The foundation and power of obedience to God lies in the great gift provided to all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, namely, the indwelling Holy Spirit. "He that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him" (I John 3:24). Christ lives in us so that we may "live through Him" (I John 4:9).
The Scottish preacher James Stewart beautifully illustrated this truth.
"For what Christ has done is to make us feel, at all the gateways of our nature, the pressure and bombardment of the infinite energies of a world unseen. He has shown us how our little life, with unsearchable riches to draw upon, can be reinforced beyond all calculation. I may not be able to fight down some evil thing. But if Christ were here, He could. So then, if Christ is in me, He can. This transfusion of spirit and energy is really possible... If Mozart were in you, what music you could make! That cannot be. But here is something that can: if Christ were in you, what a life you could live! This is faith's logic. God wants you to know that you can rise above the level of your limitations. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).
What music we can make! Or, through Christ, what a life we can live for His glory as He lives His life in us so that we may live through Him. Our Heavenly Father does not call us to make bricks without straw, as it were. He rather provides - through the involved presence of His Spirit - far more straw than we will ever need for the construction of faith and faithfulness in His trusting children. Moreover, He supplies the wisdom and enabling to live far beyond our paltry means of spiritual and moral capacity. "Without Me, ye can do nothing" declared the Lord Jesus to His disciples (John 15:5). Our Heavenly Father never intended that we attempt to walk by our own faithfulness, but rather by "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). Indeed, if we wait until we perceive ourselves to have arrived at the doorstep of spirituality before entering into a life pleasing to God, we shall wait a very long time. If, however, we realize that our spiritual Mozart dwells within us to motivate and empower genuine godliness, what music we can make! He does, and as we trust and submit ourselves to Him, we must have a great anticipation of composition and performance for the glory of the indwelling Composer and Performer. "My expectation is from Him" (Psalm 62:5).
If we have trusted in the Lord Jesus, this day offers to us "the hope of glory, which is Christ in you" (Colossians 1:27). As Dr. Stewart suggested, we draw upon unsearchable riches as we seek to live in faith and faithfulness. Our particular sphere of influence desperately needs to see the Lord Jesus yet again walking upon the earth, this time in and through us. "I will dwell in them and walk in them" (II Corinthians 6:16). Or, in terms of our present consideration, our world needs to hear the strains of the symphony as composed and performed by our Mozart, as formed in us. This is the Christian life, namely, the life of Christ revealed unto and within those who expect Him to be what He promises to be, and to do what He promises to do…
"He is thy life" (Deuteronomy 30:20).
"Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."
(Ephesians 3:20-21)
Weekly Memory Verse
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
(John 3:6)
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