Dear Church,
 
Paul writes to the Ephesians, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph 2:10).  Meaning, God creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the good works God has prepared for us to do. This good work can only be fulfilled in the energy and power of the Spirit of Jesus living in us.  Jesus is our model for this.  Jesus lived his life on earth in the power and wisdom of his Father.  Jesus says in John 5:19, “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing.”  The same principle remains true for us.  Jesus says in John 15:5, “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
 
So here is a question, how much can we do without Jesus?  Nothing!  So, what is everything you and I can do without Jesus?  Nothing!  So, is there a possibility that some of us are very busy in life doing nothing?  This is true not just in our personal life but also in ministry.  There is this possibility that if we do not discover this principle, we could spend a lifetime in the service of Jesus doing nothing.  John 6:63 says, “The Spirit (everything we do of Him, through Him, to Him and In Him) gives life; the flesh (Everything we do apart from Him) counts for nothing.”  This is what Paul meant “For me to live is Christ.” (Phil 1:21a)  Paul again states this truth in Romans 6:11, “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Here is a question to ponder, Is it that the only person that God credits with the right to live in us is Jesus Christ?  Every step we take, everything we say, do or think, everything we should be is an expression of the Christ in us.  This is the born-again life we see articulated by Paul in Romans 12:1, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
 
An offering of our whole self, a surrender of our entire life to the Eternal Spirit of the living God, that all that we do on earth as human beings may be His work in and through us.  Let’s not be busy in life doing nothing.
 
Be Encouraged,
 
Mathews