Dear Ones:
It is one thing to be resolved to BE what we should be, and to DO what we should do. It is quite another to accomplish this. We are familiar with the illustration that the Lord Jesus gave concerning two houses, one built upon the sand, the other upon the rock. We might say that the word, “built,” refers to being established, or fixed. There is no question that in and of ourselves, we often have to say that we have been driven from the field of battle, or swept off the rock by the waves. But there is certainly an experience of God’s grace that He desires to put in us, so that we, in an ever-increasing way, overcome the adversities of life, and that which would militate against the knowledge of Christ.
In our consideration of this matter of being “established,” let us begin with Christ. “Now HE which stablisheth (establishes) us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, IS GOD.” (2 Cor. 1:21) If there is to be an experience of being “rooted and fixed in God,” there must be a vision, a perception and grasp of the truth of Who Christ IS, and what He is to us…and what He will BE to us in the measure that we trust Him. In the Old Testament we read over and over again that God is the Rock, our Rock, the Rock of our salvation. When one comes to Christ, and is placed IN Christ, he or she is placed IN that Rock…to be one with Him. He is the stability, for He is the only thing in this creation that does NOT change. But, how is the stability of Christ to be MY stability in experience?
In Paul’s epistle to the Romans, he writes at the end of the letter: “…Now to Him that is of power (who possesses the power) to stablish (establish) you according to my gospel…” (Rom. 16:25) God actually empowers us to BE established, by strengthening our hearts and minds, souls and spirits. In 2 Thess. 2:16-17, we find Paul writing: “Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father…stablish (establish) you in every good word and work.” This is nothing less than the intervention of God, strengthening us in our hearts and minds in such a way, as to give us success in His purpose and work through us. Lastly, in 2 Thess. 3:3, we read: “…The Lord is faithful, who shall stablish (establish) you, and keep you from evil.” It is so very important to realize, and to grasp the faithfulness of God with regard to establishing us. He is committed to do so. Can we trust Him for it?
It is a very remarkable part of, and conclusion to, a prayer of Moses (Ps. 90), where he prays concerning being established, and accomplishing that which is established (fixed, lasting, steadfast and certain…). He prays: “…and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it.” (v.17) How do we make the “establishing work” of Christ, to be our own? First, by praying according to the will of God…and we know that this is the will of God. Secondly, by believing God, taking Him at His word, that He is faithful who has promised. “Faithful is He who calls you who also WILL do it.”
Dear Father, give us an ever-increasing vision of what it means to be established in Christ, but also, of the experience of appropriating Thy Son as our Rock. Work in us by Thy Spirit to establish, make certain and lasting, the works of our hands. Lead us, guide us, give us wisdom…and may we ever take our stand in Thy strength upon Thy faithfulness, for Thou wilt never fail nor forsake us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad