For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life! (Romans 5:10 HCSB)
Wow! Saved by His life… The only way to live the quality life as a believing Christian is to surrender self or come to the end of self and be conscious of the indwelling presence of Christ in your born again Spirit to live this life effortlessly on this side of eternity.
You remember the day you became born again? You probably didn’t have a Bible, never have done any good WORKS, name not registered yet in the Church’s registry, didn’t know how to dry fast nor paying your tithe and offerings (which are all good), wasn’t in your best self but you were on cloud nine (we call it first love) for just one reason…the presence of Christ living liberty in your human vessel independent of your efforts.. After sometime in your journey as a Christian you realize the honeymoon moments of your new experience was depleting and for all you know, everything just fizzled into the thin air. Some lasted for a month others fell of walking through the tight rope of the Church they identified with within a year or too. How so many wish they were in their first moments as Christians. I sometime hear people say; “wow, I remember the good old days” It’s possible, my friend to live today better than yesterday!
Hmmm! What really did happened McDaniels? There are a whole lot of transitions but Here is one of the unfortunate reasons among the lot; The Church sometimes distracts you from living His effortless life through you to following their 70 to 90 steps of its human tradition and dogmas without which you will be counted as unfit in that Assembly. Staring at this long list…you start trying through self effort until you climb to the 30th step and didn’t have the strength again to keep climbing. This attitude of trying to fit in instead of embracing how fit you are through Christ Jesus kills the benefits (Gal 5:2) that the life of Christ offers. There are folks who are bound in guilt, shame, unworthiness as they compare their journey to those they think are better than them as far as church ordinances are concerned (don’t get me wrong, there is a place for ordinances in but its diabolic when its human centered and not Christ centered)
For instance; if they don’t give tithes, offering (don’t throw stones on my head Pastor, I know you need the tithe) and can’t pray or fast like others and inadequate too, in the Church. These same folks were not able to do all these things I have just mentioned but never did they felt a sense of guilt or shame before God but were so excited in their new found relationship with Christ…money or no money they were the first on the front row of the Church, worshiping like they were crazy. The secret! They were more conscious of Christ and not of themselves! They have not yet get accustomed to the long list of DO’s and DONT’s of that denomination…To be honest with you, some have thousands of DONT’s and its followers look wretched and miserable than they were as unbelievers. When me and you deviates from being Christ centered (living His life through us) we fall into carnality and that form of religion breeds hypocrisy and frustration.
Listen to the Apostle of grace, Paul and download this truth for your freedom: Galatians 3:3 (NKJV) Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
When you start in the spirit, am not talking about being spooky or holier than thou attitude. Am talking about spirit controlled life. A life motivated and persuaded by the word of God. Your underlying thought is Christ…everything you did flows out of the abundant life of love, joy, peace, boldness and the totality of God in you. Fasting, Church attendance, evangelism, and Bible reading were all done not because you have to do it to earn points from God. The influential force was an absolute love of the Father shared abroad in your Spirit. If you read your Bible or pay tithe because you have to pay it and pray with the clock on your face…is what we call religious bondage. You do it but it is out of joy and peace. I pray that God will grant you the understanding even up to this moment. Halleluiah!!
Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. (Revelation 2:4 (NKJV)
Your first love is the embracing love of Christ, (Revelation 2:4) and it’s this love from Him that keeps the momentum of the honeymoon till the day He returns. Do you have this life (John 10:10) or you are tired and weary of religion (Mathew 11:28-30). Jesus says; “Come and you will find rest for your souls” He want to love you and others through you…He brings new joy that religion has taking away from you. How much do you want it?
Let us pray: “Dear Lord Jesus, I surrender to you my life of trying to live your life on my own and by faith I embrace and rest in the power of the Holy Spirit to do the impossible. I boldly confess that I am worthy, dearly loved and accepted into your kingdom…Today your life shines through me and all will behold your glory’ Amen!
JesusNōw 