Thoughts for another day
January 24, 2011
Today's verse: Col. 2:6. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
Each believer - by believer I mean, the one who believes in Jesus Christ and His redeeming power - has received Jesus by hearing the Word of the Gospel. Therefore, each believer has been input with the nature of Christ, no matter what his nature up to then had been. This new nature has to be nurtured and allowed to grow in sincerity of heart and diligence. It further extends that we must put on Jesus Christ. For this we need to walk in Him.
Now what's walking in the Lord, and how do you walk in the Lord? Easy questions; no answers. But, let me attempt an answer on walking in the Lord. For this, I go to the Gospels and see Jesus in action. I move with Him as He goes here and there. I sit with Him by the side of the sea as He gives some principles to live life in the Beatitudes (Mt. 5:2-11). I take one I feel is easily possible: Be merciful. Am I merciful or vindictive? I realize, my walk has just begun and I need to be sincere and the first thing I know is how much I've walked away from Jesus. Tears cloud my eyes as I hear Him say, 'whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other cheek to him as well!' Ah, but Lord, I can't do that, I'm a fighter for justice, You know.' And He says, 'I too fought for justice; but for others not self because I relied on My Father to provide justice to Me and so I turned My other cheek.' Maybe I think, I could also rely on my Father! Good, my walk is progressing
Then I hear Him tell me, 'I AM the vine, you're the branch, if you abide in Me, you'll bear much fruit for without Me you can do nothing.' So true. Gradually I try to live as He tells me. God, it's difficult to let go all the years of filth, lust, lechery, greed; you name it. But still, I say, 'OK Lord, let me try.' The evil one works hard and I feel irritated if I don't hear anything from Him. But you know, I persist and really, the journey is so difficult. I fall, every moment, I get up, I give up, I repent, I live, I'm dejected, I fall…I'm tired. Then I remember, He fell down with the Cross, so tired, so weak, so spent; and you know, He did it for me. In a corner of my mind I hear Him say, rise and see the place I have prepared for you in My Father's mansion; I see it and it's so glorious. I get up saying, 'Ok Lord, let me do it again…but hold my hand and help me.' It starts again and one day as I draw upon the shores beyond, I see Him, walking on the waters and He bids me, 'COME'.
January 24, 2011
Today's verse: Col. 2:6. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)
Each believer - by believer I mean, the one who believes in Jesus Christ and His redeeming power - has received Jesus by hearing the Word of the Gospel. Therefore, each believer has been input with the nature of Christ, no matter what his nature up to then had been. This new nature has to be nurtured and allowed to grow in sincerity of heart and diligence. It further extends that we must put on Jesus Christ. For this we need to walk in Him.
Now what's walking in the Lord, and how do you walk in the Lord? Easy questions; no answers. But, let me attempt an answer on walking in the Lord. For this, I go to the Gospels and see Jesus in action. I move with Him as He goes here and there. I sit with Him by the side of the sea as He gives some principles to live life in the Beatitudes (Mt. 5:2-11). I take one I feel is easily possible: Be merciful. Am I merciful or vindictive? I realize, my walk has just begun and I need to be sincere and the first thing I know is how much I've walked away from Jesus. Tears cloud my eyes as I hear Him say, 'whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other cheek to him as well!' Ah, but Lord, I can't do that, I'm a fighter for justice, You know.' And He says, 'I too fought for justice; but for others not self because I relied on My Father to provide justice to Me and so I turned My other cheek.' Maybe I think, I could also rely on my Father! Good, my walk is progressing
Then I hear Him tell me, 'I AM the vine, you're the branch, if you abide in Me, you'll bear much fruit for without Me you can do nothing.' So true. Gradually I try to live as He tells me. God, it's difficult to let go all the years of filth, lust, lechery, greed; you name it. But still, I say, 'OK Lord, let me try.' The evil one works hard and I feel irritated if I don't hear anything from Him. But you know, I persist and really, the journey is so difficult. I fall, every moment, I get up, I give up, I repent, I live, I'm dejected, I fall…I'm tired. Then I remember, He fell down with the Cross, so tired, so weak, so spent; and you know, He did it for me. In a corner of my mind I hear Him say, rise and see the place I have prepared for you in My Father's mansion; I see it and it's so glorious. I get up saying, 'Ok Lord, let me do it again…but hold my hand and help me.' It starts again and one day as I draw upon the shores beyond, I see Him, walking on the waters and He bids me, 'COME'.
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