Hi sisters!
Happy New Year! Did you create any New Year’s resolutions or goals? What are some common ones that you hear?
Ones I hear often: Eat healthier, exercise more, lose weight, save more money, advance in career, and the list goes on.
These goals can filter into our church culture too. We make an aim to attend church or Bible study to give ourselves an “upgrade.” For example, we might read the Bible because we are looking for life nuggets and the cliff notes on how to be a better parent, how to be better wife, or “how far is too far” when dating.
Though life “upgrades” are not bad in and of themselves, we cannot approach our Christian life the same way. We might want an upgrade on our gym membership so we can exercise more, but we can’t upgrade our Christian life in the same way. Let me explain what I mean by offering a few Scriptures:
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. (Luke 9:23-24)
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:28-29)
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you . . . seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. (Colossians 3:5a, 9b-10)
Thoughts? Notice God is not interested in giving us an “upgrade” to a better life or an “upgrade” to a better version of ourselves. He is offering a complete exchange. I don’t mean agreement with certain beliefs in order to go to heaven. I mean, God wants to take over our lives completely. God is not Tim Cook (CEO of Apple) and God’s Word is not the Apple store. We don’t get to tell God that we expect a comfortable life, blessings for our dream job, the dimensions of our dream husband, and upload the commands that we agree with and decide we want to obey.
These Scriptures communicate that we must:
Die to self
Lose our life
Be crucified with Christ
Be conformed into the image of Jesus
Stop participating the way of the world (defense)
Start participating in God’s ways (offense)
This is a huge difference because if we approach our walk with God like going to the Apple store, two things can happen. One, we become frustrated and bitter at God for not giving us the upgrades and “good gifts” we think He should be giving us. After all, we wonder, isn’t a better version of myself, a career upgrade, etc. good gifts? Again, this is where the fullness of Scripture is important. God is not interested in giving us upgrades and what we think are good gifts. Again, He offers our life for His. He gives us the Holy Spirit, other brothers and sisters in Christ, His Word, etc. to accomplish His mission of our transformation and the redemption of others. All of those gifts are eternal!
The second thing that can happen is that we actually receive all these upgrades we desire. And when we do, we’re good. We become complacent in our upgrades and we are perfectly happy coasting along in our own life bubble. However, there is nothing in these verses that communicate we are ever done. This transformation is life long and our participation in advancing God’s Kingdom is our mission as long as we are still breathing. If someone is coasting through the Christian life, the enemy has effectively lulled them to sleep.
Therefore, we must approach our Christian life with the attitude of Jesus, “not my will, but Your will be done.” We read our Bible to foster our relationship with God, learn His ways, act on His ways, and renew our minds (Romans 12:1-2). We participate in Bible study with other sisters in Christ, not because that’s what “good” Christian women do, but so that we might be trained in how to accomplish God’s mission (Titus 2:3-5, 11-14). We disciple other women not only for their sake, but also for the sake of the world (Matthew 28:18-20, John 17, II Timothy 2:2). No matter what job we have, work is honoring to God and gives us an opportunity to bear witness about Jesus to others (II Thess. 3:10-12; Colossians 3:22-24). Our life is not our own at all. It is Christ’s life. No upgrades, only full exchanges with a life long commitment.
I want to end by listing some new identities to be found in this new life in Christ. Let us operate inside these truths.
- Matthew 4:19 – Fishers of people
- Romans 6:17-18, 22 – slaves of righteousness
- Romans 8:15-17 – children of God; heirs with Christ
- II Corinthians 5:20 – ambassadors of Christ
- Ephesians 2:10 – God’s workmanship for good works
- II Timothy 2:3-6 – A soldier, farmer, athlete
- I Peter 2:9-12 – chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation, God’s possession
Of course there are many more. And each new identity implies (and some explicitly say) an action related to that identity. Take some time this week to talk with another sister in Christ about these identities. What actions do they imply or state? How can you apply one of these actions in your life? Hope you come up with some intentional actions together as you exchange an old pattern for a new!
By the River Together 