Last week we prayed for all we need to live into what we hope: the glory Jesus shares with us. Because “we are children of God, and if children, heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:16-17), we make every effort to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” (Col. 1:10), compelled by our destiny to be who are truly in Jesus to our Father’s delight.
How can we live up to God’s pleasure in every moment? Such a calling is weighty and, honestly, a bit overwhelming at times. We each struggle daily to be in action and attitude the kind of people we hope to be, much less who God desires us to be. So what are we to do?
The author of Hebrews points the way for us,
…let us…lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before, looking to Jesus… (Heb. 12:1b-2a)
The laying aside is not a matter of moral perfection but the removal and overcoming of “all the obstacles of God’s love.” Every mis-weighted expectation and understanding of faith, every internal inkling of rebellion that would have us believe that God is not ever-with us, not wholly for us, that somehow we could exist in anything but His exhaustive love, removed and overcome…by looking to Jesus. Our effort is to look at Jesus and know the love of the Father. And with eyes fixed on Jesus, lay down any idea, expectation, or desire that would clash with the truth of His life and love given for and to us.
That is how we will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. And that is why we pray these words together—with and for one another:
Spirit of Truth, speak to our hearts and minds what is true. Guide us to all the truth of who Jesus is and who we are and are able to be in Him.
Helper, teach us the Way, the Truth, the Life that is Jesus. Bring to our remembrance all He has said, and even more so, all He has done for our sake to the Father’s approval.
Counselor, be with us and show us what mis-weighted expectations and understanding of life with God we carry. Advocate, examine our hearts for grievous ways that fall short of God’s glory for us.
Holy Spirit, strengthen us with your power to lay aside what you reveal so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith, removing and overcoming all obstacles that would keep us from comprehending the breadth and length and height and depth of Jesus' love which surpasses knowledge.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or imagine, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in Christ City Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.