When Jesus asked Paul on the Damascus Road, why Paul was
persecuting Him, we know that Jesus was already in heaven. However, whatever is
done to even the least of His Saints, is done to Christ Himself (Matthew
25:40). When Paul tortured and killed the Saints of his day,
Christ in them felt every pain they suffered. This same thing happens today,
when one of God’s Born Again Believers is broken and spilled out for His glory.
God allows tribulation in our life to teach us to glory in
them and to allow them to work in us the true treasures of love, endurance and
hope (Romans 5:3-4). He also advises us to be joyful in temptations,
because they too work the riches of patience into our character. Patience helps
to perfect us and helps us to live a satisfied life (James
1:2-4). On the other hand, this world’s riches make us haughty,
and we end up trusting in them to our own detriment (1 Timothy
6:17-19).
Even if riches do not sidetracked us, Satan may use our
pride to convince us that our talents and efforts obtained the stature we enjoy
in this life. Rather than clinging to Christ in us, we forget He is there. We
attempt to reach perfection by our works (Galatians 3:1-3). Then,
we end up bearing no spiritual fruit for the Vine and the Vinedresser has to
prune us. Only as we abide in Christ can we bear much fruit for His Kingdom (John
15:4).
God’s ability and anointing reside within us, allowing us
to do greater works for His Kingdom than Jesus did. He was one man; yet, in His
Body, the church, He can accomplish so much more. With Christ in us, we cease
from our labors for God and we enter into His rest (Hebrews
4:10). We bring forth much fruit, because we follow the leading
of God’s Spirit through each moment of our day. We trust in and depend on Him
to meet all of our needs.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, remind us that we are saved by our faith in You
(Ephesians
2:8-10), and we are also perfect by our faith in You. You are our
Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8). You start, as well as complete the
perfecting work in our life (Colossians 2:10). You give us Your righteousness,
peace and joy through Your Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Our true
life is found only as a branch grafted into union with You, who are our Vine (John 15:4).
Thought for the Day:
It is impossible to fully abide in Christ at the
same time we pursue the riches and carnal appetites of this world.
