Power of Christ

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"It is not the thing we spend the most time on that moulds us most; the greatest element is the thing that exerts most power." - Oswald Chambers

Chambers here is talking about the Atonement of Christ. That what Jesus did on the cross is the single most powerful thing in the history of humanity and that event should be the driving force in our lives.  

I think of St. Paul who spent a great portion of his life studying, learning, and growing to become this great Jewish teacher, to be the absolute best. As he says, "If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless." All of this time and energy trying to prove himself, trying to be someone, something. His passion was there, his dedication was there, but as Thomas Merton stated, "People may spend their whole lives climbing the ladder of success only to find, once they reach the top, that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall." Thankfully Paul's eyes were opened (umm, well, kind of, because he did go blind for three days after seeing Jesus) to the fact that he was indeed climbing the wrong ladder..."as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do." 

So the question is, what is your life track? Are you changed from the Atonement? As Chambers puts it, "If the one central point, the great exerting influence in my life, is the Atonement of the Lord, then every phase of My life will bear fruit for Him." 

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