Everything good that we have comes from God. Whether we realize it or not, we have received it as a gift. We are not the source of anything. God alone is the source. So why is it so hard to actually live as though this is really true? Our fallen natures get in the way.
I’ve been reading a book by Watchman Nee, a Chinese Christian man, entitled “The normal Christian Life”, originally published in 1957. In it he talks about how the human soul has been overdeveloped ever since the Fall of man. At that time the first man and woman chose to follow the way of independence from God—to live according to their own volition, to be in effect their own god. That’s what Nee means by the overdevelopment of the soul. It’s the “I am my own person”, “I can and will chart my own course” sort of attitude. Well you can but where does this lead?
Nee makes it clear that it is not that we don’t need a soul—a personality, a sense of selfhood. But the human soul was meant to be dependent upon the One who is the source of all things and from whom alone life arises. Everything else is really death masquerading as or mimicking life. When we receive new life in and from Jesus we begin to truly live. We start by receiving him into our lives and hearts. But we still struggle to continue in receiving mode. Because of our fallen natures we still act with a sense of independence from God.
When we arise each day, we have a fresh start and a chance to make a choice. Will we receive what God wants to give us today? After His Resurrection Jesus said to His disciples, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:22) James writes to us, “and receive with meekness the implanted Word which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21)
When I look back over my life I realize God was continually planting His Word by means of His Spirit in my heart—through Bible stories in Sunday school, through the Children’s Bible that my mother read to me, through the Word preached when my parents listened to Billy Graham. This led me to listen and respond to the message of salvation myself and I prayed to receive the Lord when I was fifteen. But I didn’t know that I had to go on receiving. I wandered far from the Lord until, by the age of 32, He had drawn me back.
Since then, the Lord has made it clear to me over and over again that I am to go on receiving from Him every day. Some days I get into receiving mode more easily than others. The more I do, the more there is peace in my heart and grace to walk in the path Jesus has set before me.
In this Resurrection season of the Father’s Love, take time to receive what the Lord has for you. Soak in His goodness and love. Be refreshed and strengthened. Be saturated in His Presence.
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