Self or Spirit?

Have you ever miscalculated something?  An example would be to have money in your purse for the grocery store.  Then as you go through the aisles, you mentally calculate what you are buying, to match what you have in your purse. 

However, when you go through the checkout line there's an "oops," when the number comes up.  Then, you have to take a few things out of your groceries.  That's happened to me a few times.

This is an example of what it is like to look at self versus looking at Jesus.  We do not realize that we do this, but we basically try to live by "self," instead of Christ.  We calculate, "I can do this," and eventually, we do come up short, yet in reality, all the time.

Where this shows up the most in our lives is when we "try to" love.  This is probably the place where many of us discover that we really come up short.  It is supposed to do this in our lives.  We are supposed to discover that self is a poor source of anything, especially the fruit of God's Spirit.  This is where believers also, get into trouble through comparison.  Comparing flesh with flesh or self with self.

Well doesn't it make sense then, to realize if the fruit of God's Spirit is God's Spirit, then shouldn't  I look to Him (the Spirit of Christ in me), as that Source instead of self?

Is this a one-time deal or a daily, abiding deal?

I am positive God does not want us to be "actors and actresses" about Christian virtues.  He truly wants us to experience a true Holy Spirit of Christ bringing forth some real fruit in us.  Our part is to do what He says to do:  "Reckon ourselves dead indeed unto sin (self's ability to be righteous, holy, fruitful, etc.) and ALIVE to God THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord."

Not just as one-time event, but a forever reality.  And it is truly why Paul said, "Stop living by the law now - live by and from and through Christ Himself.  Self is not going to perform well or in completeness - but through faith in Christ, He will perform well and that which is acceptable to God."  This is what Paul meant.

In thinking about the Son of God and WHO He is, there is no coming up short with Him.  He IS Love - He IS peace, He IS all the things we ALL hope for to come out of us and through us.

So the real question is:  Why do I keep depending on self for the source of true Christian living?  Why do I not look at Jesus Christ as my Source ALL the time for ALL things?

Trials to me are like the cash register.  When I "see" the numbers on the register, and then measure what I have in my purse, I have to do something.  I can't just assume the clerk is going to ignore it.

So when there is a problem of any kind in my life - no matter what - and usually my emotions, reactions, responses, whatever - is like the "flickering" neon sign to let me know something is up, or something is wrong.

It can serve as a reminder too - to simply "yell" at me - "Don't go scrounging around in the purse of self, for there is nothing there to match what is truly needed!  Look at Jesus Christ as the Source for all things - solutions to all trials, all fruit, all anything and everything."

Romans 4 is a beautiful reminder too, that we have a NEW account.  The account is indeed the Person of Christ - not us.  Which account should I draw from?  Me or Him?

Him.

It sounds so, so simple.  It really is to me.  Or it is now.  What is not so simple is how long it takes to really walk this way.

And this is God's job - to work in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure.  To find our all and all in Him.  To abide in Christ as the Living One - ALL the time.

To me, this is the best deal there ever could be.  And it is why Paul preached Christ in us, our hope of glory.  And the devil hates it.  He knows that if we ever learn to abide in Jesus Christ, we won't be religious idiots anymore - and he won't have the access he likes to have to people's lives, minds, and hearts.

I simply pray to be strengthened in the true message of God's Gospel and certainly to be strengthened completely, in God's Son.  II Corinthians 4:7:  "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels - that the excellence of the power (supply, source) may be of God, NOT of us."

No one can totally "figure us out," no more than I know totally, what is going on inside of people.  But I can know, by God's Spirit WHO to go to, WHO can live in and through me, and WHO will grant my heart and mind peace every day.  And WHO can show me what and how to pray - even for others.

Yes, we choose today (and every day)  which account to live from:  Self or Jesus Christ.

Let's choose Him,

"Choosy Christians choose Christ." :)

Sue Gaither