GOD’S WORD FOR APRIL 26 ~ ~ Ephesians 2:10 ~ ~ “ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
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We are reading in Andrew Murray’s classic book, “Abide in Christ.”
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What confident trust this faith inspires, not only as to being kept in safety to the end, but also as to being able to fulfill the object for which I have been united to Christ. The branch is as much in the charge and keeping of the husbandman as the vine; his honor as much concerned in the well-being and growth of the branch as of the vine. The God who chose Christ to be the Vine fitted Him thoroughly for the work He had to perform as the Vine. The God who has chosen me and planted me in Christ has thereby engaged to secure, if I will but let Him by yielding myself to Him, that I in every way be worthy of Jesus Christ!
Oh! That I might only fully realize this! What confidence and urgency it would give to my prayer to the God and Father of Jesus Christ! How it would quicken (enliven) the sense of dependence and make me see that praying without ceasing is indeed the one need of my life – an unceasing waiting, moment by moment, on the God who has united me to Christ, to perfect His own divine work, to work in me both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
And what a motive this would be for the highest activity in the maintenance of the fruitful branch of life! Motives are mighty powers; it is of infinite importance to have them high and clear. Here, surely, is the highest:
“ You are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works” ( Ephesians 2:10), grafted by Him into Christ, unto the bringing forth of much fruit.
Whatever God creates is exquisitely suited to its end. He created the sun to give light: how perfectly it does its work! He created the eye to see: how beautifully it fulfills its objective! He created the new man unto good works: how admirably it is fitted for its purpose!!!
Of God I am in Christ, created anew, made a branch of the vine, fitted for fruit bearing. Would to God that believers would cease looking most at their old natures and complaining of their weaknesses as if God called them to what they were not fitted for! If only they would believingly and joyfully accept the wondrous revelation of how God, in uniting them to Christ, has made Himself chargeable for their spiritual growth and fruitfulness!
How all sickly hesitancy and sloth would disappear, and under the influence of this mighty motive – the faith in the faithfulness of Him of whom they are in Christ – their whole nature would rise to accept and fulfill their glorious destiny!
O my soul, yield yourself to the mighty influence of the Word:
“Of God are you in Christ Jesus”!!!. It is the same God through whom Christ is made all that He is for us, through who we also are in Christ, and will most surely be made what we must be to Him. Take time to meditate and to worship until the light that comes from the throne of God has shone into you and you have seen your union to Christ as indeed the work of His almighty Father.
Take time, day after day, and in your entire life, with all it has of claims and duties, of needs and wishes, let God be everything. See Jesus as He speaks to you, “Abide in Me.”(John 15:4), pointing upward and saying, “My Father is the husbandman.” Of Him you are in Me, through Him you abide in Me, and to Him and to His glory will be the fruit you bear.”
And let your answer be, “Amen, Lord! So be it.” From eternity, Christ and I were ordained for each other; inseparably we belong to each other. It is God’s will; I will abide in Christ. It is through God alone that I am in Christ Jesus.