Willingness to obey Christ is to be a Christian. “If any man [Greek, tis, anyone] will do His will, he shall know” (John 7:17 KJV). Anyone who is willing to do God’s will, that is the key to being a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Whether we like it or not, we possess the status of being in the image of God by virtue of His creating us that way, but we can only possess Christlikeness through our willingness to do His will. “And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). His desire for us has always been we would desire Him as much as He desires us. The Holy Spirit was given by Christ to cause us to be willing. For us, believing (Acts 16:31), repenting (Acts 3:19), confessing Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9), giving up everything (Luke 14:33), being baptized as a loyalty oath (Acts 2:38) are certainly necessary, but a willing heart is our greatest gift to Him and His chief enjoyment of us. LORD, make it so. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Spirit of Christ
Repurposing the Messiah
Jehovah gave His Messiah to Israel for the same reason He gave the Spirit of Christ to the New Covenant Church. “And I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27 KJV). The intention of the LORD has always been to create a willing heart in His people. “Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power” (Psalm 110:3 KJV). It has always been about His children giving their heart to Yahweh. “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways” (Proverbs 23:26 KJV). It has not been simply to build a nation or church but to join Himself to His people. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV).
We Need A Miracle 