Morning Devotional
October  13, 2005
"A Good Race" (Part 13)     
    by Don Emmitte

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose. (Philippians 2:1 NLT).

 

There ought to be, and there is a reward for the good race. Ask yourself, what am I getting out of my relationship to Christ? Is there any return for the investment Christ has made in my life? Am I living the “abundant” Christian life? If not, one of three things is likely occurring.

 

First, you need to make sure there is a relationship. Has there been a time when you personally received the free gift of grace by accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior? Have you obeyed the Scripture and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ alone to save you? It is impossible to live the Christian life apart from Christ. If you aren’t certain, be certain today. Read Romans 10:9, Ephesians 2:8-9 or John 3:16 and simply be obedient to God’s Word. Salvation is not hard until you make it hard. It is a work of God, not of yourself. Your responsibility is simply to accept the finished work of Christ on the cross and trust Him to get you to Heaven.

 

Second, if you are not experiencing any joy in your Christian experience then God may have you in a time of faith building. Sometimes God allows His children to go through “dry spells” in an effort to test their faith and build their character. Continue to stay faithful to God through the reading of His Word and prayer and continue the fellowship of believers in the local church and God will see you through this period of time. The other side will be wonderful! You will have a closer relationship with God than you ever have had.

 

I need to use a borrowed illustration for this third reason we sometimes don’t experience the abundant Christian life. Imagine sleeping on an old mattress. It is firm on both ends, but sagging in the middle. You may have a firm belief in your salvation and you may be trusting God to get you to Heaven, but in the middle you are sagging in your spiritual walk. There is no joy, no life, and no peace. Perhaps you are doing as I often do. You are trying to live the Christian life on your own. You are trying to tackle your own problems. You are trying to keep all the right rules, hoping that will bring you the abundant life. The truth is that it never will. The only way to live the abundant Christian life is to quit trying and let Christ live His life through you. (Galatians 2:20) If you’ve been trying and failing, admit to God that you are not capable anymore and ask Him to take over your life. Rest in His sufficiency as you recognize your insufficiency.