Life In Jesus — Part 2
Yesterday we read Romans 6:23 (ESV), which says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We emphasized the importance of the name of Jesus in that verse. More than a formula for eternal life, the gospel invites us to know our Savior and Lord named Jesus.
Today I want us to remember that salvation is in Jesus. I’m not going to try and make a theological distinction between justification and sanctification. We know that it is only the blood of Jesus that justifies us as holy children of God and that the power of the Holy Spirit makes us holy and equips us for good works.
I’ve noticed that some of the biggest problems in our faith happen when we start making justification and sanctification moments in the past and not ongoing realities. Our connection to God quickly wanes when we rely on a long-past moment of decision or one encounter instead of a day-to-day life with Jesus.
Relationships themselves have technicalities but are never sustained by facts. The fact that my wife and I have our names written on a marriage license indicates nothing about the state of our relationship. That piece of paper declares our technical status but has no power to sustain our unity and love for one another.
Similarly, extravagant gestures of love, radical experiences, and exciting moments can certainly energize a relationship, but a picture-perfect honeymoon won’t sustain a marriage 15 years into the future.
When it comes down to it, it is the everyday, mundane, and simple moments that deepen a relationship beyond words.
It is the same with Jesus. In our recently released song called Closer, Erin sang these words over the bridge, “It’s the everyday with you where I learn to love your truth.”
Romans tells us that salvation is in Christ Jesus. Maybe focusing on the word in is too detailed, but we know Jesus says continually in John 15 to abide in him. To have a truly abundant life in Christ requires us to live deeply connected to God. There will be radical encounters, and you might see things like signs and wonders, but the sustaining power is in everyday abiding.
Today’s challenge is to start opening up to the Lord in the mundane moments of your day. Realize that he longs to meet with you in even the simplest happenings of your life. Ask, seek, knock. He longs to be closer to us.
Amen.
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