August 12
As followers of Jesus, we must comprehend and incorporate what God has done for us – and, in our understanding, we must act. We are called to live by faith in the completed work of Christ. We must apply everything that He has done for us to the situations and circumstances of our own lives – each and every day.
We must choose to live free from the bonds and guilt of sin – because that is exactly the forgiveness and freedom Jesus has provided.
We must live unencumbered by our weaknesses and addictions – because absolute deliverance is exactly what Jesus has provided.
We must live in unconditional love – because we have received God’s Own divine nature, and love is exactly what God does by His nature.
We must live our lives just as Jesus did – committed to God, submitted to God… because God has graciously given us everything we need to live that way.
This is the true Christian message. It is the true gospel of the Kingdom.
True Christians are here on this earth to be the living testimony of the depth and breadth of God’s handiwork. God’s desire is to display Himself, on this physical planet, through His Own people. To do this, we must be emptied of self, and selfish ways, and full of God Himself. We must be immersed in Him, and live out our lives in the fullness of all that He has provided.
The message of the New Covenant is that God has done all that needs to be done for this to be accomplished. This very thought is echoed in one of the apostle’s own prayers for God’s people:
Amen!