Just Give me Jesus!

The news about the death of Robin Williams has touched a lot of lives.  Sadly his suicide reminds me that possessions, money, success, talent… none of these last forever and they do not sustain our earthly lives, especially when illness is involved.  What does sustain us in daily living? For me, my answer is this: JUST GIVE ME JESUS!

We are to live in HIS FULLNESS daily. We are upheld, nourished, supported, assisted ,sustained, and guided by the completeness of our Lord Jesus. 

Colossians 1:19 (NLT)  For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ,

When we are filled with Jesus, we are able to keep everything else in our lives in a realistic perspective.  It is Jesus who gives every day living significance and richness.

John 1:16 (NLT)  From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.

Jesus gives a life full of joy and peace in spite of any circumstances we are experiencing.

John 15:11 (NLT)  I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

John 16:33 (NLT) I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

We live in the fullness of Jesus as His nature is developed in us by the Holy Spirit.   All that Christ is, the very fullness of His being, is given to us who believe—all His "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). We are complete in Him.

We are able to be filled with Jesus Himself and live in His fullness by living in The Basics.  We are Filled When:
First – We Immerse Our Self in His Word.  Read Scripture; read devotionals; listen to sermons. Read and listen to God’s word with a desire to understand and meditate on it.  Don’t have a “got to get this done” attitude.  Look at these suggestions – maybe pick one :

·         Read through the Bible in a Year (no, you do not have to wait ‘til Jan.)

·         Read one of Paul’s letters per month by reading one chapter a day.

·         Read through the Gospels over and over ….keeps Jesus’ time on this earth close to your heart

·         Keep a journal…lessons learned; questions to ask; blessings you are receiving

Second – Accept God’s Word as Absolute Truth. Spiritual truth can only come from the Word of God – no other teachings will bring you into a closer, personal relationship with God Almighty.

Third – Obey what you read and hear from God’s Word. Just knowing God’s Word without application is worthless…oooh, does that hurt to hear? Listen to Paul, 1 Corinthians 8:1 (NIV) …. We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.   It’s application which brings us fullness.

Fourth – Spend Time in Prayer. We cannot consistently do the first three …read, listen, apply… unless we stay in a constant state of prayer.
I repeat, for me, JUST GIVE ME JESUS!

Psalm 34:10 (NLT)  Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing.

Joyfully,

Yvonne