John 15:5b (NIV) If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

One of the biggest mistakes that Christians make in trying to live upright lives is trying to follow Jesus by their own effort and strength. As well intentioned as that may be, that is an impossible thing to do. When you look at the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus preached in Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7, you can quickly determine that you wont be able to do the things that Jesus said we must do if we are going to be His disciples. While we may have some limited success with a few of the commands in those chapters, there will never be any consistency in keeping up with them. The laws and commands of God are way over our head because we have a sinful nature that gets in the way of being able to obey them. And even if you can get to the point that it looks like you are obeying them outwardly, the reality is that if you are not obeying them from your heart, then it is not obedience. It becomes legalism, rituals and traditions that have no power to transform you. Jesus didn’t lay down His glory to come down to earth to make you a rule-follower. He came to make you into a brand-new person. The only way to get there is through Him.

In God’s divine wisdom, He knew that the only way that we can be changed from the inside out is for Him to dwell inside of us. That’s why Jesus revealed His plan for the greatest and most beautiful exchange that could ever happen. After you accept the atonement that was made for you by receiving Jesus into your heart as Lord and Savior, He comes to live in you. Then, He means for you to live in Him. He lives in you while you live in Him. You in your weakness live in Him and His power while He in His power lives in you to override your weakness. It’s a miraculous exchange that results in a transformation that is evident for all to see, starting with yourself. You will know that you have been changed. While it doesn’t happen in one fell swoop, the process begins as you surrender your life to Jesus completely. That means that you not only receive Him as your Savior, but that you also make Him your Lord and Master.

This beautiful and miraculous exchange is supported and sustained through prayer, meditation on God’s Word and through contact and fellowship with other believers. That is the food that keeps the exchange intact on a daily basis. While the Lord’s part is never in question, it is our flesh that we must be on the lookout for so that we can continually look to live in Him not only daily, but also moment by moment. It is then that we bear fruit for the Kingdom of God and that we learn the very important lesson that without Him, we can do nothing. Don’t try to live an upright life on your own but instead, make the beautiful exchange. Live in Jesus and He will live in you for victory after victory, no matter what the circumstances.

Pastor Joey Vazquez