It was Jesus Who gave His life for me, in order to give His life to me, in order to live His life through me.
The eternal God (Deuteronomy 33:27) is my Refuge and He never was more truly my Refuge than when (Mark 15:24) He was nailed to the cross. The Lord is my light and my salvation (Psalms 27:1) whom shall I fear? The Lord is the Refuge and stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? The Lord is continually my Refuge because (Colossians 3:3) my life is hidden in Christ with God. But we have much more than invincible protection. Our eyes have not seen (Isaiah 64:4, 1 Corinthians 2:9-10) nor our ears heard, neither has entered into our hearts all that God has prepared and kept ready for those who love Him. Yet the Holy Spirit has unveiled the hidden things of God which are beyond our scrutiny. Are these things all for the future in heaven? As I dig into these verses and others, I believe some of these blessings are for us here and now. I tremble before the Word of God, not in fright but in awe, as I consider the incredible, high and holy privileges which God planned for us. Then He made them available to us through the tremendous cost and untold anguish suffered by our Lord Jesus Christ as He made full atonement.
(Oswald Chambers) said some things which filled my heart with wonder, longing and (Philippians 3:12) a determination to press on. He said “The Cross stands for one thing only, for a complete and entire and absolute identification with the Lord Jesus Christ and there is nothing in which this identification is realized more than in prayer. Prayer is not to get answers, prayer is a perfect and complete oneness with God. Has the Lord’s vicarious life become your life? At that day you will become so identified with Jesus that there will be no distinction.”
I asked the Holy Spirit how this could be possible for me and continued my conversation with Him. These are the thoughts that came to me from His response. Obedience is staggeringly important in every detail 24/7 right down to the tiniest scruple. Nothing is insignificant, there is nothing that doesn’t matter. Everything matters. Then if Jesus is being Himself in me and living His life through me, with no hindrance or interference from me, there couldn’t be any distinction because (Galatians 2:20) it is not I but CHRIST. My life and my reality is God. For me (Philippians 1:21) to live is Christ. My prayers should be the expression of my oneness with God. Then I won’t be a copy of anyone else but an original from the hand of the Holy Spirit. In unbroken communion with my Lord, I’ll know that (2 Corinthians 6:16) my body is God’s temple, the temple of the living Omniscient, Omnipotent God, and my life is (Luke 2:49) the Father’s house in which Jesus continues to live and work on the Father’s business.
Let’s check back to where we started at (Deuteronomy 33:27, Psalms 27:1). How could we possibly find anything in our lives or in this wicked, chaotic world to cause fear or worry for us who are the dearly loved children of the Sovereign Ruler? We know (James 1:17) that every good and perfect gift comes from our unchanging Father Whose dwelling place is holy light. This truth clearly shows that every gift we don’t have is neither good nor perfect for us. At times we will be baffled because we won’t always understand what is happening. But we can always know why - - that it’s because it is not meant for our natural life. All things come from the Father’s hand and (Oswald Chambers) “It is because of the relation into which the Son of God has come in His Father’s providence in our particular sainthood.” I need to see and accept all things as necessary for the development and growth of the life of Jesus in me.
If we are so identified with Jesus that we are willing and available to (Colossians 1:24) fill up that which is behind, then Jesus can fulfill in us the purpose for which He suffered. We don’t know what is up ahead, what is coming. Plagues, disasters and increasing lawlessness have upset everything everywhere in this fallen world. But nothing can ever upset or diminish the Sovereign control of God. The Lord reigns (Psalms 93:1). He is clothed with Majesty and power. God is not surprised, perplexed or wringing His hands because He has already (Isaiah 43:12) declared the future. Whatever that future holds for us, we understand that it is God’s gift to us that (Acts 5:41) we would be counted worthy to suffer for the sake of His glorious Name.
There is no room or place for pride in this life but only wonder-filled gratitude. Wherever Jesus Christ is Lord and King, pride is utterly crucified. It was Jesus Who gave His life for me in order to give His life to me in order to live His life through me.
Whose life is it anyway?