"Don't only practice your art, but force your way into
its secrets." (Beethoven) Embrace and practice the same with the art of
life in Christ—force your way into its secrets! There is a world of difference
in the tension between a passive profession of Jesus and “taking the life of
Christ and his Kingdom by force.”
To embrace the latter will always call us to force our way
into the secrets of His life! As you devotionally read Paul’s classic
description of this tension in Romans 7 and 8 can you feel him forcing his way
into the secrets of the art of life in Christ? Can you readily identify with
his struggle?
15 “What I don't understand about myself is that I
decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. 16 So if I can't
be trusted to figure out what is best for me and then do it, it becomes obvious
that God's command is necessary. 17 But I need something more! For if I
know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps
sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! 18 I realize that
I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. 19 I decide to do
good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do badly, but then I do it
anyway.
20 My decisions, such as they are, don't result in
actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me
every time. 21 It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The
moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. 22 I truly
delight in God's commands, 23 but it's
pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly
rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
24 I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the
end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real
question? 25 The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and
does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want
to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin
to do something totally different.” (Romans 7:15-25, Msg)
1 “With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful
dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer
have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. 2 A new power is
in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has
magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal
tyranny at the hands of sin and death.
3 God went for the jugular when he sent his own Son. He
didn't deal with the problem as something remote and unimportant. In his Son,
Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess
of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all. The law code
(religious self-effort), weakened as it always was by fractured human nature,
could never have done that. 4 And now what the law code asked for
but we couldn't deliver is accomplished as we, instead of redoubling our own
efforts, simply embrace what the Spirit is doing in us.” (Romans 8:1-4, Msg)
While forcing our way into the secrets of life in Christ’
Holy Spirit, we discover an abundance there not previously known or even
imagined in our wildest hopes and dreams! There is always more than enough, an
eternal never-ending more, an invitation to more abundance, a manifold many
times more above all measure, never-ending supply! Wow! Force your way into
abundant, never-ending more! Don’t settle anymore for lack! Push your way by
brave faith into the heavenly bliss of ‘more than conquering, overcoming life
in Christ’!
14 “Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst
- not ever (Quenched; the soul's thirst for water of life more than met forever). The water I
give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless
life." 15 The woman said, "Sir, give me this water so I
won't ever get thirsty, won't ever have to come back to this well again!"
(John 4:14-15, Msg)
35 Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life. The person
who aligns with me hungers no more (It is said of the heavenly bliss, "They shall hunger no more; neither thirst any more) and thirsts no
more, ever. (John 6:35, Msg)
37 “Now on
the last day of the festival, Hoshana Rabbah, Yeshua stood and cried out,
"If anyone is thirsty, let him keep coming to me and drinking!” (John
7:37, CJB)
4 “Like good
stewards of the manifold (manifold more abundantly, many times more) grace of
God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” (1 Peter
4:10, NRS)
35 “Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it
mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted,
or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death? 36 (Even the
Scriptures say, "For your sake we are killed every day; we are being
slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite
all these things, overwhelming (above
all measure, more than more, never-ending supply) victory is ours through
Christ, who loved us. (Romans 8: 35-37 NLT) God’s love is always abundantly
more!
Following is a secret of the art of
life in Jesus that will keep you and me in an abundant receiving mode.
4 “You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own
way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God
and his way. 5 And do you suppose God doesn't care? The proverb has
it that "he's a fiercely jealous lover." 6 And what he
gives in love is far better than anything else you'll find. It's common
knowledge that "God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the
willing humble." 7 So let God work his will in you.
Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. 8 Say a quiet
yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your
inner life. Quit playing the field. 9 Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out.
The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. 10 Get down on
your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet.”
(James 4:4-10, Msg)
7 “Because of the extravagance of those revelations (secrets
of the art of life in Christ), and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given
the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations.
Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to
my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! 8 At first I
didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did
that, 9 and then he told me, My grace is enough; it's all you
need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was
glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating
the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. 10 Now I take
limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down
to size - abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take
over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.’ (2 Corinthians 12:7-10,
Msg)
In the loving grip of the secrets of the art of life in
Christ Jesus, Ron Ross
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