Dear Ones:
Everything about the Christian life is a miracle, and this, because it has its origin, essence, and accomplishment in God. He is the author, architect, builder, even the very essence of all accomplished in us that is “good.” James tells us: “Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (1:17) If, as Paul writes, “…there is NONE that doeth good, no, not one…,” (Rom. 3:12), then we must realize that everything truly that we receive that is good, and are able to give, comes from God. Why? Because He ALONE is good, and this without ceasing, immutably so. When the Lord draws us to Himself, by putting in us that desire to know Him, and to be right with Him, His work is “miraculous,” for it does not have its origin in anything that man can do or conceive. It has its origin in the Alpha, and Omega, the Beginning and the End…It has its essence in heaven, in God, and this by the Spirit. It is a miracle. When we read about Samson, we find that after he was born, grew as a child and the Lord blessed him, that, “… the Spirit of the Lord began to move him at times in the camp of Dan.” (Judges 13:25) This is how God works. This is where the miracle begins. He intervenes, and begins “to move us.” We begin having a certain interest in God, in spiritual things. And little bit by little bit, He draws out our hearts towards Him. He then brings us to realize that He IS God, and that we must turn to Him for that necessary work in us of repentance and faith, that is so vital for time and eternity. It is then that the miraculous work of the new birth is realized in us. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Rom. 10:13) What about the continuing miracle?
When the Holy Spirit is present in the heart, Christ is in the heart. Paul declares this by speaking of the Spirit of God (of Christ) “in you.” (Rom. 8:9) He then goes on to speak of “Christ …in you.” (v.10) In Ephesians he declares that “Christ dwells in the heart by faith.” (3:17) What is the miracle? It is the life of Christ, by the Spirit, revealed in our hearts and lives. Perhaps the greatest, and most practical passage in Scripture which reveals to us, not only the miracle of God, in Christ, by the Spirit living in our hearts, but also, the means by which we are to appropriate this miraculous life…this life of blessed goodness, is John 15. We are IN Jesus Christ, n the Vine. We are to live in Him BY FAITH. When we come to Christ, He becomes not only the source for all things good and blessed, but the very MEANS by which all becomes available to us. Hence, “ABIDE IN ME, AND I WILL ABIDE IN YOU.” (Jn. 15:4) Do we really believe that He can live in our hearts, feel “perfectly at home” in our hearts….by faith? If we are to know the continuing miracle, then we must come to grips with this reality, that we have ALL in Christ, and that we are to live by, for, and unto Him. He IS the miracle…we are the participants of that miracle. The more we learn to abide in Him, and He in us, the more others will taste and see that the Lord is Good.
Dear Lord, grant us grace to, “…set our lives in Thee, and derive all from Thee by that inward aspiration of faith.” (H. Moule) Increase our capacity to appropriate Thy blessed, miraculous life, so that we may have the utmost “goodness” to share with others. Then, they shall desire Thee. And they too shall taste and see that Thou art good,” and turn to Thee. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Love, Dad