The Christian Life is a Supplied Life!

[Vine Abider]

Really good way to start the year from this devotional (which is called "The Supplied Life" by Bill Freeman).  We cannot live this new life apart from Christ supplying His life to us!

The need to be supplied

"For I know that this shall turn out to my salvation, through your supplication and the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:19 (ASV)

The very nature of the Christian life requires that we spend time with the Lord, because the Christian life is a supplied life. It is a life that is supplied to us. It has nothing to do with our own resources or any potential in ourselves. It has everything to do with our opening up to Another life to be supplied by that life from beginning to end. The Christian life is a life that has been prepared for us and is then furnished to us by God. He intends to continually supply Himself to us. It is for this reason that we need to spend time with the Lord--to receive the supply.

When we hear the truth from the Scriptures or from others, we may take it as a personal demand upon us and feel threatened. We may think, "I'm not like that. I could never do that. I can't imagine that I could ever feel that way. I just can't live up to that." With these kinds of thoughts and feelings, if we do not realize that the Christian life is a supplied life, we may conclude that this life is not for us and give up.

But listen to this. Every word that God has spoken in the Bible, whatever it is, whatever apparent demand it brings, God wants to supply that very thing into our being. It is not that we are expected to "measure up," or come up with the ability to perform in ourselves. No, God intends to continually supply Himself to us. We must understand the Christian life in this way--it is a supplied life. From beginning to end, it is supplied to us. And this supply comes to us and is dispensed into us in a very special and enjoyable way--by spending time with the Lord. 

[AdHoc]

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power (Col.2:10)

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Php 2:13)

 

[Marilyn C]

12 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

Really good way to start the year from this devotional (which is called "The Supplied Life" by Bill Freeman).  We cannot live this new life apart from Christ supplying His life to us!

The need to be supplied

"For I know that this shall turn out to my salvation, through your supplication and the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:19 (ASV)

The very nature of the Christian life requires that we spend time with the Lord, because the Christian life is a supplied life. It is a life that is supplied to us. It has nothing to do with our own resources or any potential in ourselves. It has everything to do with our opening up to Another life to be supplied by that life from beginning to end. The Christian life is a life that has been prepared for us and is then furnished to us by God. He intends to continually supply Himself to us. It is for this reason that we need to spend time with the Lord--to receive the supply.

When we hear the truth from the Scriptures or from others, we may take it as a personal demand upon us and feel threatened. We may think, "I'm not like that. I could never do that. I can't imagine that I could ever feel that way. I just can't live up to that." With these kinds of thoughts and feelings, if we do not realize that the Christian life is a supplied life, we may conclude that this life is not for us and give up.

But listen to this. Every word that God has spoken in the Bible, whatever it is, whatever apparent demand it brings, God wants to supply that very thing into our being. It is not that we are expected to "measure up," or come up with the ability to perform in ourselves. No, God intends to continually supply Himself to us. We must understand the Christian life in this way--it is a supplied life. From beginning to end, it is supplied to us. And this supply comes to us and is dispensed into us in a very special and enjoyable way--by spending time with the Lord. 

Hi VA, 

Great way to start the New year, encouraging us all in our walk with the Lord.

Marilyn.

[Vine Abider]

13 hours ago, Marilyn C said:

Hi VA, 

Great way to start the New year, encouraging us all in our walk with the Lord.

Marilyn.

It's just such a good reminder - that we can do nothing apart from Him . . . and He doesn't expect us to!  I know I need the constant reminder of that, as I just naturally tend to want to do things out of my own life and energy.  But the "much more we shall be saved in His life" is about the life-giving Spirit that He has supplied to us, in order that we would live the Christian life (i.e., love, joy, peace, etc.)!

[Neighbor]

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.  And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.  But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified."