Excellence without anxiousness

How do you bring your "A game" and not be overly weighed down i.e. anxious over whether you will represent/honor/glorify God well?

By knowing you cannot and will not do things excellently on *your own, no matter what you do or how hard you try. Bringing our "A game" starts with and depends on God not us i.e. our humble dependence on God and his infinite love for us; our abiding in him, in his love. His love empowers us to excellence. Unless *God empowers us by his love we have nothing within us to bring our gifts into play and our highest capacity to fruition. So in this sense, it's not on us to bring our A game as far as the power or drive that moves us. 

It is, however, up to us to trust and depend on God to empower us i.e. fully believing he loves us to the extent he does. Our challenge in honoring God well is greater dependence/humility (trust) not greater execution. Greater execution is the fruit of greater dependence. Honoring God starts with humility leading to excellence in execution.

Great execution flows out of great power. Great power is released in and through us by, in and through great humility/dependence on God who is the source of all power/life/love/Spirit.

Great achievement is the fruit of great execution. Great execution is the fruit of great effort. Great effort is the fruit of great power. Great power is the fruit of dependence on great love and its source i.e. God

For more on doing things with excellence click here.

For more on the necessity of great effort click here.

For more on how God's love empowers us click here. 

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*It is not by sheer will power we live for God but by the power of God. 

Eph 3:16  "that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit (the Spirit of infinite love) in your inner being. 17 so that Christ may dwell (be present) in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly (able to answer the above prayer to a far greater extent) than all that we ask or think (then you may realize or even think to ask), according to the power (of his infinite love, by his Spirit) at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

This is the essence of how we live our life for God ...according to the riches of his glory..." i.e. the riches of his glory are what empowers us (gives us strength) to live for God. 

The adoration of the immense worth/glory of God is the essence of the life and love of God himself. This life and love starts with God and is grounded in who he is, as the triune God; who constantly gives and receives honor/love among the Father, Son, and Spirit. This same life and love is now fully ours, accessible and extended to us in Christ. It is this life (and only this life) we are enabled/empowered to live for God by.

...he may grant you to be strengthened with power

...through his Spirit

...in your inner being

What drives and empowers us to live for God comes from within, by Gods love/Spirit through faith.

"...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,..."

Christ's love frees and enables us to grasp the full extent of that love so we are full of God (his presence) and power.

"...may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19  and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

The strength to grasp the fullness of God's love comes from God. Without it we will not see him as the loving Father he is. 

20  Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Hypocrites in the church?

A complaint we often hear from those outside the church is why are there so many hypocrites in the church? The answer comes down to intent. 

Since ¹those of us within the church are given a clear standard of conduct we feel compelled to conform our behavior to this standard, if only in appearance because of peer pressure. However, if we are ¹not in Christ and not compelled by his love, this is the wrong reason to conform. We may be kind, thoughtful, and loving on the outside but in truth are "behaving ourselves" not to honor God but simply to fit into the prescribed and ²expected behavior of the church community.

When we do, we bring honor only to ourselves in the eyes of others. As Christ said, we have our reward i.e. the praise of men vs God. God, however, has absolutely nothing to do with this. This becomes apparent when real love requiring sacrifice is called for by someone who claims to be a believer and it's not there. This was the very same issue with the Pharisees. They did things to be seen of men not to honor God.

This is the core reason there are those within the church who are hypocrites. 

It is not necessarily unique to the church, however. All groups, associations, and memberships have hypocrites within their ranks. They are not there for the mission or vision of the organization but for their own purpose to impress others. It may have nothing to do with what an individual church teaches and everything to do with the individuals within the church. It actually may indicate that many churchgoers are not true believers at all or at least not looking to Christ as their primary source of love, identity, meaning, and purpose. 

For a discussion on "cultural Christians" vs true believers click here. 
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¹I distinguish between churchgoers and true followers of Christ not only because we can observe the difference in the values, attitudes, and actions, but also because Christ makes this distinction with the following three teachings.

...by their fruits -- the kind of fruit -- you will know them.

The parable of the wheat and weeds (tares)

Christ declaring he never knew some who had done many works "in his name."

²And when we do conform externally, we become proud and self-righteous, demanding others also conform while "looking down on them" when they don't. When in fact our conformity isn't true obedience from the heart but for show. Self-righteous folks, like anyone else, are still a mess on the inside, self-righteousness itself is an indication. 

Addressing fear II

Taking risks:

To address fear, you have to shift your identity -- who you are; your significance, importance, value -- and base it on God's glory -- our recognizing and displaying His infinite worth -- and His assessment - i.e. your true identity is based first on who God is and then on His assessment of you, not on the assessment of others or even, and sometimes especially, your own self-assessment. 

Who's assessment carries more weight, God or others -- including your own self-assessment? If God is for you, who can be against you?

If your assessment - by the greatest Being in the universe - is such that He made an infinite sacrifice to demonstrate how much He loves (values) you, what does that say of your true worth, vs the opinion of others or even your own? Whose opinion is more accurate and carries greater weight, yours or Gods?

We are designed to live for the honor and glory of God, ¹not to protect ourselves - physically or emotionally, i.e. our purpose is to uphold God's honor, not our own. In so doing, God says he will honor (exalt) us.

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” - Jesus, Luk 14:11

"Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted..." – Jesus, Mat 23:12  

In truth, God has already honored us by giving us everything needed to restore us fully to Himself i.e. he has given us his eternally loved Son. 

Our value is also further demonstrated in His empowering us to put on display His worth or value to others. The most important thing we can do is bring to others the most important "thing" - i.e. our greatest worth is demonstrated in bringing an awareness of God and His infinite worth to others. Why? Because there is no one or no thing more significant than God. No one else can give us and others what we need most. He is his own source of life, nothing else is. Everything depends on God. He alone is everlasting. He depends on nothing other than Himself. He is the only self-existent being, the "I AM." And he offers to us that very life that makes Him self-sufficient. 

If our conduct says to others God is most important to us, we, by this very conduct, are saying He is most important to them as well. How we live will either show He is or isn't most important and therefore most worthy (or not worthy when we don't display Him) of the trust and commitment of others, not just our own. 

Knowing that God honors and exalts us when we honor him is the ²hope we are called to. When we take hold of this, there is no longer room for fear. The focus is no longer on ourselves but on Him, where it rightly and truly belongs. 

For more on how our glory is in bringing God glory click here. 
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¹I am not saying we don't use common sense and come in out of the rain when it's raining or avoid walking into traffic. I am saying if we are faced with the choice between doing something solely to protect ourselves or to honor God; we are to choose the latter. If we are not acting recklessly, God will protect us. Sometimes He even protects us when we are. 

²Desiring honor is not wrong. From whom do we seek and legitimately, it is our challenge. 

Blessed are the poor in spirit

"Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God."  

Jesus (Matt 5:3)

How many times have we heard of someone "make a decision for Christ" but afterward walking away unchanged?

Are we counting on some apparent decision as the primary reason God should let us into his Kingdom? Or should we look elsewhere? Is there a different indicator of true citizenship in the kingdom? Should we instead be focused on the disposition that without seeing our desperate need for Christ we have no hope of entrance? The former (making a decision) may be something we do in our head but the latter - poor in spirit - is a disposition (attitude) of our heart.

"Poor in spirit" is the first of a list of core teachings of Christ, commonly referred to as "the Beatitudes." Some argue the order is significant. I agree. Context is always essential and needed for a proper understanding of any passage.

This first beatitude addresses having the kingdom... "theirs ¹is the ²kingdom..." This suggests this first beatitude not just the starting point but the foundation on which the rest are built. This also indicates nothing else in this list happens unless we possess this disposition first.

What is it to be "poor in spirit"? In a word, humble. It is recognizing all we have to offer God is our need, spiritual poverty, even bankruptcy. There is nothing we can do or goodness we can offer that will cause God to accept us into His kingdom. All we can give to God are empty hands in need of Him. Recognizing and admitting we have empty hands morally and spiritually is the greatest evidence we are participating in the kingdom.

If this is the foundation and starting point, we do well to pay close attention. In fact, we must be careful we have this attitude before even considering the rest of Christ's teachings. We must have the kingdom before we can live it out.

We also do well to explain the gospel of the kingdom as Christ does, not as the evangelical church often does. What do I mean? Within the church, we usually hear ³faith is the key to entering the kingdom, with no mention of humility. Whereas Christ stresses ³humility but makes no mention of faith. A different emphasis, wouldn't you say? And not an insignificant one.

According to Christ, without humility, we do not have the kingdom. Possessing the kingdom is the fruit of being poor in spirit. Being poor in spirit is evidence of possessing it. The use of "for" indicates a direct connection between humility and possession. This suggests no one will have the kingdom without it. 

Do we see any indication of this elsewhere? 

In several other places, we are told that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble*.

"But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' " James 4:6 

"...Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' ” 1 Peter 5:5 

These and other verses suggest without humility, there is no grace.

So the question isn't whether we believe certain facts about God or not. James tells us that devils believe and tremble (Jas 2:19), yet they are still rebels against God. There's is a kind of belief that does not include humility.

Do you recognize your desperate condition before God and the only chance of his acceptance is if he provides the solution -- that you come to God with empty hands morally? Without this recognition, there is no chance of entrance. 

If you do recognize this, Christ says you are blessed and a child of the kingdom. If you do not, you do well to search your heart.

Does humility save us? No, only Christ can. But humility is the greatest indicator of true saving faith. Without it, there is no salvation. 

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¹The only other beatitude that mentions possessing the kingdom is those who are persecuted for righteousness sake. Interestingly, a willingness to be persecuted for doing the right thing also requires humility.

Another verse mentioning possessing the kingdom is...

Matthew 19:14
But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

This verse tells us the kingdom of God belongs to "such as these" i.e. those who are like children. What is a quality children possess that adults often do not? Humility.  Why? Because children naturally recognize their humble dependence on those who are more capable than them.

See also, Job 22:29, Isaiah 2:11-12, Isaiah 2:17, Matthew 23:12, Luke 1:52, Luke 14:11, Luke 18:14.

²What is the significance of the kingdom of God? It was Christ's central message and the very 1st thing He mentioned and called us to at the outset of his ministry, after his test in the wilderness.

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17 ESV

³I'm not saying that faith and humility are mutually exclusive of each other. I'm saying there is no true faith without humility i.e. humility is the greatest evidence of true faith. 

We can agree to certain things/truths in our head but they will never take ahold of our heart without humility.

This was true of me for years and I think it is true of many within the church today.

For a discussion on the difference between grace driven believers in Christ and cultural Christians click here. 

Our legal vs practical relationship with God

The Bible speaks of two kinds of righteousness:

1. Legal - declared righteousness by grace through faith 
2. ¹Practical - day to day righteousness through faithful obedience. 

These two are distinct and appear to be in opposition when they are in fact connected.

Due to our rebellious distrust and a desire to be our own god, we are naturally inclined to confuse these and mix them together i.e. we see obedience as a means of earning God's acceptance, not as an expression of our already fully having it in Christ.

The following list compares and contrasts these two.

1.     The legal (our legal status and standing before God) can only be and is completely taken care of ^1aby God, not us.

2.     The relational can only be and is addressed ¹by us

1.  The legal has been taken care of ^2aby Christ's work. 

2.  The relational is addressed ^2aby our "work" of believing in that work.

1.     The legal is grounded in ^3aa past historical event 

2.     The relational is an ^3aon going present pursuit.

1.     The legal addresses God as our ^4arighteous judge 

2.     The relational addresses God as our ^4akind and loving Father

1.     The legal is about ^4aGods judgment and condemnation of us 

2.     The relational is about ^4aour love for him and fidelity to him

1.     The legal addresses ^4aGods posture-attitude-disposition towards us 

2.     The relational addresses ^4aour posture-disposition towards God

1.     The legal is ^5asettled, finished, completed, never to be re-litigated.

2.     The relational ^5ais ongoing, unfolding and never done.

The legal (1) is the foundation on which the practical/relational (2) is built.

Those who haven't received and experienced legal righteousness (1) attempt to use relational-practical day-to-day obedience-righteousness (2) to replace it i.e. they attempt to live righteously to gain God's acceptance, not because they already have it in Christ. 

The legal requirement of perfect righteousness can never be achieved (satisfied) by us i.e. our keeping God's commands perfectly because we are not able to. 

The legal is the foundation on which the relational is built. The relational/practical (2) flows from and is the fruit of assigned or declared righteous (1).

We cannot ²properly engage in the relational/practical (2) without clearly grasping the legal (1). 

Many of Paul's letters illustrate this. For example, Paul's spends the majority of his time laying the foundation of justification by faith in chapters 1-11 in Romans and chapters 1-4 in both Galatians and Ephesians, before discussing how to live out that faith in chapters 12 to the end of Romans and chapter 5 to the end of Galatians and Ephesians. You also see this laid out in just chapter 3 of Colossians alone.

The following passages also show these two realities juxtaposed to each other, while also showing how they are completely connected.

Rom 6:4  

(1)We were buried (past tense and legal status) therefore with him by baptism into death,

(2) in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk (present tense and daily conduct) in newness of life.

Rom 7:4  

(1)Likewise, my brothers, you also have died (past tense, legal status) to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead,

 (2) in order that we may bear fruit (present tense, daily conduct) for God.

Rom 8:3-4 

(1) For God has done (past tense, legal status) what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,

(2) in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk (present tense, daily conduct) not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Note this contrast and connection is addressed in verse 4 of each of chapters 6, 7 and 8 of Romans (this makes it easy to remember the reference). This also shows the significance of this truth by repeating it three times in sequence using different examples in slightly different ways. The further significance of this is many consider Romans the fullest explanation of the gospel in all its facets and the pinnacle of Paul's letters as well as the New Testament itself, with chapters 6-8 being the pinnacle of Romans, particularly chapter 8.  

Do you wish to live righteously? You can not until you first grasp the full extent of your legal righteousness in Christ. The greater your grasp of this righteousness earned by another and given to you the greater will be it's fruit i.e. day to day righteousness. 

For additional posts discussing our legal vs practical status click here. 

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^1aThis addresses who

^2aThis addresses who and how

^3aThis addresses when

^4aThis addresses who and what

^5aThis addresses what and when

¹I am using "practical" and "relational" interchangeably because our obedience-practical righteousness is based on trust in God - i.e. it is relational. Trust is vital to our relationship with God and how we enter into that love already fully secured for us legally in Christ. 

²Neither can we completely appreciate or benefit from the legal (1) without fully engaging in the relational-practical (2). Our failure to obey perfectly requires us to go back to the work of Christ and remember God's acceptance is not based on our perfect obedience but on the obedience of Christ, an obedience that is already fully completed and can not be added to. This increases our appreciation for His work i.e. due to our failed obedience -- and know with certainty, you will fail and often -- increasingly helps us see the full extent of his work in freeing us from condemnation. 

The following passage best summarizes and captures these truths:

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." - Rom 8:1-4

Led by the Spirit

We often read into the expression "led by the Spirit" something that is not there. e.g. Some interpret not being "led by the Spirit" to mean we are out of 1God's will. And in one sense this is true. It is not God's will for us to operate in the flesh but in the Spirit. But being lead or 2directed by God's Spirit is not what we might think.

What does it mean to operate "in the Spirit?" Is it something we must do or will to happen? Yes and no. 

To "walk in the Spirit" simply means to operate knowing (believing) we are under the perfect care and love of the Father. We could simply substitute Spirit with love and we have the idea. 

And we are under God's infinite care because this has been earned/secured for us by the efforts of Christ, not ours i.e. this is only possible by grace.

To be lead by the Spirit is not something we do, per se. It is only possible because of something that has been done for us i.e. it is possible only due to the status gained by another (Christ) on our behalf and given to us solely as a gift.

Because of Christ we can operate knowing - if we believe - we are fully loved no matter 3what we are feeling, experiencing or doing. This is the fixed status of anyone who is in Christ.

So what is our role? What is it we are to do? 

We do play a part but our "work" or "walking" is simply choosing to believe we are under his perfect love as we go about living our lives for God's honor i.e. acting by faith in this status of being perfectly and infinitely loved, secured for us by another (Christ). As scripture says, "the just shall live by faith..." 

The call or admonition to ⁵"walk in the spirit" is a calling to believe -- and never stop (remain/abide in) believing we are constantly under the care of God and fully loved by him  3 no matter what we encounter or how badly we fail. The only thing we are to 4"do" - i.e. our "work" - is believe this is true regardless of what we are experiencing or feeling. 

Faith, however, is not passive. When we truly believe it moves us to act - to action. We are compelled by the love of God to faithfully pursue Him. If we are not compelled we do not yet comprehend - believe - in the love God has for us. It is in our believing we experience the power and influence of the Spirit. The greater our faith in Him and His perfect love for us the greater our freedom in Christ and the greater the fruit it produces in and through us. 

For a discussion on all things working for good click here.

For a further discussion on operating in the spirit click here

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 1 many interpret being "out of God's will" as being off track and therefore never reaching the destiny God has set out for us. Because we "missed it" it is now lost to us forever. 

However, God's will is not "vocational" but developmental. It is not to take us to a specific place but to make us like a specific person i.e. his Son. To do so he uses all things i.e. all the good and bad choices, experiences and circumstances we encounter in life.

For a further discussion on "being in the will of God" click here

2 Being led or directed by his Spirit simply means operating in and under the influence of his love. God is love and is Spirit. Though God's love and Spirit are not exactly synonymous this is not an incidental comparison. Our call to operate this way is simply a call to believe his love set upon is fixed,  relentless, nonstop i.e. endless and without interruption, as indicated by his coming to take up his abode within us.   

For a further discussion on the definition of terms click here

 3 Even when we are sinning we are still under his love and care for God uses all things to make us more like his Son i.e. He's constantly increasing our humility which increases our capacity to experience more of his love; he's always working in and through all things for our good.

  4 For a discussion on why faith is hard "work" click here.

⁵Why doesn't it say "walk in good deeds?" Because good deeds are the fruit of the Spirit (love) not of our will power.

Loving ourselves...part III

When God calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves, he's not telling us to love ourselves, he's calling us to care for our neighbors in the way we are already naturally inclined care for ourselves. 

What this passage is doing is giving us a standard. Self-care is the standard by which we measure and base our care of others. He is telling us to simply do for others what we desire they do for us in the way we automatically and naturally do it for ourselves.

However, we have a problem. This is totally impossible to do by ourselves. Our commitment to self-care is too great--so is our need for infinite love. We can not love others sacrificially until we know we are loved in the same way. 

Which is exactly why he appeals to this as our standard. He wants our care of others to be equally as great as our care for ourselves. 

The solution?

It is only when we know - are fully convinced - we are ¹perfectly cared for and loved by God, that we are freed and enabled to love others, but not until then. In ourselves alone, we do not have the love necessary to love in this way - i.e. sacrificially - or the assurance it will be worth the sacrifice.

But how can we know whether God loves us that much? Through Christ and his work on our behalf we have absolute proof of God's love. In and through Christ, God completely took care of both our alienation and our need for infinite love. He did all of this for us because of his care and love for us.

Do we believe this is true? Do we believe that God loves us ²this much? Unless and until we do we can never love others as God designed us to.

God says he loves us and did everything necessary to prove it. Is he lying? The actions God took prove he is not. It is for us to believe or reject His promised love demonstrated by His sacrificial actions. This is his call and also our greatest struggle, to believe. Do you?

For more comments on loving ourselves click here and here. 

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¹When we know that no sacrifice we make in loving others will go unrewarded, we are able to love sacrificially. And how do we know this? Because God proved it by sending His Son to restore us to himself and then raised him back to life after he sacrificed himself for us. Resurrection life after His sacrifice is ours because it was Christ's first. Christ's resurrection is the firstfruits of all other resurrections for those who love Him.  

²do we believe in his love enough that it transforms and frees us to love others in the same way he loves us i.e. sacrificially? Not unless or until we do can we ever love sacrificially.

Power… Within or without?

How are we empowered-strengthened to live for God?

We are told in Eph 3:16, that it is "...] according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being..."

This all sounds good but what does it mean exactly? Let's break it down.

This passage tells us we are empowered-strengthened to live for God "...according to the riches of his glory"

What are "the riches of his glory?" It is the immense worth-beauty-glory of God shared within and among the Father and Son in, by and through the Spirit. This is the essence of the dynamic ¹life and love of God itself. And this life - God's very own life - is fully extended to us in and through Christ. Because of Christ, we have been invited to participate in the Divine dance of the very same life and love of God in, by, and through the passion-Spirit-breath of God!

It is this holy Passion-Love-Spirit of God for his own infinite worth-glory we enter into, partake of, and are empowered by - i.e we receive the life and the love of God via his Spirit as we ²behold and adore Him in his glorious beauty, through which we are strengthened and empowered to live for him.

14 I bow my knees before the Father... 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.  

Vs 16 

...he may grant you to be strengthened 

...with power

...through his Spirit

...in your inner being

What drives and empowers us to live for God is a response by us from within (our inner being) to the love that comes to us from without (from God) through his Spirit (which now dwells within us) because of the work of Christ done without/outside of us.

The power needed to live for God is both from within and without. It is the coupling of God's Spirit-Love-Passion within the triune God, with our being - as His image-bearers - to experience, enjoy, and glory in this Divine dance of love (i.e. because we are like God, we are able to respond in kind - the same way He does - to His infinite beauty and glory). The love of God that comes to us (from without) stirs our heart (within through the Spirit), empowering us to live for him. As we behold His infinite beauty-glory revealed to us by His Spirit we are aroused and quickened to love, pursue and obey God. To say it simply, we love (and pursue/obey) Him because He first loves us. 

As we receive God's love that comes to us from without, we are empowered within, to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and others as ourselves. We are enlivened or quickened by the love and glory of God, to love Him in return and desire to live for him... it is God who works in us, both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Phil 2:12).


Power and humility

To say I am empowered by God might seem boastful. But to be empowered by God is not a point of pride but of humility. His empowering us is not possible without the grace of God extended to us in and through Christ, giving us access to God and the overflowing abundance of His infinite love to, in, and through is, by His Spirit. It is the work of Christ that makes us clean vessels suitable to be indwelt by his Spirit and filled with this love. 

This is our present state as a child of God in Christ. It is a state or status given to us not earned by us. It is not something we have to do or necessarily feel, but that we must believe and respond to by faith if we are to experience Him fully. The more we believe, receive and respond to His love (through obedience), the more we experience God's presence and are empowered by Him.

Why is this humbling? It reveals...

*Our capacity-ability (being in His image) to respond is from God, not us, 

*It is the love (God's infinite love) we are responding to (He is the initiater), and 

*Christ alone qualifies us to receive that love...

These are all given to us by God. We do not cause these, we are simply the most lavishly endowed heirs-recipients of them. All these things are ours only because of Christ, not us. 

Our "work" is to believe these are true.

28Then they inquired, “What must we do to perform the works of God?" 29 Jesus replied, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.” John 6

For a discussion on where we get the strength for self-denial click here. 

For a further discussion on the nature of being empowered by God click here.

For a discussion on how we participate in the promises of God click here.

For further discussion on the Trinity click here.
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¹Joh 17:3  And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 

The word used for "know" here is an intimate knowing; the kind of knowing we experience in and through relationship, not simply an intellectual knowing/gathering of information.

This is initiated by the Father, secured for us by Christ, and revealed to us by the Spirit.

² II Cor 3:17  "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18  And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."

Do you wish to change from the inside out? Then behold and meditate on the glory of Christ.