An author I cannot recall wrote something like this: Most Christians live sub-normal lives so
when one comes along who is living in the fullness of the Holy Spirit, they are
given super-star status.
Tozer agrees. He puts it this way: “The Spirit-filled life is not a special, deluxe edition of
Christianity. It is part and parcel of the total plan of God for His people.
You must be satisfied that it is not abnormal. I admit that it is unusual,
because there are so few people who walk in the light of it or enjoy it, but it
is not abnormal.… This is unusual only because our spiritual lives are so
wretchedly sick and so far down from where they should be.”
I’m particularly blessed in belonging to a congregation
that has a good percentage of ‘normal’ Christians. This passage describes what
‘normal’ means for the children of God . . .
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:1–8)
Normal means that I don’t go around feeling condemned or
beating myself up every time I make a mistake. Sin happens. When it does, the
normal Christian confesses it for what it is and enjoys forgiveness and
cleansing, no condemnation, no fear of punishment, a total trust that Jesus has
taken care of that on the Cross.
Normal also means condemning sin, not making excuses for
it. A normal Christian does not say “That
is the way I am” to excuse a bad temper, as if they are stuck with it
forever. Jesus came to change our lives. I cannot be a normal Christian if I
refuse to condemn my own sin.
Normal means thinking about things of the Spirit. I’m not
plotting, planning or devising things apart from checking if my ideas are from God.
He gives His people the mind of Christ and being ‘normal’ means using it to
think and live.
Normal recognizes flesh. That is, when a ‘normal’
Christian becomes snarly, or gossips, or complains, they know this is not from
God. Normal draws a line and when that line is crossed, they know they are not
pleasing God.
Tozer says the Holy Spirit is pure, wise and true, which
is correct. So are His people when He fills them. This is not strange or
super-star stuff. It is normal, the way I am supposed to live and the way that
I can live because of Jesus Christ.
^^^^^^^^^^
Oh Lord, how awesome. What can I do but say thank You, praise
You, live for You. Your grace and power take subnormal sinfulness and
transforms our lives so we can live as we were created to live — in harmony
with You. When You are filling our hearts and lives, not only do we gain the
peace and joy of the Holy Spirit, but also the sense of fitting into our skin,
being what You want us to be. Oh my, this is a blessedness that is hard to
describe, normal yet often rare. May my life today fill that role, but also
point others to the wonder of being normal!
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