Complete

 

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.  But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense- Jesus Christ, the righteous One.  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but for the sins of the whole world.  We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.  The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: …”  I John 2:1-4 

If we obey the Bible, that is the “proof in the pudding” that God’s love is in us.  It is easy to give lip service to the love of God, but much harder to walk it out.  The love of God restrains our tongue, tamps down our temper, and causes us to look beyond someone else’s faults.  The love of God enables and inspires us to put the Bible into action in our life.

There are so many levels in the Lord.  When we first become a Christian, we start out just like newborn babies, but in the Spirit.  But as we mature, learn more of his Word, and grow in the knowledge of God, we become increasingly grown-up in Christ.  After a season of growth, he calls us to go deeper still.  The Bible speaks of us going from “glory to glory.”  It must be our goal to allow Jesus to be “truly made complete in us.” I do not want there to be 3% Jesus and 97% me.  I want him to be the primary influence in my life.  I want to be hidden in Christ.  But, oh, that is work!  Dying to self, putting on the character of Christ, interacting with people following the “what would Jesus do?” pattern is attainable.  We just have to want it more than we want our own way.

Obedience is a skill that becomes easier as we put it into practice.  A mature Christian does not ask himself/herself whether they feel like doing what the Bible says. They just look at the Bible like a soldier would a military superior.  It is an order to be followed.

I was disciplining our youngest the other day, and he kept pleading his case with me the whole time I was talking.  After a while I said to him, “When I get on to you, the only thing I want to hear from you is: “Yes, Ma’am.”  That means that he does not try to persuade me that I am wrong or get his way.  He just acknowledges what I am saying and agrees to comply.  That is really what the Lord expects from us.  We see in his Word what he requires and we say “Yes, sir.”  No argument, no negotiation.  Just enough humility to know he is always right and should be respected and obeyed.

Lord, help me to be quick to obey.  I truly desire for your love to be made complete in me.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri