Once we realize that our personal identity as a human being does not depend on our sufficiency, talents, and accomplishments here on earth, we experience the freedom of knowing who we are in Christ. We walk according to His example and continue His ministry to our world (Colossians 3:3-4, 10; Revelation 2:17; Romans 8:29).
Christ in us allows us to remain vulnerable and unguarded with our feelings. We willingly risk rejection, loss, or trauma in order to share Christ with the dying world around us. We adopt a tender, compassionate attitude toward others, especially those who injure us from their own brokenness.
We willingly enter an emotionally vulnerable relationship with others to express the love of Christ to them. Rather than allowing our self to feel hindered or crippled by what others think of us, we recognize that everyone has opinions. We also realize that God is our judge, and His opinion is the only one that really matters.
Shedding the need to conform to the expectations of others in our life, we walk in the Spirit and do not follow the desires of our flesh, the world, and/or demonic forces. Our whole concept of who we are centers around our personal relationship with the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ.
We have no right to walk in pride at the prospect of Jesus choosing us as His co-heir, because this is not done due to our works of righteousness, but due to His mercy which saves us (Ephesians 2:8-9). He washes us with His regenerating power, and He guides and renews us by His Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5-7).
God’s love is poured out in our heart so we can pour His love out to those He brings our way (Romans 5:5). We are incapable of living the Christ-life in our human efforts; however, if we are submissive to the leading of His Spirit each moment of our day, we effortlessly abide in His presence and fulfill His desires.
Prayer:
Father God, thank You for freeing us from the need to wear hypocritical, religious masks that do not portray who we really are inside of us. We have no need to protect our self with walls of negative emotions to avoid the pain that might be inflicted on us by other people and the world around us. Teach us to abide as spontaneous expressions of Christ in us.
Walking in Your Biblical Truth keeps us on the right path, and obeying Your Word fills us with Your wisdom, skill for living, power, joy, and peace. Your Spirit transforms us into what we need to be for You to use us according to Your prearranged plan for us (Ephesians 2:10). Remind us that the divine character and nature of Christ abides within us (Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Peter 1:4). Thank You for Your patience and Your intimate union with us through Jesus Christ, our Lord and King.
Thought for the Day:
When we live out of the nature of Christ, we automatically walk in His righteousness, meekness, holiness, love, kindness, etc.; we see trials as opportunities, divine appointments as spontaneous prospects, and powerful expressions of the nature of Christ from within us replacing the carnal attitudes inherent in our humanity.
