Editor’s note: This is a reprinted column from Jack Purcell’s “On the Journey” archives. It originally appeared in The Star in 2013.
Do you wonder why the Christian life often seems to be a struggle? Have you come to the conclusion that there is no correlation between commitment and success in living the Christian life?
Is there a frequent sense of defeat when it comes to your walk with God? Do you think that the “abundant Christian life” is something beyond your grasp? Well, have I got news for you!
You may be surprised to know that you have no ability to live the Christian life. Furthermore, God has never expected you to live the Christian life.
That sounds like bad news but it’s really very good news because when you became a Christian you received an altogether new life – the life of Jesus. Yes, you probably know that God took up residence in your life, but did you know that he didn’t come to go dormant or hibernate?
He actually came to live His life, the Christian life, in and through you. Surely you haven’t been so presumptuous as to think that you could live Jesus’ life for him?
Oh, you have?
Well join the host of others that have fallen prey to the same position of defeat. You see, there is really only one Christian life, and that is Jesus. He took up residence in the form of the Holy Spirit within you so he could spread his life throughout the world. Your purpose is to cooperate through availability and obedience to the will of God.
I don’t know if you fully understand the significance of all this or not, but you are on the verge of enormous freedom. Jesus said, in John 10:10, “The thief’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.” (TLB)
The Apostle Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
So, if Jesus wants to live his life in you, and you at the same time are trying to live his life for him, do you see the conflict? So stop trying to do the impossible. It is terribly frustrating at best.
Tell God that you are turning in your resignation and giving him full permission to be himself in you. All you have to do is let him. You will begin to experience more of God and much greater freedom in your life. You will begin to understand why it has been so hard to live the Christian life in your own strength.
There are numerous places in the Gospels where Jesus tells those gathered around him to go and do the impossible.
“Pluck out your eye, cut off your hand, love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind.”
Why in the world would Jesus instruct people to do things he knew they couldn’t do? There can only be one reason. To help us see the utter futility of trying to be like Jesus in our own strength and ability.
Some of you are thinking “I love the Lord with my heart, soul, and body.”
Really? I think if you approach that with honesty you know you can’t pull it off. On the other hand, that is how Jesus very naturally loved the Father. Enough said.
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