Many Christian churches in the United Kingdom display a challenge on a bill board in their grounds to attract those who will read it as they pass by in their busy lives. This week a friend shared the following challenge displayed on one such bill board: What does Jesus Christ mean to you?
To many passers by Jesus Christ may mean nothing to them if they have not yet had an encounter with Him. However, as Believers we all have an individual response to the question. Yes, He is our life, but He wants to be our everything! In Jesus Christ our lives are complete when “we live, and move, and have our being” in Him. As we learn to listen to the “still small Voice” and follow the Holy Spirit’s direction, refusing sense knowledge – that nagging voice of reason, our obedience to the Voice brings His peace to bypass our understanding, (sense knowledge).
What does Jesus Christ mean to you? How would we feel if we were only ever appealed to by our friends when they were in trouble? The word “used” comes to mind. Maybe that is how, in some instances, we first came to know the Lord. Indeed, we can all testify to the truth declared in Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble” …… But God also wants us to know Him as Father. That is why He sent His Son to bridge the gulf through His sacrifice at Calvary, that sin had separated us from Him. God wants us to know Him as the essence of our days, our constant Forever Friend. He wants to be the God of the mountains, the valleys and the plateaus of our circumstances. He wants to be our everything. He created us for His good pleasure!
Jesus Christ left the glories of heaven and came to this earth to heal men’s relationship with the Father, severed by sin. Calvary sealed and accomplished that! The prophet Isaiah prophesied and declared of Jesus: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed”, Isaiah 53: 5.
Christ’s sacrifice healed our relationship with the Father, “by His stripes we are healed”. Jesus opened the door and made a way to all who receive Him as Saviour and Redeemer to have fellowship with the Father, and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Our birthright in Christ is fully comprehensive. Everything we need we may find in the abundance of His supply. Think no lack! None of us have yet arrived at walking in all the fullness of God’s Son, but we are all on that journey to our life’s goal and prize. Incrementally, as we make Him Lord of our day, and our heart, in obedience to Him we find ground lost is restored by Him. In daily fellowship with Jesus there is a growth in grace that takes place in our lives. Indeed!……there is a growth in all His attributes as a yielding heart declares in the words of the song: “Not my will but Thine be done, that the fullness of the Son may live inside this life that You have offered me……until everything I do, becomes the thing that pleases You, Abba Father I would be a son indeed. (In deed – action).
Psalm 86: 11 “Teach me Your way, O Lord. I will walk in Your truth, unite my heart to fear Your name” Only as my heart is united with God’s, walking in His truths revealed to me, will I continue to possess the land of my birthright in Christ, the fullness of God. What are the characteristics of an undivided heart?
1 No murmuring and complaining. The children of Israel in the wilderness lost their birthright into the Promised Land through their constant complaining and unbelief.
2 Having no confidence in my own ability, but recognising that anything I have is given me by the enabling power of Jesus Christ, all for God’s glory, not mine.
3 None of my circumstances, however dificult, should deter me from worshipping my Creator.
4 Keep a thankful heart in all circumstances, especially in difficult situations.
As I walk in these steps of daily choices, I find my heart remains united with God’s. As I make right choices, the Holy Spirit comes along side of my choice and strengthens, and enables me, to walk in them. This is the abiding Life of the Lord Jesus flowing through a surrendered vessel. Here I experience the joy of relationship with the King of my heart……Better still, I begin to see that God finds pleasure in the fact that He is my joy! This is the Father’s good pleasure!
Luke 12:30-32 “For all these things do the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows you have need of these things. But rather seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom”,…….the Father’s good pleasure!
Photo by Tony Eight Media on Unsplash
