The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Consistent"
"Let us earnestly yearn for the consistent walk with God that should characterize the life of every born again believer in the Lord Jesus. Most importantly, let us realize the faithfulness from which such a life proceeds."
Regarding the Christian life, consistency is required. The Apostle Paul addresses this truth in his epistle to the Philippians.
"Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).
Yes, consistency is vital - God's consistency. Of course, this does not discount our own need and desire to faithfully apply ourselves to fellowship with our Lord and a corresponding life of faithfulness. As Paul also wrote to the Philippians, believers have the privilege and responsibility to "work out" that which God "worketh in" (Philippians 2:12-13). Never, however, do we perceive our own constancy as the primary factor of a life lived for the glory of the Lord Jesus. Pride or despair inevitably ensue if we install our determination or discipline as root rather than fruit. Conversely, growing faith and humility flow from Christ known as the perfectly consistent Executor of godliness who empowers our devotion to God. "We shall live with Him by the power of God… to live is Christ" (II Corinthians 13:4; Philippians 1:21).
Perhaps, like me, you have experienced too many occasions of inconsistency in walking with God. This may have involved obvious detours from the path of righteousness. Or, we may have thought we walked closely with our Lord when the actual truth of the matter involved proud delusion rather than humble devotion. Either path of inconsistency must lead us to the remedy so blessedly affirmed by the writer of Hebrews:
"Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds" (Hebrews 12:1-3).
Let us earnestly yearn for the consistent walk with God that should characterize the life of every born again believer in the Lord Jesus. Most importantly, let us realize the faithfulness from which such a life proceeds. The Author and Finisher perfectly fulfills this consistency. To the degree we know and grow in such realization will be the degree to which our lives flow in genuine and growing faithfulness to God. Our consistency is the fruit of His consistency, known and fulfilled by faith. No other way exists whereby a genuinely consistent walk with God is possible. Nor do we need any other way…
"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him, rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."
(Colossians 2:6-7)
Weekly Memory Verse
We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace, wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence.
(Ephesians 1:7-8)
7151
No comments:
Post a Comment