My standing in Christ means that my sins are forgiven, and this without any work or self-effort of mine. But I also am obliged to stand before You in responsibility, in immediacy and accountability. Elijah said the Lord was the One before whom I stand (1 Kings 17:1). These words chilled me, Lord. They warned me that standing in Christ is not the same as standing before You as a servant. His standing settles the problem of my sin; my standing deals with the matter of discipleship. I cannot possibly excuse myself from the second standing if I claim the first. How must I stand before You? Blameless! You said to Abraham, I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless (Genesis 17:1). This is your ideal for me, Lord. You desire my standing before you to be on unblameworthy, that is, characterized only by pure motives. My standing is acceptable to You only if I have clean hands and a pure heart (Psalm 24:4). I see what this means to me Lord. You will not tolerate your children resting in the finish work of Christ in such a way that their lives become sloppy and disgraceful. No, You call us to accountability for the way we live, for the way we use our time, talents, and energy. We are to face the enemy, not fresh from a slugabeds nap, but fresh from the glistening presence of a holy God. Thank You, Lord, that You encourage us in this: Then will I restore you, and you shall stand before Me (Jeremiah 15:19 Berkeley). The standing is essential and so is the restoring of God, which makes it possible. When then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32).
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 11:35:04 +0000
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