Abiding in Christ

Effective evangelism is motivated by the love of God. When we share the love of God, we and those we minister to are filled with God, because God is love (Ephesians 3:19; 1 John 4:8).

When our personal relationship with God is evident, people will want this same intimacy with Him, which we enjoy. Our testimony emanates Christ's life, which entices people to hunger for God too (John 13:35).

God gives us His peace and His Spirit who dwells within us (1 Corinthians 2:12, 14:33). We prosper in every trial through Christ who abides in us (Romans 8:37).

Jesus already overcame the world and the trials through which we live; so He encourages us from the inside out (John 16:33). Therefore, we can always flourish in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58).

There is no condemnation for past sins, because we are now in Christ (Romans 8:1). He became sin on our behalf and gave us His righteous standing with our Father God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

God’s Spirit gives us liberty from bondage to the flesh, the world and Satan (Galatians 3:13-14; 2 Corinthians 3:17). Since God is in our corner, nothing which comes against us can succeed (Romans 8:31).

We are never alone again, because Christ never forsakes us or leaves us alone (Matthew 28:20). He expresses Himself through our thoughts, words and deeds (Hebrews 13:5).

We learn to be content with whatever God provides for us on a daily basis, knowing that if we need something, He will provide it in His own way and time (Philippians 4:11).

 

Prayer:

Father God, regardless of the obstacles life uses to hinder us, You conqueror over them all. Thank You for leading us by Your Spirit and making us Your children and co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:14, 17).

You help us to understand what Your will is for our life and You enable us to walk in it (Ephesians 5:17). Remind us to obey Your Spirit and to look to You for the fulfillment of all of our needs.

Thought for the Day:

We serve at the pleasure of our King Jesus, who dwells within us; therefore, we abound in every good work. - 2 Corinthians 9:8

It is Impossible to Live for God

 

 

It is impossible to live for God in this world; but it is quite possible for Christ to live His life in and through us. A life hidden with Christ in God is our true and solitary reality (John 15:19; Colossians 3:3). Christ in us will make us successful in His calling for our life, so that we can enjoy His rewards both now and in eternity (Ephesians 2:10; Galatians 2:20). Christ is in us regardless of our temporal experiences, and He gives us His promises and seals us with His Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Peter 2:4).

No matter what circumstances life hands us, our faith grows as we watch the mighty hand of God deliver us from all of our troubles (Psalm 55:18; James 2:1-4). Christ finished everything He started, both during His lifetime and now in ours (John 4:34, 17:4; Romans 9:28; Philippians 1:6). As we die daily, Christ is formed in us (1 Corinthians 15:31; Galatians 4:19). This makes no sense to an unsaved person, because Christ’s deepest work in us is perceived only by those born of His Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14).

God’s beauty makes us hunger for more of His presence in our life (Psalm 27:4). His Spirit unites us with Him as one  (1 Corinthians 6:17). We walk in His will, and speak and do only that which His Spirit directs us to say and accomplish. He expresses the will of our Father through us now, and He will also escort us through death to dwell with Him forever (John 6:40). In Christ, dwells the fullness of the entire Godhead, and we are complete in Him, lacking nothing (Colossians 2:9).

Our humanity is actually dead to sin; so we can now listen to Christ instead of to the thoughts in our mind (Romans 6:6,11; Colossians 3:3-4). The unrivaled resource of God’s power is given to all of us who surrender to Him (Ephesians 1:17-19). As we walk in His will, He supplies all of our earthly needs (Matthew 6:33). The banks may fail, and we may lose money in the stock market; but by investing our whole life in God’s Kingdom, we shall always prosper (Matthew 6:19-21). 

Prayer:

Father God, our natural abilities are dwarfed by the greatness of Your power within us (Ephesians 1:19). Once we realize that You are our only hope and ability, we cease from our own efforts and rest in You (Hebrews 4:10: Ephesians 2:8-10). We are a blank canvas on which You paint Your masterpiece that is uniquely who You desire for us to be (Ephesians 2:10). Remind us to cling to You in every trial (Acts 11:23) and to rejoice in You for every victory.

Thought for the Day:

Our worries will blind us to the peace of God, which is available within us, even in the midst of disquieting distress and overwhelming obstacles.

Raising the Lazarus in Your Life

When Jesus visited Mary and Martha after their brother Lazarus died, 4 days had passed since the burial. In John 11:21, Martha says to Jesus, "Master, if You had been here, my brother would not have died."  Martha was overwhelmed with sorrow at her brother’s passing. The loss was great to their entire family, their friends and community. They wanted Jesus to come while Lazarus was sick, so that He could heal him. In their minds, Jesus failed to show up in time. Martha was bitterly disappointed.

Can you relate to Martha's attitude? Many of us are overwhelmed with our troubles. Stuck in anxieties we cannot seem to let go of. Drowning in sorrow that threatens to sink us into the pit of despair. We have tried several strategies to overcome the obstacles, yet none of them worked out. Have you given up hope of something that you have struggled with for an extensive amount of time? Have you decided that there is no sense in even praying about it anymore, because it is not going to happen?

Of course, we all know the ending to Martha’s story. Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. In the same way He answered Martha’s prayer, Jesus will raise our "Lazarus" from the dead as well. Our God is great. He is mighty and awesome in power. There is nothing too hard for Him (Jeremiah 32:17,27). He wants to work all things out for our good (Romans 8:28). Are you willing to believe and to wait on Him? Just call upon Him and He will answer you and show you great and mighty things (Jeremiah 33:3). Once Lazarus came forth from the tomb (John 11:40), Jesus responded, "Did I not tell you that you would see God's glory if you believe?" Lazarus died for the glory of God, so that Jesus could bring him back to life.

Let’s look at this scenario from another perspective. What if God actually chose this as Lazarus’ time to die? Jesus would not have raised him from the dead. Would his family, friends and community ever recovered from this tragedy? Some people look at death as defeat. They think that if God allows someone to die, then He failed to heal them. This is only the opinion of people with a limited, earthly viewpoint.

Death is actually the ultimate healing, because God takes us home to live with Him in heaven. This is actually far better than healing in this earthly realm, because now there will never be any more sickness, sorrow or death for our loved ones. They already passed through the veil into eternal life.

As we choose to trust God with our "Lazarus", we will see the mighty hand of God working in our favor. We all struggle with sin, anxiety, frustration and so much more. However, God can raise every hopeless situation we ever encounter in His timing and in His own way for His glory. We can all be raised from deadly circumstance, through His power working for, in and through us.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help us to keep our focus on You and not on our circumstances. Help us to look at our life from an eternal perspective and to trust you to work all things out for our good. Help us to share our faith with others through prayer, so that our effectual, fervent prayer will heal the sick, in body, soul and spirit (James 5:16).

Thought for the Day:
The existence of the entire universe is an impossibility, which God made possible.

The Rocky Road to Peace

Read: John 4: 10-14

“Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."  - John 7:37-38

Today I was listening to my nature music with sounds of a gurgling brook in the background. As I absently dusted the living room with my feather duster, I visualized myself sitting next to that gurgling stream, with wildflowers tickling my arm in the slight breeze and butterflies swirling overhead.

As I moved into the bedrooms with the duster, I changed scenes in my mind and pictured myself in a raft, lazily drifting with the current along the scenic view of that same rivulet. I felt so much peace and tranquility fill my soul. I started to sing praises to God along with the instrumental music and I thanked Him for giving us nature to enjoy. 

After putting the feather duster away, I snuggled into my recliner with the music still playing gently in the background. I sat quietly, listening for the Lord. God reminded me that most streams have rocks and even boulders in them that the water must traverse around!!! Yet, the water continues to flow unhindered by these obstacles. He reminded me that our life also has obstacles in it; and if we allow them to, they will impede our progress.

However, as we rest in Jesus, who is our eternal, Living Water, we will drift smoothly around every hindrance in life. We will not only experience peace and joy ourselves, but we will also share our tranquility with everyone God leads to come rest by our side!

PRAYER

Lord, give us a fresh filling of Your Holy Spirit with each new day (Genesis 41:38). Allow Your Living Water to fill our souls with refreshment and give us peace, not as the world gives; but that peace, which circumvents every obstacle in life.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. - Isaiah 12:3