"...the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Col. 1:26-27 NASB)
The most natural thing for me to do is to live righteously! Do you agree with that statement? If you don't agree with that, you may be thinking, "that sounds like spiritual arrogance!" If you are a believer, that statement is true of you also. The most humble thing you and I can do is to agree with what God says about us.
From Adam all the way to Christ, no human had experienced the life of God dwelling in them on a full-time permanent basis. The idea that God would "live" His life in the believer was a foreign concept. God would draw close when the individual was obedient and God would punish when they weren't. Don't misunderstand, God was long-suffering with His children because He knew they were not able to keep His commandments. God wanted to abide with His creation, not reject them. Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?" How can deceitful hearts be committed to God and keep His commands? They can't! God's people needed new hearts.
Jeremiah prophesies about a new covenant, "I will put my law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." (Jer. 31:33b NASB) Ezekiel prophesied, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you...I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes..." (Ez. 36:26a,27a NASB) These are prophecies regarding the mystery Paul speaks of in Colossians. This mystery revealed is Christ in you!
Jesus didn't come to earth to show me how to live, although He did set the highest standard to date. He came to give me Himself so that He could be my life. He placed Himself in a new creature with a new heart and made that new creature alive. Woohoo!!
Notice the phrase in Col. 1:27, "the hope of glory;" glory is the Greek word "doxa" which refers to Christ's magnificent nature. Does it frustrate you when you find yourself committing a sin? Of course it does! I hate sinning. When I realize that I have sinned, I always wish I could turn the clock back and make a different choice. I wish I could undo every sinful choice and never sin again from this moment forward. In other words, I hope there will be a time when I can consistently express Christ's high sinless standards.
Paul is saying that "Christ in you" or Christ's Life in me is my hope of expressing Christ's glory. Paul didn't say, "Christ, the hope of glory," but he said "Christ in you." It is the unity of Christ and you. That my friend is the best news ever!
God's intention from the beginning of creation has always been to share life with His creation. He wants to express His Life in and through us. Your hope of expressing His life is Christ in you!
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Monday, July 1, 2013
God's Provision
"... he who had gathered much had no excess, and he who had gathered little had no lack..." (Exodus 16:18 NASB)
There is a saying, "if it is to be, it is up to me!" This lie has been around since Satan's first temptation in the garden. The enemy wants us to believe that we must be in charge of our lives. Other than the free-will God gave us to make choices, we were not created with the ability to meet our life needs. Oh, we may think we can, but we can't! Striving by our self-effort always leaves us lacking.
When living by faith, it is necessary to trust God completely. He is our provider. He can meet all our needs fully to the point of complete satisfaction. Satisfaction guaranteed!
The children of Israel learned the hard way that God's provision is just enough for the moment. It didn't depend on their gathering ability. It is too easy to look around at others and either be envious or jealous of their abilities to get or stand in judgement of their lack of drive or ability to get. The focus is on performance.
When we trust God the focus is on His ability, not ours. The Israelites had to trust that God would provide for their needs. They were told only to collect what they needed for that day, except on the sixth day. If they worried that God would not come through, they tried collecting more than they needed for that day. Their provision, however, rotted and became worm ridden before morning. They needed to learn to trust God.
Do you lack for today? Or, are you looking to the future and see your lack there? I suspect that most of us are focused on tomorrow and not realizing that God has provided what we need for today. When you look to your future you may see great lack. Worrying about the future produces anxiety and fear. Or you may look at your future and see no lack, but don't be fooled. No man can really secure his future apart from God's will. (Luke 12:15-21)
Our lives are so much more than stuff. Jesus made it clear that our relationship with the Father is our true treasure. He knew that a life completely surrendered to the Father would not lack. Jesus said in Luke 12:31, "But seek first His kingdom, and these things will be added to you." (NASB)
There is a saying, "if it is to be, it is up to me!" This lie has been around since Satan's first temptation in the garden. The enemy wants us to believe that we must be in charge of our lives. Other than the free-will God gave us to make choices, we were not created with the ability to meet our life needs. Oh, we may think we can, but we can't! Striving by our self-effort always leaves us lacking.
When living by faith, it is necessary to trust God completely. He is our provider. He can meet all our needs fully to the point of complete satisfaction. Satisfaction guaranteed!
The children of Israel learned the hard way that God's provision is just enough for the moment. It didn't depend on their gathering ability. It is too easy to look around at others and either be envious or jealous of their abilities to get or stand in judgement of their lack of drive or ability to get. The focus is on performance.
When we trust God the focus is on His ability, not ours. The Israelites had to trust that God would provide for their needs. They were told only to collect what they needed for that day, except on the sixth day. If they worried that God would not come through, they tried collecting more than they needed for that day. Their provision, however, rotted and became worm ridden before morning. They needed to learn to trust God.
Do you lack for today? Or, are you looking to the future and see your lack there? I suspect that most of us are focused on tomorrow and not realizing that God has provided what we need for today. When you look to your future you may see great lack. Worrying about the future produces anxiety and fear. Or you may look at your future and see no lack, but don't be fooled. No man can really secure his future apart from God's will. (Luke 12:15-21)
Our lives are so much more than stuff. Jesus made it clear that our relationship with the Father is our true treasure. He knew that a life completely surrendered to the Father would not lack. Jesus said in Luke 12:31, "But seek first His kingdom, and these things will be added to you." (NASB)
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
God Enjoys Watching!
What motivates us to do our best? Are we challenged by critique or praise, or a combination of both? I love to watch sports movies as much as the next guy. It's cool to see people overcome great odds to win. There is something that appeals to all of us when the underdog rises from the bottom to become a champion. But how did they get there? What inspired them not to give up?
As an encourager I want to tell people not to give up, but to keep trying. I want to give them the "magic" advice that will turn the tide of disappointment in the their life to victory. One of many ways to encourage others to "do" better is the liver sandwich method. That is where you say something positive first and then a critique and then finish with something positive again. Even though that method feels positive, human nature gets stuck on the negative.
I recently read a blog by Rachel Macy Stafford entitled "Six Words You Should Say Today." She had read an article in which she saw this phrase: "I love to watch you play." As she began to practice this with her children, she said she could almost hear her child's mind say, "The pressure's off. She just loves to watch me ...; that is all."
As I read her blog, I realized that is what Father says to us; "I love to watch you my child!" That truly takes the pressure off of us. Unfortunately, religion has made it all about performance. We have been taught that God expects our best, but what is our best? How good is good enough? Is it possible for God to just enjoy watching us because we are simply His?
I think I have come closest to understanding this through being a grandfather. My oldest is two and a half and her younger first cousin is almost two. They are very different from each other, not to mention one is a girl and the other a boy. The older one started walking at nine months and the other around thirteen months. I didn't think there was anything wrong because the second one started walking later. I just enjoy watching them. I love everything about them! They are a joy to be around. The coolest part is to see their little faces light up when they see Mimi and Papa.
Father reminded me that He loves to watch me. He doesn't compare me to Jesus as I was taught by many well-meaning folks in my life. If that were so, He would know nothing but disappointment. Who can compare their behavior with that of Christ and come away looking good!? No one! It's not about behavior, but about relationship. Father loves us because of who He is. As His children, He loves to see us grow. When He rescued us from the domain of darkness (Col. 1:13) He immediately changed our identity and justified us. He made us perfect and holy and righteous, but we still have to grow experientially into that truth.
My grandchildren are made to be adults, but they don't look like adults yet, nor do they act like it. They will become adults one day, but today I'm going to enjoy watching them. We were made to behave perfect, but we're not there yet. Nonetheless, Father does enjoy watching us!
As an encourager I want to tell people not to give up, but to keep trying. I want to give them the "magic" advice that will turn the tide of disappointment in the their life to victory. One of many ways to encourage others to "do" better is the liver sandwich method. That is where you say something positive first and then a critique and then finish with something positive again. Even though that method feels positive, human nature gets stuck on the negative.
I recently read a blog by Rachel Macy Stafford entitled "Six Words You Should Say Today." She had read an article in which she saw this phrase: "I love to watch you play." As she began to practice this with her children, she said she could almost hear her child's mind say, "The pressure's off. She just loves to watch me ...; that is all."
As I read her blog, I realized that is what Father says to us; "I love to watch you my child!" That truly takes the pressure off of us. Unfortunately, religion has made it all about performance. We have been taught that God expects our best, but what is our best? How good is good enough? Is it possible for God to just enjoy watching us because we are simply His?
I think I have come closest to understanding this through being a grandfather. My oldest is two and a half and her younger first cousin is almost two. They are very different from each other, not to mention one is a girl and the other a boy. The older one started walking at nine months and the other around thirteen months. I didn't think there was anything wrong because the second one started walking later. I just enjoy watching them. I love everything about them! They are a joy to be around. The coolest part is to see their little faces light up when they see Mimi and Papa.
Father reminded me that He loves to watch me. He doesn't compare me to Jesus as I was taught by many well-meaning folks in my life. If that were so, He would know nothing but disappointment. Who can compare their behavior with that of Christ and come away looking good!? No one! It's not about behavior, but about relationship. Father loves us because of who He is. As His children, He loves to see us grow. When He rescued us from the domain of darkness (Col. 1:13) He immediately changed our identity and justified us. He made us perfect and holy and righteous, but we still have to grow experientially into that truth.
My grandchildren are made to be adults, but they don't look like adults yet, nor do they act like it. They will become adults one day, but today I'm going to enjoy watching them. We were made to behave perfect, but we're not there yet. Nonetheless, Father does enjoy watching us!
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Giving Trust
As a counselor, I deal with the issue of "trust" a lot. As I listen to couples struggling with giving and getting trust, I want to wave a magic wand and make their struggle go away. Of course, I don't have a magic wand or a magic pill or even magic words to say. I've asked Father to teach me more about trust and help me see it from His perspective.
I was thinking about the level of trust between Tess and me. We both trust each other greatly in most areas of our life. As a matter of fact, I enjoy trusting her. I don't sit around and wonder what she is doing when I am not looking. There is peace in this manner of living.
As I thought more about trust I realized there are two aspects of trust: giving trust and receiving trust. There is the one who gives trust and the one who receives trust. Each party has a responsibility in this "trust" process. The obvious and most observed of this transaction is the responsibility of the receiver to either earn or deserve the trust that is given. If the receiver's behavior cast any doubt that they are deserving of trust, trust can be withheld by the giver. In this case, the burden of trust really falls solely on the shoulders of the receiver.
The problem we encounter as humans when trying to give trust is that we are limited in our ability to control, to know the future, and to know the heart of others. All we can do is observe behavior in others and then make judgement calls on whether they are "trustworthy" or not! This process can be very scary if you have been hurt by someone you trusted. No one wants to get hurt.
Father showed me the other side of the process. There is the responsibility of the giver to give trust without proof. It is assuming the best when experience doesn't line up with expectation. It is knowing the heart of the one in whom you are giving trust. You may be thinking at this point, "Only God can truly know the heart of a person!" Bingo! We have to depend on Christ because He is all-knowing and totally in control. Trust given through the power of abiding in Christ produces peace and joy in the life of the giver.
I told Tess I realized I trusted her because of who I am and not because of what she does or doesn't do. Initially she gave me a funny look, but I further explained. I want to trust her whether she earns it or not. I want to assume the best about her even when I may question a behavior. This kind of trust can only be given through Christ's Life in me. It is ultimately me trusting Christ as He trusts others through me!
If I am allowing others to determine my well-being, they will eventually hurt me with their words and actions. I see husbands and wives giving this power to each other, and then eventually the other will hurt and wound them deeply. When this happens, the temptation is to withhold trust until the other person earns their trust again. The problem with this kind of trust giving is the "hell" the giver lives in while they worry about being hurt again.
You see, Christ will never hurt me. He loves me deeply and fully. Christ can be completely trusted. Trusting others through Christ is a divine process. It cannot be explained, but it can be lived as you trust Christ in you!
I was thinking about the level of trust between Tess and me. We both trust each other greatly in most areas of our life. As a matter of fact, I enjoy trusting her. I don't sit around and wonder what she is doing when I am not looking. There is peace in this manner of living.
As I thought more about trust I realized there are two aspects of trust: giving trust and receiving trust. There is the one who gives trust and the one who receives trust. Each party has a responsibility in this "trust" process. The obvious and most observed of this transaction is the responsibility of the receiver to either earn or deserve the trust that is given. If the receiver's behavior cast any doubt that they are deserving of trust, trust can be withheld by the giver. In this case, the burden of trust really falls solely on the shoulders of the receiver.
The problem we encounter as humans when trying to give trust is that we are limited in our ability to control, to know the future, and to know the heart of others. All we can do is observe behavior in others and then make judgement calls on whether they are "trustworthy" or not! This process can be very scary if you have been hurt by someone you trusted. No one wants to get hurt.
Father showed me the other side of the process. There is the responsibility of the giver to give trust without proof. It is assuming the best when experience doesn't line up with expectation. It is knowing the heart of the one in whom you are giving trust. You may be thinking at this point, "Only God can truly know the heart of a person!" Bingo! We have to depend on Christ because He is all-knowing and totally in control. Trust given through the power of abiding in Christ produces peace and joy in the life of the giver.
I told Tess I realized I trusted her because of who I am and not because of what she does or doesn't do. Initially she gave me a funny look, but I further explained. I want to trust her whether she earns it or not. I want to assume the best about her even when I may question a behavior. This kind of trust can only be given through Christ's Life in me. It is ultimately me trusting Christ as He trusts others through me!
If I am allowing others to determine my well-being, they will eventually hurt me with their words and actions. I see husbands and wives giving this power to each other, and then eventually the other will hurt and wound them deeply. When this happens, the temptation is to withhold trust until the other person earns their trust again. The problem with this kind of trust giving is the "hell" the giver lives in while they worry about being hurt again.
You see, Christ will never hurt me. He loves me deeply and fully. Christ can be completely trusted. Trusting others through Christ is a divine process. It cannot be explained, but it can be lived as you trust Christ in you!
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Life Is a Journey
I love to hike, especially in the mountains. I used to live in Montana and hiking in the Rocky Mountains was awesome! They are much more grandiose than the mountains here in Georgia, even though I enjoy the mountains here also. I remember the first time I went hiking in the Rockies. I looked at what I thought was the summit and made my way toward that destination. When I arrived to that point, I realized there was much more to this mountain. As I was resting, I looked up again and determined where the "top" of the mountain was located. When I arrived at that point, again, I realized I was still a long way from the top. Of course, this was very frustrating. The size of the mountain was much larger than I could perceive.
It took me awhile to stop judging my journey in the context of the destination. I learned to enjoy the beauty around me as well as the adventure of each step. There was something new to see and experience around every corner and over each little slope. To be honest, I never did make it to the top of the mountain. I learned to enjoy the journey.
For me this is an excellent word picture for life. Father has been teaching me to enjoy the journey and to stop looking ahead to determine the destination. For those of you who are planners or goal setters or visionaries, I'm not saying to stop planning or setting goals or casting vision. When Jesus told Martha that her sister Mary had chosen the better option, He wasn't telling her to stop being a hostess. Also, He was not telling Mary to embrace laziness! He was helping Martha to gain perspective. Martha was not enjoying the journey; she was trying to reach a destination. (Luke 10:38-42)
It is too easy for me to try and look ahead to determine a destination. It's ok for me to just walk. God is directing my steps. In my flesh I have the tendency to worry about the "how's" and the "what's." In other words, I want to be able to control and manage outcomes. God is a gentleman and will allow me to attempt that God-sized task, but He knows I will fail.
Here is what I am learning: God is my destination! In Him I have life. Life is not found in reaching a destination out there somewhere. For some that perceived destination might be getting married, or landing the perfect job, or attaining wealth, or gaining power, or going on the perfect vacation, or fulfilling a bucket list! Acts 17:28a says, "for in Him we live and move and exist..." No matter where we are on the journey, we have Him.
Don't beat yourself up for not reaching the summit of the mountain. Enjoy the scenery right where you are. Don't worry about tomorrow, or next week, or next year. You and I are exactly where we are supposed to be right now; we are learning to rest and we are learning to surrender. Enjoy your journey!
It took me awhile to stop judging my journey in the context of the destination. I learned to enjoy the beauty around me as well as the adventure of each step. There was something new to see and experience around every corner and over each little slope. To be honest, I never did make it to the top of the mountain. I learned to enjoy the journey.
For me this is an excellent word picture for life. Father has been teaching me to enjoy the journey and to stop looking ahead to determine the destination. For those of you who are planners or goal setters or visionaries, I'm not saying to stop planning or setting goals or casting vision. When Jesus told Martha that her sister Mary had chosen the better option, He wasn't telling her to stop being a hostess. Also, He was not telling Mary to embrace laziness! He was helping Martha to gain perspective. Martha was not enjoying the journey; she was trying to reach a destination. (Luke 10:38-42)
It is too easy for me to try and look ahead to determine a destination. It's ok for me to just walk. God is directing my steps. In my flesh I have the tendency to worry about the "how's" and the "what's." In other words, I want to be able to control and manage outcomes. God is a gentleman and will allow me to attempt that God-sized task, but He knows I will fail.
Here is what I am learning: God is my destination! In Him I have life. Life is not found in reaching a destination out there somewhere. For some that perceived destination might be getting married, or landing the perfect job, or attaining wealth, or gaining power, or going on the perfect vacation, or fulfilling a bucket list! Acts 17:28a says, "for in Him we live and move and exist..." No matter where we are on the journey, we have Him.
Don't beat yourself up for not reaching the summit of the mountain. Enjoy the scenery right where you are. Don't worry about tomorrow, or next week, or next year. You and I are exactly where we are supposed to be right now; we are learning to rest and we are learning to surrender. Enjoy your journey!
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Living by Law
A couple of weeks ago I talked about the difference between law and grace. Even as we begin to wrap our minds around God's grace as believers, we still struggle with "law living." If you have ever had any thoughts that go something like this, "I should have done _______," you just made a jaunt over into law living!
This subject is tough because living in this world we do have responsibilities. Teeth need to be brushed, floors need to swept, yards need to be mowed, children need to be fed, bills need to be paid, test need to be studied for, messes need to be cleaned, etc... Living by grace doesn't mean we get a pass on being responsible, but some seem to make that connection when they are introduced to the deeper levels of God's grace.
Anything you do or think you "need" to do to make life better for yourself is law living. When I say anything, I mean anything! Do you think you will be a better Christian if you read your Bible more? or pray more? or tithe 10%? or go to church every Sunday? or witness everyday? Doing any of these things for the purpose of improving your life is law living. Please don't misunderstand me, there is absolutely nothing wrong with anything I just listed. As far as healthy pursuits go, they are some of the highest one could choose.
So what am I implying? Anything you or I "do" to gain life (value, worth, purpose, significance, acceptance, etc...), is living by law. Only Christ can give life. He said He was the way, the truth, and the life! (John 10:10) Life is not something you do, He is someone you know! He gives us our purpose, our worth, our significance; He gives us His Life and we have that Life simply because of His doing.
When I am trying to improve my life by concentrating on my "good works" performance, I am choosing to place myself under law. Paul said when I do that, I have fallen from grace (Gal. 5:4). Falling from grace is not losing your salvation, it is trying to gain justification by living according to law. No man is justified by law (Gal. 3:11).
Please understand that only a righteous person can produce righteous acts. We don't become righteous by acting righteous. That's like saying an animal becomes a dog by barking more! I had a dog that barked less than ten times in her 11 years of life. That was very un-dog-like of her, but that didn't change the fact that she was 100% dog. If Christ lives in you, He has made you righteous. Because you are righteous, live righteously! Law living never produced righteous living, nor can it. You "get to" (grace) live like Jesus, you don't "have to" (law).
It takes a life-time to undo our tendency to live by law, but that is ok! God's grace is even sufficient for that.
This subject is tough because living in this world we do have responsibilities. Teeth need to be brushed, floors need to swept, yards need to be mowed, children need to be fed, bills need to be paid, test need to be studied for, messes need to be cleaned, etc... Living by grace doesn't mean we get a pass on being responsible, but some seem to make that connection when they are introduced to the deeper levels of God's grace.
Anything you do or think you "need" to do to make life better for yourself is law living. When I say anything, I mean anything! Do you think you will be a better Christian if you read your Bible more? or pray more? or tithe 10%? or go to church every Sunday? or witness everyday? Doing any of these things for the purpose of improving your life is law living. Please don't misunderstand me, there is absolutely nothing wrong with anything I just listed. As far as healthy pursuits go, they are some of the highest one could choose.
So what am I implying? Anything you or I "do" to gain life (value, worth, purpose, significance, acceptance, etc...), is living by law. Only Christ can give life. He said He was the way, the truth, and the life! (John 10:10) Life is not something you do, He is someone you know! He gives us our purpose, our worth, our significance; He gives us His Life and we have that Life simply because of His doing.
When I am trying to improve my life by concentrating on my "good works" performance, I am choosing to place myself under law. Paul said when I do that, I have fallen from grace (Gal. 5:4). Falling from grace is not losing your salvation, it is trying to gain justification by living according to law. No man is justified by law (Gal. 3:11).
Please understand that only a righteous person can produce righteous acts. We don't become righteous by acting righteous. That's like saying an animal becomes a dog by barking more! I had a dog that barked less than ten times in her 11 years of life. That was very un-dog-like of her, but that didn't change the fact that she was 100% dog. If Christ lives in you, He has made you righteous. Because you are righteous, live righteously! Law living never produced righteous living, nor can it. You "get to" (grace) live like Jesus, you don't "have to" (law).
It takes a life-time to undo our tendency to live by law, but that is ok! God's grace is even sufficient for that.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Living by Faith
One of my favorite verses is Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." (NASB)
In this verse Paul is referring to two different "I's." The first "I" was the old man or old creature that was born into this physical world spiritually dead. That creature was the "walking dead!" The second "I" is that new creature or saint that is alive because of Christ's Life living in that new creature. However, that new spiritual creature who is fully alive has to operate in and interact with this physical world until he/she is released by physical death.
I am convinced we are dependent creatures needing Christ's Life for victorious living. Having said that, our faith is our spiritual hands to receive what God is giving us. Faith is not what we have to invoke God for blessings, but rather what He has given us to receive His blessings. I don't "practice" faith so that I can live "for" God, but rather my faith is what it takes to receive Christ's Life so that I can "practice" His Life in the here and now in this physical world.
Look at the phrase in Galatians 2:20, "...the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith..." This eternal life I live here in this temporal container or earthen vessel (2 Cor. 4: 7), in this temporary existence, cannot be generated by self-effort or self-will. I would have to be an independent creature who decides to "live for God" in order to generate life. God, by His grace, is giving me Life. By faith, my receptor, I'm receiving that Life and then Life is being expressed in me and is seen by myself and others in this physical world.
I like to illustrate this with a cup. If I pour water in a cup until it is full, then the cup is full. It will not hold any more water. However, if I keep pouring the water into the cup, it will overflow. Saints are like that cup. We are completely full of Christ's life at all times, but if we are walking according to the flesh, there will be no overflow. If we are living life by faith, there will be overflow. His Life will be visible in our life. I will see it and you will see it. Others will say, "they seem so joyful and peaceful!"
You may have thought, "I just don't think I have enough faith to live like that." Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith. That's great news! Christ not only gave us Life, He also gave us faith and He is perfecting it. So rest and enjoy the process. Don't try to generate righteous works for God, let Him generate them through you as you live this Life here in this physical world.
In this verse Paul is referring to two different "I's." The first "I" was the old man or old creature that was born into this physical world spiritually dead. That creature was the "walking dead!" The second "I" is that new creature or saint that is alive because of Christ's Life living in that new creature. However, that new spiritual creature who is fully alive has to operate in and interact with this physical world until he/she is released by physical death.
I am convinced we are dependent creatures needing Christ's Life for victorious living. Having said that, our faith is our spiritual hands to receive what God is giving us. Faith is not what we have to invoke God for blessings, but rather what He has given us to receive His blessings. I don't "practice" faith so that I can live "for" God, but rather my faith is what it takes to receive Christ's Life so that I can "practice" His Life in the here and now in this physical world.
Look at the phrase in Galatians 2:20, "...the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith..." This eternal life I live here in this temporal container or earthen vessel (2 Cor. 4: 7), in this temporary existence, cannot be generated by self-effort or self-will. I would have to be an independent creature who decides to "live for God" in order to generate life. God, by His grace, is giving me Life. By faith, my receptor, I'm receiving that Life and then Life is being expressed in me and is seen by myself and others in this physical world.
I like to illustrate this with a cup. If I pour water in a cup until it is full, then the cup is full. It will not hold any more water. However, if I keep pouring the water into the cup, it will overflow. Saints are like that cup. We are completely full of Christ's life at all times, but if we are walking according to the flesh, there will be no overflow. If we are living life by faith, there will be overflow. His Life will be visible in our life. I will see it and you will see it. Others will say, "they seem so joyful and peaceful!"
You may have thought, "I just don't think I have enough faith to live like that." Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith. That's great news! Christ not only gave us Life, He also gave us faith and He is perfecting it. So rest and enjoy the process. Don't try to generate righteous works for God, let Him generate them through you as you live this Life here in this physical world.
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