Next Door Savior by Max Lucado
"Inward Places"
Luke 1:38
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Max offers an interesting extension on the Mary, mother of Jesus, story. He begins the chapter by reminding the reader that God actually indwelt Mary. From conception to birth, God was in Mary. As Christians we have that same indwelling, but on a greater scale. Max reminds us that the indwelling of God in Mary was as a fetus. For the Christian, we have God as the Holy Spirit in us.
God was with Abraham. He was with Moses. He was with the disciples. But as a result of His willing death and self-resurrection, God now offers to live in us and will do just that if we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Unlike the patriarchs of the Old Testament, I don't have to locate the tabernacle to find God. Unlike Adam and Eve, I don't have to search for God in the Garden of Eden. Unlike the disciples, I don't have to find God among the throngs of people. He is my constant, indwelling companion. All His resources are at my disposal. The peace, power and positivity He demonstrated during His life and available to me 24/7.
Max writes that just as Jesus grew in Mary until He had to come out, so Christ will grow in us and come out in our actions and speech toward others. The trick is to not allow David to get in the way and make sure Jesus is coming out and not the sinful nature.
The "Christ in me" concept is so vital and yet so vague, at least to most Christians. I think it means that everything that comes out of my mouth, each of my actions, all of my attitudes, every one of my opinions, should be 100# Christ-like.
ReplyDeleteOf course, that is totally impossible, this side of heaven. But progress toward that goal is the aim. And the measuring of that progress is something that the Holy Spirit and I need to do together. If you run across anything that deals with how to measure day-by-day (week-by-week) progress in the "becoming Christ-like) challenge, let me know.