You CAN'T Do It!

The life of a Christ follower--it's SUPPOSED to look...well, more and more like Jesus!

...so why doesn't it,on so many occasions?

Why is it that we see people who claim to be Christians, but their lives don't 'measure up'? They're too irritable...they're greedy...they're gossips...you name it!

Why would their lives be so out of step with Jesus?

...why is MY life so out of step with Jesus at times?

There are probably a few big reasons, but one of them (as I mentioned in church yesterday) is that WE TRY TO LIVE LIKE JESUS IN OUR OWN POWER!

We accept God's gracious gift of Life, by faith in Jesus...we understand that we can't "earn" that, and therefore we accept His gift...but then we try to 'make ourselves more like him' in our strength. "Maybe if I just try harder", "Maybe I'm not really committed", "Maybe I'm too far gone for even God to change me." "Maybe it's just the way I am!"

All of these are understandable...but wrong!

The Truth is that we were never meant to be able to 'live like Jesus' in our own strength. OUR effort is NOT the key.

The Key? God's Holy Spirit!

2 Peter 1:3 "By HIS DIVINE POWER, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life." The power was never meant to come from us...but from Him!

God's Holy Spirit DOES have everything necessary to change our lives--and make us more like Jesus. Our part is to choose to 'keep in step with the Spirit' and let Him produce that "fruit" in our lives (Galatians 5:16-25).

The Apostle Paul knew this. He said that the "power" with which he himself was changed...and the power with which he became one of the Leaders of the Church...was NOT from Himself, but from the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 4:7 "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."

When we struggle to 'live like Jesus', it MAY be because we're relying on self-effort, not yielding ourselves to God's Holy Spirit.

But there's good news! The Spirit is ready, willing, and able to transform us and produce Christ-like LIFE within us! We don't have to wonder or doubt--He HAS GIVEN us EVERYTHING we need for living a godly life!

This week, when challenged to 'live it out', deliberately say a quick prayer, asking God's Holy Spirit to empower you and fill you...and watch Him work as you "keep in step" with Him.

Getting your 'power' from the right power source...it changes everything!