Were you lied to as newborn Christian? I was...let me explain.
You are a Christian, right? So, Can you live the Christ life? Well I guess I want to get a little more involved than that. I want to ask you if you can live the Christ life by your own effort!
If you're like me, you were probably brought up in a Church where the pastor told you every Sunday how you were supposed to act. He probably told you that you needed to do such and such in order to be a "good Christian".
And what if that stuff was hard to do? If you had a problem with a certain sin, what was the advice that you received. How was it recommended that you go about the subject of "living the Christian life"? If your early Christian education was like mine you were lied to!
The way to success I was told was through willpower. Grittin' the teeth and whatnot and just to "buckle down and do something for God". No matter how uncomfortable it may of seemed.
And uncomfortable it was! Are you still with me? I'm sure I'm not the only one that found the burdens of Christianity hard to live with. What could be heavier than the burden of a God that was displeased with your level of performance? Nothing comes to mind for me. Why then does the Bible say this in Matthew 11:29-31:
"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.?
And I'd bet dollars to donuts that I'm not the only one that found myself failing more than I was succeeding-am I right?
Sure you might get nice and fired up about being a good Christian once or twice but then you'd fail and the "failure, condemnation, rededication Cycle" would set in (to quote a phrase coined by Dr. Steve McVey). After the failure, I'd feel condemned that I had failed God. After that period of self pity and general feeling of patheticness (Is that even a word?), I'd rededicate my efforts to do better for God the next time.
Sound familiar? Would you like to get off that religious rollercoaster ride and find the rest spoken of by Jesus? Are you ready for the Truth? Good, let me tell you what it's all about!
The Truth is that you, by your own efforts, can not live the Christian life!
Consider this verse:
"This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" Galatians 3:2-3
Didn't you come to salvation and the Christian life by faith in Christ to bring you that salvation? So why would you try to live that Christian life by your own effort instead of by faith in the one that will live it through you?
This is the key that will set you free. You can not live the Christian life, only Christ can! It makes sense doesn't it. He did it over 2,000 years ago and he is capable of doing it through you today! Consider Hebrews 4:15:
"For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin."
Jesus has lived the "Christ Life" and he will do it through you if you let him!
Caleb Osborne, a native of Virginia, is an up and coming author who has just completed publishing his first book--Christ Through Me. He is now in the process of working on other projects and running his website at http://www.christthroughme.com where he has a FREE email newsletter that all are encouraged to sign up for.
-=-=-==-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"Who Else Wants to Experience The Abundant, Care-free Life of Being a Better Christian Day In and Day Out and Experiencing the Guiltless Joy of Living Life Without Limits or Having to Worry About Following a Bunch of Uptight Rules?" Click Here: http://www.christthroughme.com
-=-=-==-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -=-=-=-=-
** Attn Ezine editors / Site owners / everyone ** Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your site so long as you leave all links in place, do not modify the content and include our resource box as listed.
house refresh service Lincolnshire ..Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me,... Read More
Seems that everyone who writes to me signs their letters... Read More
This article is a reply that deals with certain criticisms... Read More
Since I awoke from my three month coma in August... Read More
You can think of your Animal Totems as imaginary guides... Read More
One of the first issues people on the spiritual path... Read More
We shamans are a strange breed.....often we tend to isolate... Read More
(Channelled)The greatest gift you can give me, is to acknowledge... Read More
Looking for some ways to feed your soul in the... Read More
Journal ExpressionsIf you haven't already done so, please start keeping... Read More
When the Tsunami struck Asia and East Africa on December... Read More
Spiritual health is generally an overlooked aspect of healing. However,... Read More
One of the first things you will find that God... Read More
It was in the middle of the night and the... Read More
The expression "Spiritual Enlightenment" has been used often in reference... Read More
I was recently asked how I interpreted the Mayan and... Read More
(Channeled)Roy-when does the end of physical life come? Is it... Read More
In the movie "Forest Gump" we see Forest succeed in... Read More
"What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is... Read More
Healing is a special gift that any human being can... Read More
First, there is the field of complete consciousness.This then expresses... Read More
God said, "Thou shalt not?" and we continue to tell... Read More
Is it really possible that Don Juan could command the... Read More
I'm weary of saying No to my children. Not just... Read More
"Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being,... Read More
licensed cleaning services Lake Forest ..Prayer from a child's simple bedtime prayer, to the prayers... Read More
In the interest of mankind the Angels are delivering messages... Read More
Let's say that you have discovered your purpose but you... Read More
Here they are, our Ladies of Mercy and Divine Benevolence.... Read More
How a Divine "Dream", gave me a Spiritual Principle for... Read More
I have been thinking a lot about the spiritual growth... Read More
There is an old tradition song called, The Lighthouse and... Read More
"Mama, save me!"My six year old son jumped into my... Read More
It's human nature to point a finger when we think... Read More
IS FAITH - NOT VITAMIN C WHAT'S MISSING FROM YOUR... Read More
Walls as a blockade seem to be an integral part... Read More
"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on... Read More
Often, in being dishonest about our own faults and failures,... Read More
I always thought Ecclesiastes was like Proverbs. That's probably because... Read More
When we find spirituality, or it finds us, the experience... Read More
Water of Enlightenment, Angel of Peace and Harmony for Nature... Read More
Did you ever know somebody who easily accumulates wealth? If... Read More
Throughout history, what is portrayed in all religions as being... Read More
For some of us, EVERY DAY IS HALLOWEEN!!! If you... Read More
Being critical of Buddhism isn't easy.Buddhism is the most likable... Read More
One of my favorite movies is "The Green Mile". A... Read More
Did you ever see something go wrong around you and... Read More
The possibility of almost 400 Old Testament prophesies coming to... Read More
We have a proclivity to think of individuals and nations... Read More
Hopefully you're reading this article because you're intrigued by the... Read More
Spirituality |