Apart from God, we cannot
accomplish anything of lasting, eternal value with our life (John 15:5;
Philippians 3:1-11). We may be successful in the eyes of the world, but
measured with Christ, we are failing.
The Bible declares that at
salvation, Christ comes to live in us (Galatians 2:20). Scholars call this
theme “Paul’s Obsession”, because he used the phrase “Christ in me” or “In
Christ” more than 170 times in his writings.
I see why this is Paul's favorite
Biblical concept. It frees us from a mundane, unfulfilled life. If we have
Jesus Christ living in us, He daily delivers us from sin’s dominion by His
resurrection life within us (Romans 5:10). He also gives us new values,
priorities and goals by which to live (2 Corinthians 5:17).
He gives us His peace, which
transcends human understanding (Philippians 4: 6-8). If we do not have the Son
of God living in us, however, we do not have any of this (1 John 5:12).
Believers are currently saved in
our spirit through Justification and we are being saved in our soul – our mind,
will and emotions - through the lifelong method of Sanctification.
Christ’s salvation goes beyond
the spirit and the soul to the body as well (1 Thessalonians 5:23). We will be
saved in our body through Glorification, when we see Jesus face-to-face.
God gives us this opportunity to
get to know Christ in body, soul and spirit, and to grow in our understanding
of His power, His resurrection, as well as in what He has to offer us in eternity.
Prayer:
Father God, I desire to know
Jesus more intimately every day and to see myself grow into His beloved, mature
child. My right standing before You is by faith in all that Christ accomplished
on my behalf. I do not have to work for or earn this position. We can
experience first-hand both Christ’s sufferings and His victories as we walk
through our trials with Him within us.
If I really believe this fact,
then I will take advantage of the opportunity, which You give me, to get to
know Jesus more intimately as my Redeemer, Friend and Brother. Remind us that
we do this by spending time reading Your Word; by prayer – talking and
listening to You; by attending a Bible teaching church; by fellowshipping with
other Christians and by sharing with others what God is doing in my life.
Thought for the Day:
God freely offers everyone this
gift of a personal relationship with Him, and He gives us the option to either
embrace His friendship or to refuse to acknowledge Him - the choice is ours.
