Jesus is pulling us closer in this time where in the natural there are statistics and there is evidence that so many are feeling emotionally burnt out and exhausted.
The solution is only found in being in a close union with Christ.
This over rules the disconnect and isolation that is sucking life from the world.
We are made to steward Life, to have it flow through and out of us.
Christ overcame death at the cross and resurrection.
Instead of feeling encaged, cramped and capped we can be boundless, limitless and alive by being fully alive in Christ.
We describe ourselves as Christians, a word which was only used 3 times in the bible.
The significant term used especially by Paul in the bible was not Christian but “ In Christ”.
In Ephesians especially he focuses on our changed identity in the first three chapters and our transformed life style in the next three.
At the beginning we discover who we are and what we are living for and wisdom tells us God’s plans never fail and this gives us hope that the world doesn’t have.
We are made to be spiritually alive and so especially in crisis we know God is pulling us close to sustain, nourish and keep us from withering with the rest of those looking to the world for help.
We are enabled by being in Him and this shifts our mindset away from the pressures and towards Him.
In His rest we can linger in the questions.
Lord what are you doing in me?
Lord what am I doing in You?
Knowing that Jesus has already prayed for us to be joined together in union with Him right now, after He had prayed for His disciples before His crucifixion.
God does not want us to go through or come out of this season stepping in our own strength but stepping grafted and in union with Him.
Anyone who the Son chooses to unveil and reveal this union to is in Christ and have the reality of being a Christian.
We do not strive for but build our life around this truth and allow it to infuse us.
This way the wisdom and knowledge become naturally our daily rhythm and actions.
This transforms us and heals us from weariness.
Jesus knows exactly what is required to fulfil us and in our obedience and submission He gifts us with His grace.
What He fulfils in each of us independently becomes a corporate fulfilment in the church, His body, His bride.
Biblically described to be in union with Christ also are:
As the source to sustain us as a living organism.
“I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches.”
As the intimate relationship of man and woman joined in matrimony.
“the two have become joined as one flesh. Marriage is the beautiful design of the Almighty, a great and sacred mystery— meant to be a vivid example of Christ and his church. “
As the living stones built together as a temple.
“Come and be his “living stones” who are continually being assembled into a sanctuary for God. “
As the body with Christ as the head and we the other members with differing functions.“You are the body of the Anointed One, and each of you is a unique and vital part of it.”
Where the world wallows in the question only as :
“Who am I ?”
We have an awareness of who we belong to because we have the answer to the question :
“Whose am I ?”
The enemy tries to steal this truth.
“A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. “
Yes we will have hard times in this world but it is not all walking in the valley of the shadow because the Light has dawned.
Being a Christian is not a belief in a God outside us.
It is faith in the one we are grafted in when we are born into Christ.
A God who states He is “At Hand” to remind us He is not afar but so close.
He is all we need to put our trust in and remain alive.
The illustration shows the vine as Jesus and us grafted in intimately as the branches destined to abundantly fruitful life.
We in Christ.
He in us.
The Light in the world pushing back darkness.
Eight Scriptures that come to mind:
“Through our union with Christ we too have been claimed by God as his own inheritance. Before we were even born, he gave us our destiny; that we would fulfill the plan of God who always accomplishes every purpose and plan in his heart.”Ephesians 1:11 TPT
“And I ask not only for these disciples, but also for all those who will one day believe in me through their message. I pray for them all to be joined together as one even as you and I, Father, are joined together as one. I pray for them to become one with us so that the world will recognize that you sent me. For the very glory you have given to me I have given them so that they will be joined together as one and experience the same unity that we enjoy. You live fully in me and now I live fully in them so that they will experience perfect unity, and the world will be convinced that you have sent me, for they will see that you love each one of them with the same passionate love that you have for me.”John 17:20-23 TPT
“Then Jesus exclaimed, “Father, thank you, for you are Lord, the Supreme Ruler over heaven and earth! And you have hidden the great revelation of your authority from those who are proud and wise in their own eyes. Instead, you have shared it with these who humble themselves. Yes, Father, your plan delights your heart, as you’ve chosen this way to extend your kingdom— by giving it to those who have become like trusting children. You have entrusted me with all that you are and all that you have. No one fully and intimately knows the Son except the Father. And no one fully and intimately knows the Father except the Son. But the Son is able to unveil the Father to anyone he chooses.”Matthew 11:25-27 TPT
“I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from me you are powerless.”John 15:5 TPT
“For this reason a man is to leave his father and his mother and lovingly hold to his wife, since the two have become joined as one flesh. Marriage is the beautiful design of the Almighty, a great and sacred mystery— meant to be a vivid example of Christ and his church. So every married man should be gracious to his wife just as he is gracious to himself. And every wife should be tenderly devoted to her husband.”Ephesians 5:31-33 TPT
“So keep coming to him who is the Living Stone—though he was rejected and discarded by men but chosen by God and is priceless in God’s sight. Come and be his “living stones” who are continually being assembled into a sanctuary for God. For now you serve as holy priests, offering up spiritual sacrifices that he readily accepts through Jesus Christ.”1 Peter 2:4-5 TPT
“You are the body of the Anointed One, and each of you is a unique and vital part of it.”1 Corinthians 12:27 TPT
A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect —life in its fullness until you overflow!”John 10:10 TPT
The song There’s No Other Name. Hannah. McClure
https://youtu.be/D2e6-TUtswI
Lessisgreater 