It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1
It has been throughout my entire life that I have lived and placed myself under the law of Christianity. Like an anvil on my heart and mind, the law has taught me to be a slave, to answer to it’s judicial ways. Without realization, I have shaped my view of Christianity into nothing more than religiosity and with that guilt, shame and failure always follows.
But I am not subject to the burden of the law because I have been set free through the life of Christ living in and through me. And it is in this spot I find myself this morning. Thinking on how I abide in Him, thinking on what I do to measure up and reflecting on what conversations I have with Him. Why these things? Well, it’s me taking a look at me in the mirror, asking and seeing if today I’m in the will of my Father. It’s me getting snagged up on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and examining my own heart of joy and measure of thanks in all things in continual prayer.
I have become so very proud of my own journey. Look at me!! And in it, I have come to establish my own routines of prayer and writing, finding comfort and worth in my own efforts to transform me. (There’s a whole lot of me in this!) But there is NO amount of me that has the power to transform anything about me! There is NO level of commitment or consistent routine that will reward me. The temporary glue to hold my own fruit to the vine will never remain. But the fruit that grows from the vine of Christ that lives in and through me will nourish the soul forever! This comes when I abide in Him!
I remember one season when I planted in my garden sweet potatoes for the first time. Not really knowing what I was doing and only with an idea of how it was done I planted the small potato eyes and walked away. That harvest season I had more sweet potatoes than I knew what to do with — a true abundance! This is exactly how Christ wants us to abide in Him always! And when I do, the abundance of fruit from the heart will be more than enough. It’s a way of leaning, a way of communicating, a way of letting. For Christ who lives in me is my life!
Lord Jesus, I never want to get caught up in the religiosity of serving you! My relationship is not a set of laws, but covered in an abundance of grace, through your unconditional love for me and rests in your hands. My schedule is not your will unless it is your schedule for me. May I journey abiding in you, in all things, always!
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23
Like this:
Like Loading...
