I have said this before, and I will continue to say it until the majority of Christians are living the life God wants for us to live: a Christian is NOT someone who believes in Christ…a Christian is someone who believes and follows Christ! But how can we follow God if we are not dependent on Him to help us live this Christian Life? We are still placing ourselves- our understandings, feelings and desires- ahead of God and we cannot follow someone who is behind us? God must be first and foremost. This is no longer OUR life…do we get that? Lord knows I have to remind myself about this Truth about a dozen or so times… every hour, every day! Living the Abundant Life, filled to the overflow with peace and joy, is supposed to be impossible…because if we could do it, then we would have done it, right?
Dr Stanley says, “If the Christian life is simply a matter of doing our best, there was no need for God to send the Holy Spirit to help us.” (p8) It’s impossible for us to live the Christian Life and God knows it. We need help…that is, we need The Helper. Jesus tells His disciples, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (Jn 16:7 ESV) Thus the Holy Spirit, our Helper, to live this Christian Life. Because God the Father loves us, He sent God the Son to save us, Who sent God the Holy Spirit to indwell us, Who will guide and grow us into the image of God we were always meant to be. We need the whole Holy Trinity, every part of God, in order to believe, and then follow Him.
When we forget the power is this new union between the Holy Spirit in our regenerated spirit, we fall back into our default mode of trying to live on our own. When we attempt this kind of living, we get the same results we used to have before we surrendered to Christ…with one major exception: Heaven is now our eternal destiny. But what about in the meantime? What about while we are still here on earth? What about showing this world God has, and is continuing, to transform us so we have that peace and joy we all crave?
2023’s Got A Minute? Book Club
January: The First & Best Book Ever: The Bible
February: Love Is In the Air: “The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts” by Gary Chapman
March: Spring Growth: “Secrets of the Vine” by Bruce Wilkinson
April: Living the Resurrected Life: “The Wonderful Spirit Filled Life” by Dr Charles Stanley
<>< Peace, Diane
