Christ Our Pattern
By John Woodward
March 30, 1998
The Lord Jesus links His example of dependence on the Father with the way true believers are to depend on Him to live as disciples: " Just as the living Father sent Me, and I live by (through, because of ) the Father, even so whoever continues to feed on Me - who takes Me for his food and is nourished by Me - shall (in his turn) live through and because of Me. (John 6:57, Amplified Bible).
In Christ's great prayer of intercession, He said "And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. (John 17:19). Christ is our High priest who is interceding for us even now (Heb 7:25). He is our gracious host, who beckons us to intimate fellowship with Him in our hearts (Rev 3:20).
It seems that much of our frustrations in attempting to live for God can be traced to a fundamental lesson: we cannot live the Christian life -- only Christ can! Isn't that what our Savior emphasizes in John 15:5? "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." Our coping mechanisms, our self effort, our fleshly zeal are symptoms of the flesh trying to do what only God's Spirit can do through the yielded, believing, trusting child of God.
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63). The attitude of being "poor in spirit" is necessary for more than receiving the saving grace of God at conversion -- it is necessary for the continual experience of the saving life of Christ! (Matt 5:3, Rom 5:10)
Andrew Murray wrote: " Our Lord ever spoke of His relation to the Father as the type and the promise of our relation to Him, and to the Father through Him. With us as with Him, the life of continual obedience is impossible without continual fellowship and continual teaching. . . Out of the depths of His own life and experience, Christ can give and teach us this. Pray earnestly that God may show you the folly of attempting to obey without the same strength Christ needed, may make you willing to give up everything for the Christlike joy of the Father's presence all the day." (The School of Obedience, pp.44,45)
Father, help us to realize that our fleshly efforts to please You, however well intentioned, will not bear fruit that remains. We trust completely in the indwelling presence of Your Spirit to impart the abundant life to us and through us. Through Christ our victorious Savior we pray, amen.
JBW
March 30, '98
The purpose of Grace Notes is to highlight the dynamics of abundant living as summarized in Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (NKJV). Many articles are available online to freely use for personal ministry, newsletters, etc.. (To find an article by topic or key word, click "Grace Notes"/search.) Please pray for God's blessing on this internet ministry.
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