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Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Read John 10:10.
"I came so that they could have life-indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest."[John 10:10]
To me, the thought of a grim, lifeless, or unhappy Christian is an oxymoron. Jesus himself said that he came into the world that we might have abundant life. Yet we have to accept and receive this quality of life.
This kind of spiritual life doesn't just happen. We have to want it, seek it, and open every room in our houses of life. It doesn't come by chance, but by choice-our choice. We either make the choice or let it go by default.
Just as happiness is a choice, energetic spiritual life is a choice. It is either Christ or chaos.
I often use three circles to illustrate this:
The Nonbeliever is absolutely directed by self. Christ is not even in his circle of life. The second circle is the Nominal Christian. This life is also run and directed by self, though Christ is just barely in his circle of life. This person tips his hat to the idea of Christianity, though the self still runs his or her life. The Spirit-filled Christian has Christ in control, but the self is nurtured to be all that God created it to be. This is a life beautifully under the control of Christ, and that person makes a significant difference in the world. As I wrote in my book Just Choose Happiness, we individually have the choice.
Christ offers us the gift of exciting, energized spiritual living, but a gift is not a gift unless we receive it.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to remember that a self-centered life is an unhappy life. Help us always to choose the abundant life you offer through Christ. Amen.
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