Imagine we could live 100% Christiainity, that is to almost 100% of its potential. This article looks at some keys to this.
What is 100% Christianity?
There are two truths that we believe in. Firstly, that God is supremely good and therefore as a loving Father He wants the best for us in every area of our lives. He has a huge desire to give good gifts to His children, the best of everything (Mt 7:7-11). I believe in the God of the 100%. Did not God give Naaman the skin of a child when He healed him?
Secondly, that when Jesus died for us, He made the way open to experience intimacy with God and that because of Jesus, every promise God has made is “Yes” in Christ (2 Cor 1:20).
So imagine if we took full advantage of what God offers us through Jesus? We would live close to 100% Christianity. God offers us peace, so why not 100% peace? He offers us joy, so why not 100% joy? God offers us wisdom, so why not 100% wisdom whenever we need? He offers us true intimacy with Him, so why not 100% intimacy? The list is actually huge, because there are so many promises of God.
Now I understand that the complete fulfilment and consummation of Christian experience will only be 100% realised in heaven or when Jesus returns. But who says we can’t get very close on earth? Jesus says, “Be perfect therefore as your Heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48).
This is not some impossible aim or wishful thinking. God has given us everything we need to live the godly life (2 Pet 1:3).
The Example of Brother Lawrence
Brother Lawrence, during autumn,had a revelation from watching the leaves dying and then being rejuvenated. He grasped the power of the resurrection and God’s grace to believe in the ‘impossible’ for his life, that is 100% walking with God and 100% ability to renounce worldly thoughts DAILY. So he then began to live this.
Brother Lawrence was renowned for living in the presence of God all the time, that is close to 100% intimacy with God. He also testified to an almost daily experience of the joy of the Lord.
Key 1 to living 100% Christianity
God’s promises are all true. What is lacking is our faith to take hold of these promises. We don’t really believe in the full extent of Christianity and what God offers us, so we settle for a sub-standard Christian life instead.
All the gifts of God are received by faith, so we must exercise faith to take hold of all these promises to their full extent. This is why without faith we cannot please God (Heb 11:6). Faith chooses to believe who God really is and then applies this practically. God loves it when we do this.
So we should aim for 100% in everything! Pursue all the promises of God for 100% fulfilment.
Key 2 to living 100% Christianity
It also means believing in the grace of God 100% because the process of believing for 100% in all areas requires grace. Brother Lawrence says that the higher the perfection we want the greater the grace we need. So the greater needs to be our dependence and faith in this grace.
Scripture testifies to the sufficiency of God’s grace for any need or situation. When Paul experienced his thorn in the flesh and great weakness, God said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you.” (2 Cor 12:10). In Phil 4:13, Paul declares, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
The problem is that we often don’t believe that the grace of God is unlimited for us, so we don’t take advantage.
Conclusion
In 2017 let’s set the bar high and exercise our faith to believe Him for greater things for our lives. Let’s ask for grace to live a 100% Christianity in every area of our lives and see what He does in response to our faith!