Tuesday, April 7, 2015

"Every Good Thing"


    Our spiritual enemies cannot take from born again believers our relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.  Thus, they seek to discourage and distract us from remembering and availing ourselves of the benefits of "so great salvation" (Hebrews 2:3).

    The Apostle Paul called Philemon to acknowledge "every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus" (Philemon 1:6).  The spirits of believers teem with the vibrant life of the risen Christ, as revealed in us by the indwelling Holy Spirit.  We often do not feel the power of such spiritual vitality, of course, and we certainly don't always live in the reality of "every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus."  The life abides nevertheless, His life, and just as Paul called Philemon to obedience based upon God's already provided enabling, so must we seek the encouragement of the Bible's affirmation that "His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue" (II Peter 1:3).

    Our emotional and physical sensibilities, past history, and present appearances serve as the fodder used by our enemies to tempt us to disbelieve the the power of "so great salvation" and "every good thing."  We overcome by the remembrance and affirmation of who Christ is, and of what He has done, is doing, and promises to do forevermore for us and in us.  "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (I John 5:4).  Salvation in the Lord Jesus provides far more than merely forgiveness of sins and assurance of Heaven.  Our Savior rather supplies "all things that pertain to life and godliness."  This speaks to the now of the present moment.  Believers are super-charged vessels of Christ, energized by His resurrection life to the degree that the Apostle exulted that God "is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all that we ask our think, according to the power that worketh in us" (Ephesians 3:20; emphasis added).  Feelings, appearance, and history may belie such truth, but the Word of God bestows His truth upon this moment.  Is Christ who the Bible declares Him to be?  Has He provided the promised "every good thing" whereby we rest our hearts and strengthen our hands and feet?  Is God trustworthy?  How we answer these questions determines whether or not we experience the Life that teems within our spirits.  Far more importantly, such response determines whether we will glorify our Lord as the ambassadors sent forth to proclaim the power of His empty earthly tomb and occupied Heavenly throne.  "Every good thing… so great salvation… this is the victory."  May we avail ourselves of this abundance of grace provided at such cost and sacrifice…

"He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."
(II Corinthians 5:21)
"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
(John 10:10)

Weekly Memory Verse
    If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
(Galatians 5:25)
    
  

No comments: