Life in Christ: God's Provision

God's Provision: What We Receive at the Moment of Salvation

Colossians 2:9 — "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority."

1 Corinthians 1:30 — "It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God, that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption." You were placed into Christ by God's doing.

Luke 15:7, 10 — "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of God over one sinner who repents." The angels rejoiced at the moment you received God's forgiveness through salvation.

2 Corinthians 5:17 — "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" The Lord changed you by giving you a new nature; God changed you from the inside out by giving you Himself.

Ephesians 1:13 — "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit." The power of the Holy Spirit in you is the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead.

Ephesians 1:5 — "In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will." God adopted you. You are His child. That makes you part of the Royal Family. You are a daughter of the King of Kings, a princess. As part of the royal family, we have the responsibility to live responsibly in His power and authority.

Isaiah 1:18 — "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."

God's Provision: That Requires Action on My Part

1 Corinthians 3:16 — "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" How I live my life affects my personal relationship with Christ.

Colossians 3:12-14 — "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." He furnished a wardrobe so I can be royally clothed for the day.

Ephesians 6:10-18 — "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests."

God provided all I need to stand against the schemes of the devil, but I must take an active part.

Romans 6:11-12 — "In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires." It is my responsibility to flee evil desires and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace.

2 Timothy 1:7 — "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

1 John 4:18 — "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear."

I have the courage to do anything that the Lord gives me to do.

1 Corinthians 2:16 — "But we have the mind of Christ." Jesus gave me spiritual understanding, wisdom, and the mind of Christ. I must seek it.

Matthew 5:14, 16 — "You are the light of the world." "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." He has made His light shine in my heart. I am to let my light shine before men. I can choose to hide it (undercover Christian) or distort the beauty of His light by living a worldly life but saying I am a Christian.

Ephesians 4:11-16 — "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

1 Corinthians 12:4 — "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit." Ephesians 2:10 says we are created in Christ Jesus to do good works. Don't be selfish with the gifts He has given you.

Romans 8:26-27 — "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."

Ephesians 2:6, 2:18 — I have a direct line to God through prayer and the Holy Spirit. I am not to be one-sided in my relationship with God. A good relationship is two-sided. Be still and listen to Him. Let Him reveal a part of who He is to you.

My Response

I am loved and I am lovely to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am His unique creation and He delights in me. I am His highly favored child and belong to Him. I am protected by God and am filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit. I am never alone or without the fullness of Christ. I understand that I have the responsibility and authority to live my life in Christ Jesus. Thank You Lord for this truth and for Your faithful providence, provision and protection in my life. Amen.

Lord, here is my response to You, and to Your truth: