The key element of living in
union with Christ is to submit the absolute control of our life to God.
Unconditional surrender to Christ offers us eternal life now in this life,
which brings us total peace and fulfillment. Jesus lives in us and He loves
humanity through us. At the moment of salvation, we become a new creation in Christ (2
Corinthians 5:17). Jesus takes our sins and gives
us His righteousness in exchange (2 Corinthians 5:21). He gives us His knowledge of eternity. We believe
God, not with our human faith, but with the divine faith of Christ who lives in
us (Galatians 2:20).
The only way for every child
of God to fully live is to completely die to our own desires, ambitions and
goals, and to hide our life with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). Once we are dead, we no longer live, but Christ
lives in us, through us and instead of us (Colossians 1:27; 2 Corinthians
13:5; Galatians 2:20). Jesus uses our
hands, our feet, our words and our action to further His Kingdom in the earth. Through the Spirit of God,
we are transformed into the fullness of Christ from one degree of glory to
another through the process of sanctification (2 Corinthians 3:18).
In
three places, the Bible states, “Ye are gods” (Psalm 82:6; John 10:34;
Isaiah 41:23).
Some people take this to an extreme and declare that they are a god and equal
to God. Some declare that God dwells universally in everything; therefore, we
are God. The
union between God and mankind is relational, we do not become a god or equal
with God (Genesis 3:5). The verses following those statements prove that God is not referring to
people as equal to Himself (Psalm 82:7; John 10:35-36). These verses actually refer
to people being God’s representatives as His children; or to us as children of
God and co-heirs with Christ, living worthy of our calling in Christ (Romans
8:16-17).
We
are not God or a god, but we achieve an intimate union with God within us through
Jesus Christ. We totally depend upon His
divine power within us (1 Corinthians 6:17). We
find our true identity and self-worth in Jesus Christ. We are a stem on the Vine of Christ (John
15:5), a slave to Jesus, our Master (Romans
6:16-18), the holy place for the Holy
Spirit to dwell (1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 5:1) and a container to show that the all-surpassing
power in us is from God and not from us (2 Corinthians 4:7). We are dead to self-effort through Christ (Romans 6:4;
Romans Ephesians 2:8-9).
Jesus
perfects us, and He is the author and finisher of our faith as we focus on Him
and His will for our life (Hebrews 12:2). God sent His Son in the form of human flesh, in order
that the law may be fulfilled in Him (Romans 8:3). As we obey God, we will not
walk according to the law or in the sinful passions of our flesh. We will walk
according to the leading of God’s Spirit moment by moment throughout the day (Romans
8:4). We have
no righteousness of our own merit, but we walk in the victory of the cross and
in dependence upon our union with Christ.
A
committed Believer wants to do God’s will above all else. That is our goal in
life. Our every waking breath and the desire of our heart is to further the
Kingdom of God in the earth. Our thoughts, words and behavior match our
desires. We put away sinful pursuits and seek holiness. Though we may fall
short of God’s glory now and then, we surrender our life to Christ in order for
Him to perfect us through sanctification (Philippians 3:12-14). We live life surrendered to
God’s unconditional love, unqualified forgiveness and perfect will for our
lives.
Prayer:
Father
God, we are often so busy with our own little world, that we fail You time and
again. Moses requested Your presence as Israel obeyed Your directive to conquer
the Promised Land. He knew that Your presence would distinguish Israel from all
the other nations of the world (Exodus 33:15-17). We have You within us by Your Spirit. Use our
distinction in You to help us to win the unsaved for You. You desire a people
filled with Your presence and reflecting Your glory, a living testimony of Your
love and power in the earth. Teach us to be a city on a hill and to shine Your
light in us for all the world to see (Matthew 5:14).
Thought
for the Day:
May we be a people who demonstrate the ‘shekinah’
glory of God – the manifest radiance of His glory - to a lost and dying world.
