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Life-Union With Christ

...That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You. (John 17:21)

What, then, is union with Christ? It is union with Him as the new creation, as the new creation Man; union with Him in the Life which is the life of the new creation by the Spirit of Life. What is the meaning of that union? It is that only by such union can God's works be done. What governed Him in relation to the Father governs us. Nothing can be done except on the ground of this union. It is not a matter of action, or of undertaking for God, however well intentioned. What we see as seeming necessary to be done for the Lord's glory is not the criterion of service. Many things are embarked upon by the mere simple, though honest and sincere, judgment of the heart, when confronted by what is judged as something to be done for God, something needing to be done. A tragic situation, for example, calls for action; we have the means to meet that situation, and so we embark upon it for the Lord. A vast variety of undertakings have been embarked upon in that way, from that basis, and the Lord Jesus in this chapter says, "No! Not so!" He is not governed by the apparent demand of a situation. He is not governed by the impact of things upon Himself, as calling for an undertaking.

With Him it is a question of what God is doing, and doing just at the particular time. With one object, God does different things at different times, and has a different emphasis from time to time, and those who are really in union with Christ have to be governed by that which Christ at that particular time is Himself undertaking, is giving Himself to: "...what things soever He doeth these the Son also doeth in like manner." It is a matter of what God is doing, and life-union with Him in Christ for the accomplishment of that.

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it. § You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.

He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand … The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore. § I, the Lord, keep it, I water it every moment; lest any hurt it, I keep it night and day.

Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me … While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept.

The Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

Num. 6:24;  Prov. 10:22;  Ps. 5:12;   Ps. 121:3,5,   Ps. 121:7,8;  Isa. 27:3;  John 17:11,12;  2 Tim. 4:18

Jesus wept.

A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. § We do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses. § It was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. § Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away. I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.

How He loved him! § He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

John 11:35;  Isa. 53:3;  Heb. 4:15;   Heb. 2:10;   Heb. 5:8;  Isa. 50:5,6;  John 11:36;  Heb. 2:16,17

Bench, Or Arena?

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator" (1 Pet. 4:19).

Initially, all we are able to trust God for is our justification. During this stage we are usually satisfied to remain spectators in the battle of life. Later, when we know Him better and are thereby able to trust Him more fully, we become willing to let our Father take us down into the arena and make us participators. "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" (2 Tim. 2:4).

"If you would know victory you must have conflict; it is ridiculous to talk about having a victorious life when you have never been in conflict. You must be prepared to enter the arena with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and He will give you lessons day by day. No one can enjoy freedom without paying the price, even in the ordinary values of life. If you would know what it is to triumph, you must certainly pass through tribulation. If you want patience, then it is tribulation; if you want victory there must be conflict."

"Does Paul regret the thorn in the flesh that drew forth words that have comforted countless millions? Do the men for whom the winds were contrary wish they had been spared the storm that brought their Lord to them, walking on the sea, and caused Him to speak that immortal It is I; be not afraid'?"

"The things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel" (Phil. 1:12).

God, My Wisdom (Study In God - All I Need-26)

Yours Completely