This was the strength of the first Christians, that they lived not in one world only, but in two, and found in consequence not tension alone, but power, the vision of a world unshaken and unshakable.
~ Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878-1969)
for in Him we live and move and have our being
Acts 17:28
Seventy times in the New Testament the term “in Christ” is used to describe our relationship to Him. Surely Christ dwells within us through the Holy Spirit. This is clear. But just as surely, our lives are now all wrapped up in, and consumed with Him.
Beloved, as believers, we now live our lives within the power, presence, providence, province, and even the very Person of Jesus Christ.
He is in us. And we are in Him. We are united with Christ. Fully covered in Him. Understandable? Not so much. That is, if we try to comprehend this with our limited minds and bodies. But He tells us things deep within us that assure us that mysteries like this are not just theological constructs. They are truth.
What might our lives look like if we simply reckoned our utter oneness with Christ as true?
Make zero mistake here! There is one G_d, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. AND you (and me) are not Him. It is, however, truth that we are united with Christ through death, baptism, life, covenant, marriage, purchase, communion, friendship, love, and more. Surely, this only deepens the mystery that we are in Him, just as surely as He is in us.
But, back to the question… What if we just decided to live like He says we are? What if we fully yielded to the truth that we are the very dwelling place of an infinite G_d?
Oh my.
Would our lives not be marked with power? Not power that brings our own wishes to bear. Rather, wouldn’t it be a power that brings righteousness and joy and peace to the moment? Would we not plainly exude manifold aspects of the One that dwells in us? Would we not begin to have a profound effect on the environment in which we live? We know this is true, don’t we? Sometimes, though, we quench His power moving through us because we are uncomfortable with the fact that many will be repelled by it, or turn and attack us as they lash out at the Love He is lavishing on them through us. However, on better days, when we let Him fully flow through us, people we would never expect are touched in beautiful ways that we could never imagine on our own.
Would we not also have an existence marked by the covering of G_d in our daily lives? Have we ever stopped for a moment and watched how He literally orchestrates a beautiful and precise path for us to walk upon through every step of the day?
Have we ever felt the cobalt wind of His Spirit blow through as He clears the ground for the path in front of us? This aspect of His indwelling Fire – quite frankly – moves me to fear Him; this One who makes His home in me. i have watched Him literally remove people who would block the progress of one of His obedient children. The Bible is full of true stories where enemies of G_d’s friends met with a fearful and wretched end. And just as sure as the Bible is true, G_d protects His children in similar ways today.
We are covered and filled with G_d. He both flows over us in protection, and through us in power. And Him, being infinite, with us – being in eternal covenant with Him – will spend forever growing in this oneness with Him.
Awake friends. Our Friend is one with us. We are one with Him. Would that we would live in His power ever now.
Beloved, as believers, we now live our lives within the power, presence, providence, province, and even the very Person of Jesus Christ.
He is in us. And we are in Him. We are united with Christ. Fully covered in Him. Understandable? Not so much. That is, if we try to comprehend this with our limited minds and bodies. But He tells us things deep within us that assure us that mysteries like this are not just theological constructs. They are truth.
What might our lives look like if we simply reckoned our utter oneness with Christ as true?
Make zero mistake here! There is one G_d, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. AND you (and me) are not Him. It is, however, truth that we are united with Christ through death, baptism, life, covenant, marriage, purchase, communion, friendship, love, and more. Surely, this only deepens the mystery that we are in Him, just as surely as He is in us.
But, back to the question… What if we just decided to live like He says we are? What if we fully yielded to the truth that we are the very dwelling place of an infinite G_d?
Oh my.
Would our lives not be marked with power? Not power that brings our own wishes to bear. Rather, wouldn’t it be a power that brings righteousness and joy and peace to the moment? Would we not plainly exude manifold aspects of the One that dwells in us? Would we not begin to have a profound effect on the environment in which we live? We know this is true, don’t we? Sometimes, though, we quench His power moving through us because we are uncomfortable with the fact that many will be repelled by it, or turn and attack us as they lash out at the Love He is lavishing on them through us. However, on better days, when we let Him fully flow through us, people we would never expect are touched in beautiful ways that we could never imagine on our own.
Would we not also have an existence marked by the covering of G_d in our daily lives? Have we ever stopped for a moment and watched how He literally orchestrates a beautiful and precise path for us to walk upon through every step of the day?
Have we ever felt the cobalt wind of His Spirit blow through as He clears the ground for the path in front of us? This aspect of His indwelling Fire – quite frankly – moves me to fear Him; this One who makes His home in me. i have watched Him literally remove people who would block the progress of one of His obedient children. The Bible is full of true stories where enemies of G_d’s friends met with a fearful and wretched end. And just as sure as the Bible is true, G_d protects His children in similar ways today.
We are covered and filled with G_d. He both flows over us in protection, and through us in power. And Him, being infinite, with us – being in eternal covenant with Him – will spend forever growing in this oneness with Him.
Awake friends. Our Friend is one with us. We are one with Him. Would that we would live in His power ever now.
