We can have no power from Christ unless we live in a persuasion that we have none of our own.
~John Owen
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the Name that is above every Name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. … Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. … Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the universe, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
~ paul, The Least of The Apostles, in Philippians 2
Oh beloved, it is true.
There are many different ways around the world that brothers and sisters in Him, walk out their faith. Oh, to be sure, there is a very clear – and quite narrow – confession of faith built from Scripture and put into words in the Apostle’s Creed. And, His Word is the bedrock for any matters of faith and practice.
However, for any of you who have not lived beyond the borders of the US, this fool of a writer can guarantee you that most of the people who are true believers have some very different opinions on a great number of matters within the church. But, beyond any theological niceties, comes something that we all begin to see.
All is Grace.
This is the primary force behind everything that we become and do in our walk with Him. For, it is Him – His very power – to do the Father’s will.
Grace is not just G_d’s forbearance when we do something wrong. Grace is Him giving us His very Self, that we might become more like Him. This is all of Him. This is the ‘Energy of The One’ (Monergism) making us into someone we could never be apart from Him.
Can we see it?
From this, comes something we never thought possible. Before, we were living out our existence in this life apart from G_d. We were struggling through every step, and we were failing. And it took a visit from Him. He called out to us in Love, and we responded. But, once we do; when we turn and look upon Him; when we believe, something comes alive in us that will never die.
And this is where the mystery goes deeper. For now, we are alive in a whole new way. Before we could not respond. But now, we can. We have joined Him in His Life… Our life becomes a true reflection of the Life now Living in us and through us. However, our life is actually adding to the beauty – we are now making Him more famous in the world than had He alone lived in this world.
This is part of why Jesus said it was better that He go back to the Father and send His Holy Spirit instead. For now, we the ‘little Christs’ (what the word ‘Christian’ actually means) are becoming literally true in the world. Our life is synergizing with His – and making a difference for the eternal good in The Kingdom.
But, what was this Life? And what made it so powerful?
Jesus showed us continually in His Life. His Life was one of dying to His own flesh, and walking in pure communion with the Father. He walked in exquisite – and JOYFUL – obedience to The Father.
And so, as we yield to Him, we take on more of His Power (grace) to be more of Him to the world.
Beloved, this is unstoppable. There is no need to fight over politics or theology. There is no need to bother over what words go in a liturgy. There is no need to rail against the failures of a fallen world. There is only a need for grace. All is grace. And grace will conquer the nothingness and darkness around us. For Grace is Him at work within us.
But hopefully, the question is obvious. Would you let Him have you, the way Jesus let Himself be had by the Father? It will not work any other way. Tonight is your night. Yield to His visitation, that you might become more powerful than you can imagine in this world. Die to your own life that His Grace would be the power at work within you.
A man becomes spiritual insofar as he lives a spiritual life. He begins to see God in all things, to see His power and might in every manifestation. Always and everywhere he sees himself abiding in God and dependent on God for all things. But insofar as a man lives a bodily life, so much he does he do bodily things; He doesn’t see God in anything, even in the the most wondrous manifestations of His Divine power. In all things he sees body, material, everywhere and always – “God is not before his eyes.” (Ps. 35:2)
~St. John of Kronstadt
