Hearing too much or listening not enough?

Looking back on decades of faith in Christ, I recall often skipping through the gospel message with the vain thought that I already knew that. Only lately I realized how important the biblical good news is for daily life.

How many years did I beat myself up for every mistake, forgetting that all was put on Christ and He gave me His righteousness? How many times have I patted myself on the back for whatever I did instead of glorifying the enabling power of my Savior? How often have I grumbled and complained instead of being thankful for the wonder of life with Christ and how He takes care of all needs? Or how often have I wasted time and energy because my heart was bent on my way instead of His?

The gospel tells me that I am a new creation, reconciled to God and have peace to be enjoyed and a job to do, not wasting anything following my own ideas.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:17–19)

My sins are forgiven. No need to beat up myself:

(Jesus) entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. (Hebrews 9:12–14)

All the foolish things I’ve ever done, even the foolish thoughts that pull me away from glorifying God and being thankful, have been forgiven. Christ took all of my sin on Himself and died that I could be set free from its penalty and power.

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. (Romans 8:1–2)

Pity the churches where the gospel is rarely told. We who believe need to hear it every day, listen to it with a raptured heart and fully realize what it means to the real or false guilt that we experience. The gospel fills me with joy. My heart dances to know that my salvation is a done-deal. God has prepared a lifetime of things for me to do and because of Jesus, I can and will do them.

PRAY: Jesus, You are the reason for all good things. Not only that, I am so thankful that Your Word says You will restore the years the locust has eaten. In the end, You wipe away all tears and all will melt into forgetfulness. Thank You for the joys of this day and the assurance of forever.

“In Christ” isn’t simply a belief system . . .

 

“God . . . has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3.

Many people believe that one’s religious preference is irrelevant because all religions eventually lead to the same spiritual destination. However, Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) His claim cannot be ignored. The entire NT supports and explains it. “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

The devotional for today says Christianity isn’t simply a belief system—it’s a whole new identity. Being united with Christ changes who I am because I am “in Christ” something like putting a piece of paper between the pages of a book; that paper is ‘in the book.’ Yet that is hardly adequate to explain what God has done in redeeming His people.

But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. (1 Corinthians 6:17)

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. (Romans 8:9)

The phrase “in Christ” occurs thirteen times in Ephesians. The first verse addresses this letter to those who are faithful in Christ. The third verse says we are blessed in Christ. Verse 9 says God’s purposes are set forth in Him and 12 declares that those who hope in Christ bring praise to Him.

God’s power is revealed in Christ when He raised Him from the dead, yet the startling truth is that we have also been raised up and seated in heavenly places with Him! How can that be? I’m still here, as are many who hope in Him. This must be understood in terms of status not location, eternity not time. That is, the eternal God declares that from His perspective, I am already there with Jesus. He has united me with His Son “so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

For the present location and time, I am here with things to do: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

How did God do that? He says, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” and that both Jews and Gentiles are heirs in this union. God’s promises are ours because we are in Christ and that happens when we believe  the gospel. It is a faith thing on our part, but according to God’s eternal purpose. Therefore we say, “to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Being “in Christ” is spiritual reality that affects the way we live. Galatians 2:20 declares, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” This new life comes with new thoughts, new ways of living. For instance:

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:29–32)

Before Christ came into my life, I was in bondage to my sinful I-wants, spiritually dead, and without hope. Then Jesus arrived and I became a new creation. God reconciled me to Himself. He also gave me the ministry of reconciliation; that is, telling others that “in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them . . . .” He took my sin, died for it, and gave me His righteousness. I had much to learn about mind renewal and transformation and now realize this is a life-long process, but also realize that in Christ I am His child, an heir of God, and eternally secure. As MacArthur says, what He is, I am. What He has, I have. Where He is, I am.

My response? I’m to “let my light shine before others, so that they may see my good works and give glory to my Father who is in heaven.” For that, I pray for a shiny life today and a deeper understanding of the reality of being in Christ.

MORE: Matthew 5:16, 2 Corinthians 5:17–19, Ephesians.

 

Good news before breakfast

My devotional time this morning was delayed, but it was a sweet delay. A family member called, and we talked nearly an hour. He told me of how the Lord is at work in his life and the lives of his family. This good news delighted my heart and shows me again the power of God and how He answers prayer.

This person is a Christian. He has an attitude that blesses me, particularly the attitude of a peacemaker and one who wants to build people up not tear them down. He fits this description:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:17–19)

While I was listening to him, I thought of the burden I’ve had for his life. Even though Jesus often whispers, “I’ve got that covered” this burden would not go away. Was I piling it on myself? Was it a reminder to keep praying? Did that indicate I was trying to make changes happen — even by my ‘hard praying’ rather than trusting God to keep His promises and do the work in this fellow’s life?

Perhaps all the above, but mostly the burden seemed like the ‘labor’ of the first part of what Jesus said in this well-known passage.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)

However, God changed it this morning with a visible assurance that put my heart at rest, just as Jesus promised to lighten the load when I bring it to Him. He does not want me to put on my to-do list the things that He alone can do. The yoke He gives is much easier than that!

I also notice those words: gentle and lowly in heart. This is about meekness and humility. Many say that meekness is like a tamed stallion that has submitted to its owner. The horse is not weak, but that power is under control. In this case, anything I can do is under the guiding and influence of the Holy Spirit.

Humility is easier to define. It means no arrogance or pride, no self-aggrandizement. It is not the putting down of self, but being taken up with others to the point that self is not given much thought. This too is the work of the Holy Spirit. I cannot do it.

Yet this is what Jesus is like and this characterizes the “burden” He wants me to carry, a “burden” I noticed in my caller this morning and an attitude that shows he is at rest with himself and his life. He even said that he turns down extras because, “I have nothing to prove.” He does not need the ego-boosts and perks that come with those kinds of offers.

^^^^^^^^

Jesus, I am smiling. Not only have You blessed this man in answer to my prayers, You have transformed him into a person I can look on as a great example for my own life. What a blessing You are — and I don’t mind at all that my breakfast was cold by the time I got off the phone!