Christ in Me

Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God.  Philippians 1:11

From Guest Blogger Colin Proft:

For much of my Christian walk I have struggled with feeling like I’m supposed to produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit through my own strength. Shouldn’t I be ever-increasing in “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control” (Galatians 5:22)? Yes. Absolutely! But the reason for such a change is not due to my own effort! It’s because of Who lives inside me.

In Colossians 2:9-10, we read: “In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.” Earlier, Paul simply stated, “Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:6-7).

Stop trying to produce fruit in and of yourself. Just abide in the Vine. Abide in Christ. Be rooted and built up in Him. He is the Cornerstone of the spiritual temple, the Head of the Christian body, and the Spiritual Rock from which we drink from in the desert (1 Peter 2:4-6, Colossians 2:19, 1 Corinthians 10:4).

Worship leader and song writer Tim Timmons frequently talks about when he was a “Varsity Squad” Christian — he read the Bible faithfully, prayed, tithed and led worship for many years; in short, he was doing everything he was “supposed” to do. Yet, when these truths of Scripture began to dawn on him, it completely changed his perspective on what it meant to follow Jesus.

I pray we all discover the incredible meaning of, “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Jesus Christ, the risen Son of God, lives in us. What would happen if we really lived that way?

“Christ in Me”

by Tim Timmons

The same great light that broke the dark

The same great peace that calmed the seas, hallelujah, is living in me

The same great love that gives us breath

The same great power that conquered death, hallelujah, is flowing through me

And what, what if I believed in Your power and I really lived it?

What, what if I believed Christ in me, what if I believed?

I would lay my worries down, see these hills as level ground.

What if I believed, Christ in me?

Tim Timmons singing "Christ in Me"

Prayer: Lord, help me abide in You and know that Your power is at work in my weakness. Amen.


#Uncommon

One Body

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body.  Romans 12:4-5


It’s really easy to compare ourselves to others. Sometimes that leads us to think too highly of ourselves (see yesterday’s post on “sober judgment”!). Conversely, comparing ourselves with others sometimes leads us to think too little of ourselves. We wish we had someone else’s talents, someone else’s lifestyle, someone else’s skinnier, younger body.

People of the first century (the time of Jesus and Paul) were no different. Some would think, “Because I’m not a leader, I don’t count as much. Because I don’t preach, I’m not as important as the pastor.” Paul counters that untruth with the words of Romans 12:4-8. (He goes into even more detail in 1 Corinthians 12. Read that when you have time.) For those who think their gifts are more important … as well as for those who feel their giftedness is less significant … the word is the same: “In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us” (Rom. 12:5-6); but we are all part of the body.

Every single gift is critical. Do not resent the gift God has given you (thinking it is less, envying others); and don’t begrudge the gifts God has given others (as if yours is better, looking down on them). Be content with the part He’s given you to play. You have a role for which you are uniquely designed. So, as Paul says, if your gift is leading, lead. If God gave you the gift of teaching, teach. If serving, serve with joy. If encouraging is your thing, be generous with your affirmation and cheering, as if you were giving it to the Lord (see Colossians 3:23; Ephesians 6:7).

God has crafted you by His grace to be just what He wants you to be. Enjoy that. Celebrate it. Understand that even the rough places and the difficult experiences have shaped you for the unique role you play “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). And on the flipside, don’t expect others to be just like you. They are uniquely gifted by God’s grace too. Enjoy the diversity of Christ’s body; marvel in the ways each person is “uncommon.”

Prayer: Father, by Your design You give different gifts to each person, making each of us uncommon. Lead me to live in gratitude for how You fit all the pieces together. Amen.


#uncommon

 

Transformed

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Romans 12:2

I think you’ll agree:  it is far easier to “go with the flow” than to work against the current. To conform to the way our society lives and thinks and acts … that doesn’t take much effort. To swim against the stream is hard. It takes intentionality. It takes effort. It means sometimes bumping painfully into those who are moving in the opposite direction.

The Christian life may not be easy; but God calls us to be different, in the world but not of the world (John 17:14-16). We are to be a peculiar people (1 Peter 2:9, KJV), uncommon, countercultural. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed …” (Romans 12:2).

You might ask: “How does that transforming happen?” Great question! Notice that Paul doesn’t say, “transform yourself.” He says, “be transformed.” A quick look at 2 Corinthians 3:18 gives us a clue — “we, who…all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed” (same word as Rom. 12:2) “into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

Two key thoughts here: 1) the work of transforming is done by God, through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My church, Faith Lutheran in Appleton, WI, has a vision statement that begins with these important words: “Transformed by Christ to live generous and purposeful lives.” God is doing the work. Paul says elsewhere that God, “who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

2) Notice God’s transforming work is a process. It is not a single event, but a lifetime of shaping. Isaiah likens God to a potter sculpting clay — “we are all the work of Your hand,” he says (Isaiah 64:8). God uses life experiences (even the hard ones) to mold us. He uses relationships with other Christians to correct and encourage us. But most importantly, God uses His Word, the Bible, to guide and shape our spirits. This is the most important reason why we memorize scripture, why we read devotions and listen to sermons that explain the Bible — God is using His Word for His work of transforming you by the renewing of your mind.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, thank you for Your transforming work in me. Help me commit today to knowing Your Word better. Renew my mind. Lead me to be more like Christ, and to live an uncommon life. Amen.

Uncommon

Call me a FOOL.  Seriously.  I want to be a FOOL.

A "fool" for Christ, that is.

The apostle Paul says, "If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a 'fool' so that he may become wise" (1 Corinthians 3:18).  Which means that what GOD thinks is important is quite different than what the WORLD thinks is important.  The world values power, prestige, possessions.  God values submission, selflessness, sacrifice.  1 Corinthians 1:  "The message of the CROSS is foolishness" to the world.  But "God chose the foolish things ... the weak things ... the despised things."

Most people look to be on the top ... to be the best ... to out-man, out-pace, out-score, out-gun.  Most seek glory by what they do or what they own ... to be better, to be noticed.

But consider how Jesus Christ turned glory on its head!

• Matthew 16:  Jesus has just told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."  Then he says, "Some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
• Matthew 20:  The mother of James and John comes to Jesus with the request, "Grant that one of these sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom."  Jesus replies, "You don't know what you are asking ... These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father."
• Matthew 27:  They crucified Jesus.  "Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left."

Christ's kingdom and glory are evident, not in how we would normally view triumph, but in the self-sacrifice ... in what looks like defeat ... in what looks like shame and humiliation.  The cross is utter foolishness.  Yet God's power and God's wisdom are on display there!

So if God's power and wisdom are found in what the world calls foolish ... I WANT TO BE FOOLISH for Christ.  Paul said in Romans 1:16, "I am unashamed of the Gospel" ... which is the CROSS ... "because it is the POWER of GOD for the salvation of everyone who believes."


So, here's what I believe:  God has rescued me in Christ.  He has set me apart to be His own child.  God has called me into a life that seems utterly foolish to many people — taking up self-sacrifice and humility and service in His name.

In a word:  now that God has called me in Christ ... he calls me to be UNCOMMON.

My church, this next week, is setting out on a 40-week journey of faith and spiritual growth.  We're calling the journey, UNCOMMON.  We're using these words from Colossians 3:1-3 as a basis for the next 40 weeks:  "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."

Setting your hearts and minds on things above means viewing life and success in very different terms than what we hear in the news and in sports and in politics.  It means being rather UNCOMMON.

I'm excited to see what God is going to do.  What He'll do in me, what He'll do in my family and in my church family during this school year.

Check out this intro video ... and wherever you are (not just the people of Faith, Appleton), feel free to join us on the UNCOMMON journey.

2 Peter 3:18 — "Continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

More on Uncommon.

Want a real spiritual workout??  Take the 100-day Uncommon Bible Challenge.  Memorize 100 verses in 100 days.  Sort of like P90X for the soul.


#uncommon  #uncommonbiblechallenge

Shame

I realized today how quick I am to judge other people I think have nasty, bad habits.  I saw someone smoking as he walked past me on the sidewalk, and my first thought was:  "Why would you do that to yourself?!"  (You know: cancer, yellow teeth, smell, and all the other ill effects of cigarette smoke!)

We do this all the time, don't we?!  Judge other people.  Because they smoke.  Because they weigh too much.  Because they have tattoos.  Because they didn't signal before they turned in front of us.  Because they have an accent.  Because they mixed a blue shirt with brown pants.  Whatever!

Why are we so quick to judge?!  Are we that hard up for affirmation that we have to put someone else downto feel superior ... so we can feel better about ourselves?  Because, really?  Am I ANY better?  It's not smoking, but I have my own bad habits that have their own negative consequences.  Until a few months ago, I drank way too much Mt. Dew.  (And only by the grace of God am I past spending all the money and pumping my body with all the caffeine and sugar and acids and other junk you get when you 'Do the Dew.')  I still have this bad habit of checking my phone every time I hear an email come in ... even if that's while my wife is talking to me.  (And I have to ask her to repeat what she just said because I was too rude to focus on her the whole time in the first place.)  And I have so many other habits that range from annoying to rude to disruptive.

The point is sort of along the lines of Jesus' question:  "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" (Matthew 7:3).  Why do I so quickly jump to judgment of others and their habits ... and give myself a pass, rationalizing that I'm just human afterall?

Whenever I'm tempted to place myself above someone else, I remember Paul's words of 1 Corinthians 15:  "But by the grace of God I am what I am."  I am simply the worst of all sinners ... and if not for Jesus, I would be nothing.  Thank you, God, for making me something special, only in Him!!

Messy Spirituality

One of my favorite books is called Messy Spirituality. Here's what the author, Michael Yaconelli, wrote:

"I often dream that I am tagging along begind Jesus, longing for him to choose me as one of his disciples. Without warning, he turns around, looks straight into my eyes, and says, 'Follow me!' My heart races, and I begin to run toward him when he interrupts with, 'Oh, not you; the guy behind you. Sorry.'
"I have been trying to follow Christ most of my life, and the best I can do is a stumbling, bumbling, clumsy kind of following. I wake up most days with the humiliating awareness that I have no clue where Jesus is. Even though I am a minister, even though I think about Jesus every day, my following is ... uh ... meandering."

Wow! How often I feel like that. I am a pastor--entrusted with telling people about Jesus and offering spiritual advice and direction. But sometimes ... okay, often! ... I feel more like the spiritual equivalent of Charlie Brown than a spiritual guide and mentor. More of a spiritual clutz than a hero of the faith.

BUT ... from everything I know about Jesus ... He chooses messed up people ALL THE TIME! It seems to be a prerequisite for following him. You have to be a wreck. No perfect people allowed. You get the occasional saintly person, like Mother Theresa. But everyone else is a clutz. So ... I'm in good company. And so are you!

I think Jesus set it up that way so that we would trust HIM and not ourselves. In fact, I believe that's the whole point. Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 sometime. He's chosen us in spite of our foolishness. He's chosen us in spite of our weakness. He gives us heaven as a free gift ... and then says: "Follow me!" Not just the guy behind you, but YOU!

Are you utterly amazed by that?! I am. And that's why I follow him ... mostly because I know I don't deserve to ... and he's called me anyway.