, and yet whose eyes are covered, and sins are brought to the forefront through the bitter and self-serving treatment of God’s Son; their Messiah. Do we begin our day as Christians contemplating the horrors and humiliation of our Lord Jesus Christ, or the amazing love of God that His suffering reveals to us? Today the time is right, and has reached its fullness; God, after centuries of preparation, reveals His plan for our redemption to us.
Do you believe that there is any way in which you could possibly be like God? If I told you that it was more than just possible, but God’s will, and plan, for mankind from the moment of creation would you argue that we are just human beings, and would never be capable of such a thing? Then Let me ask you another question... what about Jesus, and do you believe He was, and is, like you?
When we speak with Jesus Christ, and pray to our Heavenly Father in His name, do we keep in mind who Jesus truly is? As the years of our faith go by, and we come to know Him as friend through thousands upon thousands of prayers, it is easy to lose sight of the magnificence, and dominion of Christ; replacing His kingship with an air of proforma, and familiarity. This can lead us to approach Him as if we were His equal, and thus, we should be able to make demands of Him. When treating Him in this way we are attempting to increase who we are, and diminish who He is, but lest we forget our place in this relationship we need to remind ourselves often of the respect and glory He deserves from us, and all that He is, and has done for us.
Is Jesus the most sanctified one, and the anointed one in our lives? Have we anointed Him to be our teacher, our savior, our king, the most holy one, and so much more? Today is the third day of Holy Week, and after teaching all day, Jesus was reclining at dinner when a woman approached, and anointed Him with expensive oil. This was more than a nice gesture, she was sanctifying Him, blessing Him, and awarding Him the highest honor in her life. Although we have acknowledged Jesus for who He is, and call Him our Lord, have we actually anointed Him as such? Have we bound ourselves to Him before God?
We hear the words of Jesus as He tells us to pick up our cross and follow Him, but what is He is really asking us to do? Is Jesus telling us we are to suffer and die for God, or for Him? I don’t think so, and His life, death and resurrection give us the answer. Jesus came because God loved us, and to redeem us from sin and death. He suffered and went to the cross in obedience to God’s will, but that will was for our redemption. The cross of Christ on Calvary was an unrivaled display of love for you and me; so our crosses should be a continuation of God’s love for man through us... just as it was through Christ.
Are we perfect in a sin free world, or do we suffer as we rebuff the sin swirling about us? It would be easy to do good if surrounded by nothing but goodness, and in such an environment what would be the value of the glory we assign to God in the midst of our faith? However, when sin is buffeting us from every side, we are suffering mightily, and making great efforts to resist temptation as we struggle to remain free of sin? If so, then the glory we give God is great indeed.