The How and the Who

I think one of our greatest faults as humans, is to “read too much into things,” and to go “overboard” or “extreme” on anything or many things, even the Scriptures.

I also think it takes time to cultivate and “hear” rightly, the things of God – that it is most important of “how” we “hear” the Word of God and “how” God’s Truth is cultivated in us.

Don’t know about you, but as for me, I find now, more than ever, I have to live daily – just simple moment by moment reliance upon God’s Spirit to “interpret” all things….”as I go – as I live and walk here on planet earth.

Another thing, which I truly think is the greatest need, is to “hear” God’s Word, without condemnation.  When I read something like “there is therefore now no condemnation” to those who are in Christ Jesus,” I can look back on my life and see that the huge “CM” trailed me for years.  Who is “CM?”  “Condemnation Monster.”

You know, the one who breathes down your neck whether through circumstances,  others or your own voice saying, “you didn’t do this, you didn’t do that right, stop that, do this, that’s not enough, that’s not good enough, do more, scumbag!…”

Boy, it takes the Holy Spirit to shift our minds to a new way of thinking.  It really does.  I used to think too, that we need to “look at the problem” or “figure that thing out,” which we all know results in futility. Yet as the Spirit of God shifts our thinking to His way, I find more and more His delight and way is to focus on the cure, not the problem.

The cure is always Jesus Christ, who is God’s grace, mercy, peace, spiritual wisdom and understanding.  It is the power of the Spirit, His Person, in the daily life, as much as it is doctrinally, to know we have eternal life.

Again, don’t know about you, but if I don’t live and walk by God’s Spirit daily, I find that evil is there, waiting for an opportunity.  All evil thoughts come from the devil and he’s going to try and plant all he can in the human mind.  Start with a thought from him and before the day’s over, one can be in a pit!  This is what we Christians call “the flesh.”  And all this can become so habitual and we think this is who we really are - OR we think it's who others really are.

God has declared that greater is he (Christ Jesus) who dwells in us, than he that is in the world.  He wants me to believe Him and rely on Him daily.  Christ is “lifting power.”  For this is what it means to me in Romans 8:1 – “the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus and freed me from sin and death (the Condemnation Monster).  Christ is always upward in thought – lifting the heart.  I love to view Him as “the wings" of the Christian walking!

So to me, my focus on a daily basis has to be Him.  He daily wants to impart wisdom, His thoughts, direction, grace, peace, the MIND OF CHRIST.  This is WHO He is and again, He lives in us.  Romans 8 says, “the mind of the Spirit IS life and peace.”

How can I know this?  By simple prayer, “Lord teach me.”  “Lord, show me YOUR ways…Lord, work your desire and will in me of HOW YOU do this, HOW to “hear” YOUR Word so that when I read Your Word, I simply just let you interpret.  And...interpret all things that are happening to me on a daily basis.”

Everything I said is found in the Scriptures.  Christ is our Life – He came to dwell in us – He gives His life abundantly – those who receive ABUNDANCE OF GRACE will reign in life through the One, Christ Jesus!

Whew…are we missing the unfathomable treasures of knowing Christ dwelling in and through us as the ALL, the ability, the life and the HOW to live the Christian life?

The HOW is the WHO.  The WHO is the HOW. 

WHO then?  Jesus Christ Himself – the Living One.  He alone, our life, our all.

 “Lord, show me, teach me more deeply, this precious reality, for you have said, ' the flesh profits nothing.'  It is through Your Spirit we live, move and have our being.  And...You work in us, both to will and to do of Your good pleasure!”

Sue Gaither

Poem

Wings 

God has given us living wings

Through Christ, Who is our Life

We often do not use them

But only struggle and strive

Until the day we're broken

And ask the question "How,

Is this life lived, O Lord?"

Listen, He's speaking now:

"The Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus

Are the wings you'll forever need

And through faith you use them

The wings are simply ME"

Sue Gaither  4/10