Have you ever noticed that a person who tries to live the Christian life by his or her own strength is like an underpowered stove? It may surge ahead for a short burst, but it will finally burn out. In like manner, a Christ follower may suffer from a lack of power and never achieve God’s intended purpose.

What happens when we as believers discover that Jesus desires to live through us, empowering us with His strength? Henry Ford didn’t invent the automobile, he discover a way to make them less expensive (with the assembly line) for the average family. In my experience, the Christian life is full of wonderful discoveries, too. First, I discovered there was a God who created the universe. Then I discovered this same God loves me so much that He sent His Son Jesus to die on an Old Rugged Cross for my sins. Then I discovered if I put my trust/faith in Jesus, all my sins could be forgiven and I would have an eternal home in heaven. Those are pretty amazing discoveries!

The Christian life is not ME trying to imitate Jesus, but that Jesus lives in me and wants to live His life through me. C.S. Lewis, one of the most brilliant Christian minds of the 20th century understood this truth. He wrote: “When Christians say Christ is in them, they do not mean simply something mental or moral. This is not simply a way of saying that they are thinking about Christ or copying Him. They mean that Christ is actually operating through them.” (Mere Christianity, p. 64.) Is Christ operating through you? If He isn’t, you’re only operating with partial power and that makes you weak. Get plugged in to the proper power source and let Jesus live His life through you!!

If you don’t have a life verse, try this one on for size. If you’re a TRUE Christian, it should fit.

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20