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

The Glory of the Lord

 

God tarries His coming, not because He is slow to keep His promises to us, but because of His patience to allow everyone the chance to repent and believe (2 Peter 3:9, 13). As we draw close to God, His glory fills our life. We allow His glory within us to reflect to the world around us, as His Spirit transforms us into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18).

God’s glory appeared in the pillar of fire and the cloud, which protected the Israelites in their desert wanderings, as well as the consuming fire on the mountain and on Moses’ face when he descended from Mt. Sinai with the Ten Commandments (Exodus 16:10; 24:17; 33:22). God’s glory within us also allows us to face trials with victory and faith.

God’s glory within us is more precious that the finest gold, and is the result of a life spent reading His Word, obeying His Spirit and giving Him all praise, glory and honor until we see Him face to face (1 Peter 1:6-7). God’s glory fills the life, which has faith in His faithfulness, rather than bitterness over the past and fear of the unknown future (Isaiah 6:3, 40:5).

When we finally see Jesus, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him in His glory (1 John 3:2). In our Heavenly residence, we will live in our immortal body and enjoy the benefits, which Adam and Eve had in the garden, and which Jesus had after His resurrection. The rewards God has in store for us are everlasting and glorious, and we will finally attain to the fullness of Christ.

Prayer:

Father God, we pray that we will decrease, so that You can increase within our mortal body even now. We want to reflect Your glory as it increases within us. Remind us to surrender all of our cares to You, because You care about us, as well as everything, which pertains to us on this earth (1 Peter 5:7). Even in the face of persecution, strengthen us from within and keep us in the palm of Your hand (John 10:28). Thank You for giving us Your glorious new life through Your Son’s sacrificial death and resurrection.

Thought for the Day:

At the coming of Christ, the whole earth will be filled with His glory.

- Psalm 72:19

Following Jesus' Example

Jesus lived every moment of His life in dependence on our Father. He did not make His own decisions or live His own life, but consulted the Father throughout His day (Psalm 62:5-12). Our Savior and Brother gave us His perfect example of how God wants each and every Born Again Believer to live his/her life (Romans 8:17); totally surrendered to God and completely expended for Him without any reservations.

Christ’s death atoned for the debt of our sin. He died in our place and took our punishment upon His own body (2 Corinthians 12:9). He redeemed us by shedding His own blood (Matthew 26:28). Now He sits on His throne on high and intercedes for us (Hebrews 7:25). He is our advocate with our Father (1 John 2:1). At the same time, He dwells within us by His Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16), empowering us to live a transformed life (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Jesus is the head of His Body, comprised of His Born Again Saints (1 Corinthians 12:27). The only way for us to truly experience the power of Christ’s resurrection is to conform to His death and become like Him (Philippians 3:10). As we die to our flesh Christ manifests His life in and through us (Romans 6:5). He impliments and perfects His life in us.  As we share in His sufferings, our comfort abounds (2 Corinthians 1:5).

Are we ready to die to the world and to our goals, aspirations, desires and wants for God? Does anything in our life mean more to us than God? Jesus did not come to do His will, but our Fathers (John 4:34). Do we have a separate agenda of our own that we prefer to follow instead of God’s will for our life? Living in the center of God’s will is the happiest place on earth.

Prayer:

Father God, knowing You in an intimate relationship is the reality of eternal life (John 17:3). We do not need to wait until heaven for this to occur. We can know You now. Bring us into spiritual maturity so that we can obtain the complete fullness of Christ in our body, soul and spirit (Ephesans 4:13). Remind us that as we conform to Jesus’ death, we live victoriously in His life. In eternity, we will also share in His glory (1 Peter 4:13).

Thought for the Day:

Only as we die to self will the life of Christ manifest in our life.

The Fullness of Christ in Us

 

As our focus on our self decreases, Christ increases within us (John 3:30). Through His divine power, God gave us everything we need to live a godly life. In our union with Jesus we possess and function through His divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4). We are God’s offspring and He gave us the divine nature of Christ, which infuses every part of our body, soul and spirit (Acts 17:28-19). We are transformed with ever-increasing glory into His likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 12:2).

Jesus is the exact image of God and contains all the attributes and character of God (Colossians 1:15; 2 Corinthians 4:4). God desires to bring forth His attributes and character within us too. In Him, we live and move and have our total existence (Acts 17:28). He dwells in us and works through us (2 Corinthians 6:16). We have everything that Christ has, and all we have is His. Christ is glorified in us (John 17:10).

We are fully human, just as Jesus was on the earth; but we also contain Christ in us, who is fully divine. In our union with Jesus we live in His divine nature, and His divine nature manifests in and through us (2 Peter 1:4). God wants us to cease from our efforts, so we can enter into His rest (Hebrews 4:10). We have the same chance, which Jesus did, of living a Spirit-filled life (Galatians 5:16, 25).

Through experience in walking in God, we actually become the love of Christ. We are filled throughout our entire body, soul and spirit with all of God’s fullness. We possess the richest measure of His divine presence within us, and we are wholly filled and flooded to overflowing with God Himself (Ephesians 3:19, Amplified Bible). It is not we who are able to do all things, but Christ in us, who does all things through us (Philippians 4:13).

Christ uses us and works through us in His divine power. All He wants us to do is to lay down our humanity and follow the leading of His Spirit moment by moment throughout the day. Then, it is no longer us, but Christ living in and through us (Galatians 2:20). His Holy Spirit sanctifies us throughout our lifetime until we are perfected according to the quality of the fullness of Christ’s stature (Ephesians 4:13).

Prayer:

Father God, when we dwell in Your love, we have faith. When we walk in Your faith, we have hope. When we live in Your hope, we walk in righteousness, peace and joy (Romans 14:17). Help us to lay down our life and to follow the direction of Your Spirit throughout our day; so that we can walk in Your works (John 10:38; Ephesians 2:8-10). Lead us by Your Spirit and help us to cease from our own labors and to enter into Your rest (Hebrews 4:10).

Thought for the Day:

Negative emotions illuminate the areas in our life where we still have idols. As we repent of them, Christ takes them from us. Then, Satan has fewer and fewer areas where he can hinder our walk in Christ.

God is Enough

 

 

The love of God is enough. Period. We do not need any person or thing to complete our life. We are complete in Christ, regardless of who or what we have or do not have in our life (Colossians 2:10). Not having what we perceive as our perfect life is what causes us to strive to obtain what we think we need. The only striving that God suggests that we participate in as His children, is to strive to enter His rest (Hebrews 4:10). I am not belittling your circumstances, just encouraging you to go deeper in God during this time.

If you are not Born Again by God’s Spirit, you will always have a God-shaped hole in your life, which is causing an insatiable appetite to want more. Your spirit is dead in sin, and you are not yet complete. Total surrender to Jesus Christ is the only antidote. However, if you are an authentic, Born Again Believer and you are striving for more, then you just need an attitude adjustment. If you do not have what you want, this means that God does not think that you need it at this time.

I hate to think of my brothers and sisters as lonely and suffering. I know how you feel though, because I have been there. When my former husband decided that there was no option for us but divorce, God quickly taught me a secret that I want to share with you. We find fulfillment by focusing on Christ in us, not on His benefits. We love Him, not for what He does for us, but because He loves us (1 John 4:19). God wrote a new chapter for my life in His way and in His timing; and He will do the same for you.

Develop a deeper relationship with Christ in you. When we let go of our desires, and focus instead on Christ in us, our life floods with peace and joy. When you need something, God will provide it for you in His timing and way, even if it is at the last minute. When we sit alone, we are never lonely, as long as the Spirit of God resides within our spirit (Psalm 46:10). Instead, we have alone (all-one) times with Christ in us, as He fills us with all of His fullness (Ephesians 3:19).

This does not mean that we quote scriptures at Him to claim His promises, so that somehow He will feel obligated to give us what we want. That is a carnal attempt to twist God's arm to work in our behalf. God does not respond to manipulation. In fact, He is already working on our behalf, we just do not appreciate what He has already done and is doing in us and for us right now. Praise Him for who He is and not only for what He does. Take time to count your blessings, and to enter into the joy of our Lord (Matthew 25:23).

Prayer:

Father God, praising, believing and trusting in You in the good times and in the bad times gives us a habit of rejoicing in Your presence within us, rather than keeping our focus on what we think we need. We are thankful for Your everlasting love and that You draw us to Yourself with your loving kindness (Jeremiah 31:3). This means that we do not beg You or try to manipulate You to provide what we want. We will only find fulfillment in the center of Your will and this may or may not include what we want. However, living in the center of Your will is actually the happiest place on earth.

Thought for the Day:

We will not find fulfillment even if God gives us what we want; because we will just find something else to want.