Doing all things through Christ who strengthens me

When our eyes are opened to the abundant riches of God's grace to us through the finished work of Christ Jesus' work of salvation, we realize how high our calling is to live lifes worthy of His calling. He gave Himself for us. He substituted Himself, the perfect and sinless Lamb of God for sinful goats like us. In procuring our salvation purely through His grace, He then imputed His righteous life, with all the rewards and benefits of that life, to us, sorry sinners. Our basis? None whatsoever. Only the blood and life of the Lamb of God given for us.

Jesus Christ is the first-fruit. He came to bring many sons to glory. At the point of salvation, beginning with the regeneration of our lifes by His mighty Spirit, the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead, we too are raised with Christ, in union with Him, to new life.

Believing this, I now can understand that my life in Christ, as a new creation, is forever to be lived by faith and not by sight. Man is to live not by bread alone, but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God. Chiefly, He is our Life. He is our Bread from Heaven who always satisfies. And He gives us, from the Father, the Spirit of Life. This Spirit is the same Spirit of power, love and a sound mind.

Do I have any excuse to live a sub-standard, merely human life? Do I have any basis to live life at the natural plain? Or do I have any basis to drink from the old man? That old man was put off, and the new man, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God ordained before time for us, is our source. This new man has its life in Christ Jesus.

I indeed can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Whatsoever I do, I can do it with all my might, enthusiastically, as unto God, and not unto men! Indeed, all things are ours. Christ is ours. And we are Christ's.

How does this work out practically?

Let's say I am facing a difficult time in the office. Let's say that there's absolutely too much work. I can bring this matter to the Lord, and then, just trust Him that as I seek to do my very best in Him, He will give me the wisdom, and the strength, and even supernatural intervention, and thereby make a way through this time of testing.

And so on for every challenge in life. As I continuously 'hide in Christ' and recognize that I am a new creation in Christ, His grace, His abundant grace is always available to me, when I take that step of faith, to walk meekly and humbly before Him and man (in this case my colleagues and superiors), and trust His grace to continue to empower and enable me with all the resources of the kingdom of God to be salt and light even in this scenario.

No wonder the apostle Paul called us 'more than conquerors', but only if my source is Christ, and His new life lived in grace in and through me.

Hallelujah, what a Savior!