Introduction: Unfortunately, there are a number of people today trying to live the Christian life apart from Jesus Christ. Are you? You ask, “What do you mean?” Please read this devotion in its entirety. Let its truth sink in. Take an examination to see where you stand. Then be honest and make the necessary changes.
So how are we to live the CHRISTIAN life? Here are some absolute biblical principles that must first be learned and then applied.
1. The Christian life is an EXCHANGED life! (Gal. 2:20) – “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Through the mighty cross of Jesus Christ, our old self can be rendered inoperative. Because of the substitutionary death of a perfect sacrifice—namely Jesus—our sins are forgiven as we trust Him. Besides that, His blood alone has redeeming, cleansing, and purifying power for every believer. Plus, the great EXCHANGE between our death to self and His resurrected life produces a life that brings forth spiritual fruit.
Where’s the fruit?
2. The Christian life is an EMPOWERED life! (Eph. 5:18) – “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”
The believer’s biggest dilemma is how to “get out of the way” and let the Holy Spirit “get in the way”! Do you have the same difficulty that most do? However, once the big “I” goes to the cross, the big “S”—Spirit—can fill.
By the way, being Spirit-filled is ongoing, meaning it is not a once-and-for-all thing. The text suggests—go on being filled.
Speaking of that, have you learned that you cannot fill yourself with God? Instead, He is the one who fills. Do you need a fresh filling since we leak down—sometimes rapidly?
3. The Christian life is an EDITED life! (Col. 3:16; Heb. 4:12; Matt. 4:4) – “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
While we read the Word, it reads us! The Holy Spirit turns on the RED light to stop, the GREEN light to go, and the YELLOW light to slow.
Are you following God’s traffic lights? Open the Word for directions!
4. The Christian life is an ENLARGED life! (James 4:2; Matt. 7:7-8; Eph. 3:20) – “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”
Through the vehicle called Prayer, a Christian can discover God’s will.
Remember:
- If the request is wrong, He says NO!
- If the timing is off, He says SLOW!
- But if both of those are right, He says GO!
What is He saying to you?
Conclusion: For now, that will conclude our topic due to space. However, there is much more that could be said about this subject. The case is made: It is an IMPOSSIBLE life outside of Jesus Christ! At any rate, take this, mull over it, and GO, GROW, and GLOW for the GLORY of the Lord!
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese
