“Dependently Proactive”

"Dependently Proactive"

   

    Born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ walk in dependently proactive determination as we seek to live for the glory of God.  

     "The just shall live by faith… And let us consider one another, to provoke unto love and good works" (Romans 1:17; Hebrews 10:24).

    Apart from the Lord Jesus, we can do nothing of eternal worth and significance.  "Without Me, ye can do nothing" (John 15:5).  We are not without our Lord, however, and  can thus join the Apostle Paul in his affirmation of enabling: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).  We rest in Christ, but this does not imply a passive waiting for God to program our choices of faith and faithfulness.  Believers rather "look to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith as the abundant power source whereby we expect to make consistent choices to trust and obey God (Hebrews 12:2).  Again, "I can do" testified Paul, albeit "through Christ."  The Apostle realized that salvation enlivens, actualizes, and empowers our humanity rather than obliterating it.  The Spirit of Christ lives in us so that we may live through Him.  "I cannot… I can… through Christ!"  This is the dynamic process of God's leading and enabling presence, as united with our confident expectation that we can consistently make the choices of godliness.  "His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, according to the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue" (II Peter 1:3).

    We depend entirely on our Lord's guidance and enabling.  We nevertheless recognize our role as stewards to apply the grace of gifts given that empower our ability to trust and obey.  Again, expectation has much to do with our performance.  Is the Holy Spirit present in our hearts?  Will He work in us "to will and to do of His good pleasure?" (Philippians 2:13).  Is any challenge or temptation we will face greater than our Christ-enabled ability to overcome?  Note the emphasis of our anticipation, namely, the presence and working of God.  However, we must also recognize that we play an active role in the relationship of Divine power and human response.  We trust that God will faithfully fulfill His Word to be everything we need Him to be in every moment.  In the light of such grace, we set forth in active and engaged confidence, seeking to "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (II Peter 3:18).  Dependent, but proactive in working out that which God works in us.  This is the dynamic relationship and process of "so great salvation" provided by so great a Savior, and so dynamically present the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 2:3).

"By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."

(I Corinthians 15:10)    

Weekly Memory Verse

   The wicked flee when no man pursueth, but the righteous are bold as a lion.

(Proverbs 28:1)