At salvation, we joyfully receive the divine nature of God, as well as the fruit of His Spirit (2 Peter 1:4; Galatians 5:22-23). These characteristics are worked into our personality by the Spirit of God from one stage of glory to the next (2 Corinthians 3:18), until we are complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10).
Eventually, we barely recognize who we are, although we like our self so much better than who we used to be. In the Body of Christ, our gifts differ from one another. Our strengths make up for each other’s weaknesses (1 Corinthians 12:7). This makes us a complete Body, in which Christ can continue His ministry on the earth (Romans 12:8).
When we live on this earth with the abundant life of Christ in us (Galatians 2:20), Jesus is able to carry on His ministry through every authentic, Born Again Believer according to His power that works in and through us (Ephesians 3:20).
His abundant grace abounds in us, and it makes us capable of accomplishing His work on the earth (2 Corinthians 9:8). He also provides us with His strength to live and minister in His name (1 Peter 4:11; 2 Corinthians 3:5). As new creations, we are complete in Christ (1 Corinthians 2:20-21; 2 Corinthians 5:17).
The power and sufficiency of God flows through us by His Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 1:24; Ephesians 3:16). We are earthen vessels, but with God’s great power and patience in us, we can attain the steadfast diligence, which we need to live according to His will for us (Colossians 1:11).
God blesses us with every spiritual blessing that Jesus possesses, including an abundant life (Ephesians 1:3; John 10:10). The more we know Him and His glory and excellence, the more we inherit what we need pertaining to life and Godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
Nothing comes from us, but everything comes from Him through us (Philippians 4:13; 2 Corinthians 4:7). He sets us free from performing works for God, when we realize that He wants to accomplish His will through us (Ephesians 2:8-9; Proverbs 3:5-6). We can do everything that He calls us to achieve (Philippians 4:13).
Prayer:
Father God, once we learn to abide in Your rest through our union with You in our spirit, then we ask you to teach us to also view life through Your rest in our soul – our thoughts, emotions and choices. We cease from our own efforts, and we allow Your good pleasure to work in and through us instead. We want Jesus to be able to use us for His purposes for our day and our life, so that He can do greater works through us (John 14:12).
Jesus fulfilled Your scriptural promises to us, and they are ours now and throughout eternity (2 Corinthians 1:20). Teach us to cease from our religious works on Your behalf and to stop performing good works for You (Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 4:10-11), so that we can enter Your rest and find renewal for our weary soul as You accomplish Your works in and through us (Matthew 11:28-29; Jeremiah 6:16).
Thought for the Day:
A hectic pace is not indicative of a productive or successful life - even Jesus said that if He does not “build the house” we will labor in vain; our identity is not based in what we do or accomplish, but in who we are in Christ and with Christ in us; we enter His rest, walk in His Spirit, consult Him throughout the day, and He does the rest.
- Psalm 127:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:15-25
