Our
unity with Jesus provides us with great benefits. We receive encouragement,
comfort, fellowship with His Spirit, His tenderness and compassion, protection
and provision, advantages of thriving as co-heirs with Him of God's Kingdom,
etc.
Our
union with Christ also improves our unity with Christ's Body and His Church
(Philippians 2:1-4). God's Word teaches us that Jesus did not consider it
disrespectful to claim His equality with God, but He never used that union to promote
His own advantage.
We
also disregard our reputation, and minister to King Jesus and His Body as a
servant. As we obediently follow the leading of God's Spirit moment by moment
throughout the day (Philippians 2:5-8), we encounter multiple God-ordained
opportunities.
Jesus
took His obedience one step further when He died on the cross, bearing the
shame, humiliation, and horrendous suffering; therefore God exalted Him to the
highest position in His Kingdom, and gave Him a name above every name
(Philippians 2:8-10).
There
will come a time, when every knee of people in heaven and in hell and on the
earth, will all bow in honor of King Jesus (Philippians 2:11). Those skeptics,
agnostics, atheists, antagonists, and God-hater will have to admit they were
wrong, and that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Jesus
said that authentic Believers will do greater works in our life than He did
with His (John 14:12). This does not infer that our works will be greater in spiritual
significance, but greater in amount - since He was one man, and we, His Church,
are worldwide and multi-generational.
Whatever
God calls us to do, even if it is to raise the dead or walk on water, if He
tells us to do these types of miracles, He will anoint us to walk in obedience
to His direction for the furtherance of His Kingdom on the earth and for God's ultimate
glory.
Prayer:
Father
God, You sent Jesus to bring us abundant life both now and in eternity. We were
once lost in sin and degradation, squandering our natural resources and bound
up with making a living, getting ahead and finding natural success.
Then,
You came and transformed us from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of
Your glorious life (Isaiah 59:9-10). In You, we find peace, joy and fulfillment
that do not depend on this earthly existence. We look forward to eternity in
Your presence and in Your service. Remind us to continually surrender every
part of our life to You.
Thought
for the Day
When
we surrender our life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ we enter the realm of abundant
life, which He promises; true fullness in this life only comes when we adopt a
spiritual purpose and heavenly mindedness.
-
Matthew 6:19-21; John 10:10
