The first two people chose to ignore God’s initiative.
In the Bible the first two people choose human analysis and their own initiative instead of trust in and obedience to God. Not much has changed. Unless we begin to notice and follow the initiatives of God’s Spirit we may embrace religion, but we won’t be led by the Spirit. Christ’s initiatives, His sparks in human hearts, are too often ignored.
If Christ is in you be ever conscious of and guided by His presence. Train yourself to be sensitive to and appreciative of the initiative of God’s Spirit. Learn to let the Holy Spirit continually initiate and motivate your thoughts and behaviors. When we lay down our initiative and fully cooperate with Christ’s, we begin to experience the Lord’s prayer–God’s will being done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Many people have never heard that Jesus wants to initiate hope and healing in their heart, so they gravitate away from Him. Instead courageously open your heart to ponder and meditate on the presence of Jesus. Cooperate with Him so He can initiate and establish His will deep within you. Let the initiative of the Spirit (not your own desires) guide and direct you day by day.
Bravely notice the movement of God within your heart. Then be courageous enough to align yourself with and surrender to His will for you. Religion tends to sedate people. Jesus wants to initiate a supernatural way of life in your heart. Be courageous and let Him.
Resist, refute, and reject anything inside you that tries to hinder your ability to be conscious of and cooperative with the initiative of God’s Spirit. Dare to let the living Jesus initiate and navigate your decisions.
Theology presented in a sermon without the theology of directly encountering the living Jesus is empty words. Many people can’t see the living, daily present Jesus because church has blocked their view.
Until Christians are trained to open our heart and be vulnerable, Christianity will be mostly a head religion. Are you aware of what Jesus wants to initiate in your heart today? Why or why not?
Embracing the messy brokenness
Of the way of the Cross
In your own life
Leads to astonishing connection
To the power of Christ’s resurrection
Working in you
To will and to do
What you could never do
Without Christ living in you.
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