Some people wonder what the baptism in Christ is really about. Others talk about walking in resurrection power. A question worthy of considering is, how can you more fully tap into God’s capacity—His grace and favor. Focus for a moment on the point Jesus sought to make by raising Lazarus, a man who had been in a tomb for four days. He did this “for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may receive glory through it” (John 11:4 JNT).
Hear what Jesus declared: “I AM the Resurrection and the Life! Whoever puts his trust in me will live, even if he dies; and everyone living and trusting in me will never die” (John 11:25-26 JNT). The key is TRUSTING.
RELEVANCE
Everything Jesus did He did to glorify God. He came to express the love of God as well as the power of God. He came as the Messiah-King/Priest to be the final sacrifice and reconciliation for sin; that those placing faith in Him be justified before God in His righteousness.
He has accomplished more through His sacrificial blood than a single day of confession could ever possibly do! He defeated the enemy of our soul and won the battle over the power of sin and death. Placing our trust in the LORD, we become united with Him by faith. What does that accomplish?
The apostle Paul shared an interesting perspective. “I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!” (Philippians 3:10).
Paul understood the depth of what baptism–immersion in Christ–was really about. He gave up everything—comforts, relationships, even freedom to some degree—to know and experience the reality of the power of God. We all have such access. It does, though, require some sacrifices. It’s a matter of values and priorities. We all have the opportunity to seek God to know our calling and discover and discern His will for our lives. As we seek Him the Holy Spirit is faithful to speak to our heart. His grace is sufficient for whatever He may ask of us.
REFLECT AND RELATE
Paul embraced another profound principle; “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31). He made a daily decision to totally submit to Christ’s authority and Headship, or Lordship.
How can you see the reality of tapping into God’s capacity, and growing into the fullness of the measure of your capacity in God?
REFERENCES
John 11:1-44