MAKE 2015 YOUR BEST YEAR

“All I have is yours.”  The words of my Heavenly Father were heavy but they made the burden I was carrying light.  I had finally come to the realization that I was emotionally bankrupt.  Incapable of mustering up the virtue I needed in a particular relationship, I knew I couldn’t fake it.  I had nothing left to do but to confess that I was unable to produce what was required of me.  That’s when the phrase “all I have is yours” rang loud and true.

God possesses in Himself what we could never attain in our own strength.  Perfect steadfastness and faithfulness. This includes love for the unlovable.  After all, forgiveness is for the undeserving.  And the good news:  All of those gifts are ours for the taking in Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Ephesians 1:2 (ESV)

I’m reminded of the older brother in Jesus’ story of the prodigal son.  He sees his Father lavishing gifts on his prodigal brother and is angry; the kid didn’t deserve those gifts because he unfaithful to the father.  He, on the other hand was deserving, yet his father never seemed to take notice.  Upon expressing his complaint, the father responds with an interesting statement.  “All I have is yours.”  I suspect that  the older son never asked His Father for anything.  He thought his hard work earned him a place at the table when, in reality,  he already had a place at the table because of the love of the father.

I say all this because it’s New Year’s.  It’s a time when we evaluate our lives and make commitments to change.  We promise to “try harder,” to be more disciplined, to get in shape (that’s mine). The problem is that we’re seeking to draw our strength from an empty well.  Apart from Christ our best efforts are failures in disguise.

What if I told you that there is an inheritance waiting for you?  And that that inheritance provides all  you need to live the abundant life God has called you to?

Here’s the truth:  You have an inheritance waiting for you.  That inheritance is Christ Jesus.  In Him, you have all you could ever need for life.  And the best part – He’s not far off.  You don’t have to travel to some distant place to access Him.  If you’ve chosen to follow Him, His Spirit is inside of you.

To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.  Colossians 1:27 (ESV)

When you come to Christ, you are relieved of the responsibility to create the best version of yourself.  You now become the workmanship of God.  It is He who is now at work in you, fashioning you into His likeness.

So in 2015, I challenge  you to ask Jesus to reveal what He desires for you this year.  As it is revealed, go to Christ, who is your inheritance and ask for the heavenly resources to make it so.

To read more of Ben Sadler’s writing and learn about Ben and Heidi Sadler’s ministry, click on Chasing Ebenezer.