Maturing into the Fullness of Christ

 

Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven, our sole source of truth and our single pathway to eternal life (John 14:6). He came to earth for the purpose of setting us free from our past and from Satan’s bondage (Galatians 5:1).

We receive a new identity in Christ, which builds up our self-image and gives us a holy boldness in the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:17). The trauma of our past and the damaged emotions, which we suffered because of these events, are healed through His truth. ( www.theophostic.com )

As humans, we draw conclusions, make goals and nourish dreams, which often cause us to reap destruction (Proverbs 14:12). God already gave us everything we need to mature into the fullness of Christ in us, as we trust Him with our life (Ephesians 2:10, 4:13, 15).

Maturity in Christ comes from walking in His will and by His Spirit each moment of the day (2 Peter 1:3). We learn to resist that yoke of slavery, which Satan has planned for our life; and, instead, to walk in the freedom of Christ, who truly sets us free (Galatians 5:1).

During His crucifixion and death, Jesus focused on His glory awaiting Him in heaven (Philippians 3:14). During our trials and persecution, we too can focus on the rewards, which God gives us both now and also those He reserves for us in glory (Philippians 3:20; Acts 5:41; Philippians 3:10).

Prayer:

Father God, help us to live by the faith of Your Son, who loves us and willingly gave His life for us (Galatians 2:20; Romans 1:17). We count it a joyous occasion when we walk through defeat, trouble and complications (James 1:2-8), because there is always a seed for a miracle in every trial. Help us to trust in You alone for our daily needs and remind us to use Your benefits to help other people too.

Thought for the Day:

We tend to rely on self-effort during good times and only turn to God at the first sign of difficulty; God wants us to entirely surrender every aspect of our life to Him and to walk in His perfect will for us. – Ephesians 2:10

A Bright Light

 

Coming to Christ changes our entire outlook on life. We no longer enjoy activities, which promote the carnal flesh. We have less in common with our family and friends. This change often triggers animosity in our relationships. When our family and friends choose to reject us, we can be assured it is only because they feel the conviction of Christ in their life. They are puzzled and offended by the changes in our life, so they defend themselves and their behavior.

They realize that if we are right to say that Jesus is the only way to heaven, then what they believe is wrong. They believe Satan’s lie and are convinced that we are narrow minded and bigoted. They attack us because they know in their heart that Jesus is the only way of salvation, and they are fighting God’s conviction of His truth. We are a bright light in their darkness, and many cannot stand to be around us or even to think about us.

If we recognize this truth, it pads the sharp edges of their rejection. It encourages us to pray for them, because the harder they persecute us, the more conviction they are living under. The Holy Spirit is working in their life, and we can pray that they will be humbled under the almighty hand of God. This way, they too will enjoy His blessings, protection and provision just like we do. There is no fear in God’s love (1 John 4:18), if they will only repent and believe.

We can revel in our relationship with God, not taunting others, but living in His peace before them. They will see the difference that God makes in our life, and they will either tolerate us, claim that we are hypocrites or join us in worshipping our King of kings (Revelation 19:16). He fills us with His resurrection life. Though we are not perfect, they cannot deny the change in our thoughts, actions and beliefs. We cling to, rely on and rest in Jesus for our every need.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, when our flesh struggles to come down from the cross, remind us that You could have done the same thing and doomed us to hell for eternity. However, You took our shame and endured our pain to give us freedom in Your life in us. Convict us when we serve You with the ulterior motive of serving our self in the process. When we make merchandise of Your people, humble us at the foot of Your cross. Help us to abide in You, just as You abide in our Father and give us the courage to serve You even in the face of adversity. Help us to follow Your Spirit’s direction for each moment of our day.

Thought for the Day:

Jesus Christ crucifies our carnal nature and fills us with Himself.