As a child, I always thought Christians were good people. I also knew myself, and I knew that I wasn’t “good people.” I mean…I was “pretty good people” and I became an expert at justifying myself so I sounded and seemed like “good people”, because that’s what Christians are, right?
When, as a teen, I acknowledged Christ as my Lord and Savior, I accepted that I was NOT actually “good people”; so, I confessed my sins, and received Christ…and then I carried on trying harder to be “good people” until I came across this verse (Colossians 2:6), which left me unglued. Because for the first time it hit me; “AS YOU HAVE RECEIVED CHRIST.”
How did I receive Christ? I received Christ in weakness. I received Christ in humility. I received Christ acknowledging that I couldn’t, but He could. I certainly didn’t receive Christ by being “good people.” So why did I think that even though I couldn’t save myself, I could still somehow sanctify myself in to being good?
Paul’s words to the Galatians could very much have been written for me: “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3). The process of sanctification is not one of being “good people.” The process of sanctification is one of knowing that we (our flesh) are still not – and never will be – “good people,” but Christ in us is greater. It is HE who started this work, and it is HE who will complete it. (Philippians 1:6)
As I ponder this theme of Boasting in the Lord, I will boast in this: Not I, but Christ. I cannot, but He can. And that spotlights His glory. It magnifies His amazing, saving, sanctifying power to the world. What we cannot accomplish, He can. And even more, He has promised that He will! We can rest in that completed work in Christ because it is not about our (in)ability, but His perfection. Therefore, as we have received Christ, let us walk in Him this year! |
|
No Comments