“The Best He Can"

(A repeat from 2015)

    "The Best He Can"     

  

    We've all said it, and if sincere, the words indicate good and noble intentions: "I'll do the best I can."  What more can we do than this commitment to our utmost ability and opportunity?  The answer may surprise us.

    "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10).

   The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ sends His Spirit to dwell within all who believe, enabling a life far beyond human capacities.  He calls us to live according to His abilities and capacities.  Thus, life for the Christian does not involve doing the best we can.  We rather seek to do the best He can.  

   "I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (I Corinthians 15:10).

   The Apostle Paul testifies to a Power beyond his own strength, indeed, to "Christ, the power of God" (I Corinthians 1:24).  The indwelling Holy Spirit makes such a life possible, as revealed in the trusting, submissive, expectant heart of all who believe the many Biblical promises regarding God's enabling.  Is Christ who He declares Himself to be in Scripture?  Is He as present as promised?  Does He dwell and walk in us, as the Bible affirms?  If we answer yes to these questions, a great and privileged challenge awaits us in this moment and always.  Our Lord calls us to live according to His best rather than our own.  The standards of Scripture regarding heart, attitude, demeanor, action, and relationship far transcend our abilities because by definition, power for the Christian life involves the life of Christ rather than our own.  We "live through Him" (I John 4:9).  No sane person would seek to be like the Lord Jesus apart from the promise that His Spirit lives within us to enable such a life beyond our capacities.  "Without Me, ye can do nothing" He declared (John 15:5).  But with Him?  That'a a different matter altogether!  "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).  

    "The best He can."  This is the life and aspiration to which God calls His trusting children in Christ.  Indeed, we have this day in which to realize the power from Above that vibrantly teems within our redeemed spirits through the presence of the Spirit of the Lord Jesus.  A trusting, submitted, and expectant heart prepares us to experience the wonders of a transcendent life, the life of the risen Christ.  His best constitutes the possibility and actuality of a life that honors God because it springs forth from His own being, ability, and strength...

"He is thy life."

(Deuteronomy 30:20)

"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God."

(II Corinthians 3:5)

Weekly Memory Verse 

   Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

(II Peter 3:13)