>>

 

Christopher Powers, Instagram, @fullofeyes

DAY 14, OUR PROBLEMS ARE SOLVABLE

What is God’s solution to our problems? How can we grow to be happy and strong Christians?

Jesus said,

“Remain joined to me, and I will remain joined to you.” (John 15:4 NIRV)

And this quote the same idea of consistency and surrender,

“Abiding in Christ means a constant receiving of His Spirit, a life of unreserved surrender to His service.” Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages (1898), p.676

TWO-PART SOLUTION

This two-part divine solution for our central problem is at the same time the way to a happy Christian life. Why? Jesus commented on these words,

“These things I have spoken to you, that My Joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:11 NKJV

Through these two steps, [1] continually receiving the Holy Spirit and [2] complete surrender to His service.

Christ lives in us and this is the way to perfect happiness.

Colossians 1:27 speaks about the riches of the glory, Christ in you.

“To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Isn’t it remarkable that Jesus embedded this parable of the vine in between the promise for the Holy Spirit in John 14 and the work of the Holy Spirit in John 16?

The crucial point is that we (as a rule) daily remain in Jesus, including everything we are and have and that we also daily ask and receive by faith the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Our daily death to what culture (even Christian culture) ascribes value to — fame, comfort, power, pleasure, money — is what positions us to multiply. It is only when we are dead that we can freely give ourselves away to others without thinking, What’s in it for me?

The Message paraphrases John 12:24 this way,

“Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over.”

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

  1. What is your usual rationale to solve problems?

  2. What is the steps necessary for “ God’s remodeling” of your heart?

  3. What does solving the problem has too do with being fruitful?