The Impossibility Of Living The Christian Life On Your Terms

"As they followed they were afraid." —Mark 10:32 

The disciples thought they could follow Jesus wherever He went.  They discovered that where He went was beyond them.  It was too hard for them.

“On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?  Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.  Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.  He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.” -  John 6:60-66

Living our new life is impossible without the Spirit of God empowering us.  Living by faith in God.  The problem …. We settle into a pseudo-spiritual walk where we are more dependent upon ourselves and our flesh than submission to the Spirit and the Word.  If you start to think that the life situations that you face are too hard to resist or giving in is inevitable, you are there my friend.  You have lost your focus on Jesus and are sinking in the waves.  My guess is that you are immersing yourself in the world and paying lip service to your faith.  My encouragement to you.  Turn your eyes upon Jesus.  Look full in His wonderful face.  And the things of earth (those things that vex you) will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace. 

The difference is the same as washing your face in the sink and taking a shower or a bath in the tub.  If you want to experience the new life, you must reject the old one.  You can’t do both.  And if you are trying to do both, stop deceiving yourself thinking that what you are doing is OK with God. 

“I [Jesus] know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” — Revelation 3:15-17