So Walk In Him
“As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,”
(Colossians 2:6)
“rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:7)
I was teaching this lately and the Lord reminded me of something. In essence, verse six says this: “Since you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.”
This is an encouragement from the Apostle Paul for us to have a habitual lifestyle that reflects that we have received Jesus as our Lord...as our Owner.
A while back the Lord spoke to me about this verse and this is what He said to me:
“You know....there is another way to view that verse: ‘As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,’ (Colossians 2:6)”
He said, “Some people receive Me merely as fire insurance - to keep from going to hell and their habitual lifestyle reflects it. They do not live as if I were their very life - because they didn't receive Me for Life. So, they live as those who have escaped danger...but not necessarily as ones who honor Me moment by moment. These are those who receive me only as their Savior.”
“Others receive Me as One who gives them what they want. This is because I have been shared with them as One who will give them whatever they want – whenever they want it. These do not honor Me with their lives at all and often have no experiential assurance of their salvation. I am merely a benevolent grandfather to them.”
“Others still receive me as Lord but not as Savior and not as their Life. They are never sure that they are saved and rarely ask Me for anything. They miss out on My provision and the security of their salvation for which I paid so dearly.”
“As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,”
(Colossians 2:6)
Few.....far too few....receive Me as Lord and Savior. These few receive me as their Life. These benefit from all I have always intended to be for them.
“For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
“For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.” (Romans 14:8-9)
“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.” (1 John 4:14)
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
“When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3:4)
This is what the Lord shared with me. I urge all who read these words to examine their hearts and ask the Lord to reveal to us just how we have received Him.
He wants to function freely as our LORD...our Owner. He doesn’t want us to carry burdens as our own because they do not belong to us. Fears, anxiety, unforgiveness, bitterness, territoriality.....greediness - all these come from not allowing Jesus to practice His Ownership of us.
We belong to Him.
He wants to be our SAVIOR...not just from hell...but from sin...and from the traps that the wicked one lays to ensnare us. We don’t have what it takes to be our own saviors. If we did, there would never have been a reason for Jesus to come. Yet He did come, because we needed that.
He wants to be our LIFE. He wants to provide all those things He has designed our souls to need: love, value, acceptance, purpose and security. We cannot adequately provide for ourselves. This is why HE is named Jehovah-Jireh (The Provider) and we are not. He wants to protect us from need.
It’s time for us to stop walking after the flesh...trying to provide for ourselves and protect ourselves. It’s time to actively depend upon Him - moment by moment. It’s time to make it our habitual lifestyle....to walk after the Spirit.
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” (John 15:13-14)
And, finally, He wants to be our Friend - to be with us, comforting us, companioning with us. It’s time to stop creating our own comfort, which never lasts.
As we have received Jesus - as Lord, Savior, Life and Friend, let’s walk in Him. Let’s make that our habitual lifestyle.
Pastor Mike McInerney
Mike McInerney Ministries, Inc.
Decatur, TX 76234
© May 11, 2011
(For use with permission)