A Lesson In Trying To Live The Christian Life

My Utmost For His Highest

 

“The New Testament example of the Christian experience is that of a personal, passionate devotion to the Person of Jesus Christ. Every other kind of so-called Christian experience is detached from the Person of Jesus. There is no regeneration— no being born again into the kingdom in which Christ lives and reigns supreme. There is only the idea that He is our pattern. In the New Testament Jesus Christ is the Savior long before He is the pattern. Today He is being portrayed as the figurehead of a religion— a mere example. He is that, but He is infinitely more. He is salvation itself; He is the gospel of God! Jesus said, “…when He, the Spirit of truth, has come,…He will glorify Me…” (John 16:13-14). When I commit myself to the revealed truth of the New Testament, I receive from God the gift of the Holy Spirit, who then begins interpreting to me what Jesus did. The Spirit of God does in me internally all that Jesus Christ did for me externally.” CHAMBERS

 

My parents were born again when I was 19, serving in the Army in Vietnam.  When I returned home, I was met by  a very different family from the one that I had left.  I was very aware that although I was still part of the family, I was not part of the family.  Finally I associated the barrier with their new-found religion.  I craved a deeper relationship with them, so I figured all I had to do was do what they did and talk like they talked.  So that is what I did .. for a while at least.  It required a lot of restraint on my part, I slipped-up many times.  And still .. I felt that there was something missing.  It was not until 6 years later when Martie and I were, ourselves, born again did I understand what it was that was missing .. the Holy Spirit …salvation through Jesus Christ.  I was part of the physical family, but not part of the Spiritual family.

 

A lesson learned .. or should I say re-learned .. you cannot live the Christian life through your own effort or willfulness.  It is only by the power of the Spirit and the work of Jesus on the cross.

 

(1 Corinthians 2:14) “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)