The redemptive power of Christ within us is at work. It has been and it still is. But are we as willing to let Him love us? Or have we been disappointed on the way? Disillusioned. Maybe the wilderness has been your home for too long.
Scripture: Romans 8:13-15, Galatians 4:6-7, Philippians 3:7-9, Colossians 1:10 (Recovery Version)
How much more has the Father for us, His children, the ones He loves. But do we let Him? Do we let Him love us? Maybe your journey of faith started strong. You were full of passion and full of life. Your motive of serving was to infuse others with life and love and to share, what you had come to know personally.
When your passion started fading, you probably kept going. You prayed, you served, you listend to others. But as you reflect: Something's different, something's changed.
We cry "Abba!"
"For you have not received the spirit of slavery bringing you into fear again, but you have received a spirit of sonship in which we cry, Abba, Father!" (Romans 8:15)
Could it be that you are good at serving, but maybe you lost the gift of receiving?
The problem is that, if we are not able to receive from Him, we will fall back into the practices of the flesh.
"For if you live according to the flesh, you must die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the practices of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God" (Romans 8:13-14).
These verses speak less to us about the Spirit's leading us but more of us being led by the Spirit. We know that His Spirit is ready to lead us and that He craves to lead us, so maybe we must take the initiative (once more) to be led by Him. Instead of seeking after the Spirit, maybe we must put to death the old creation within us and accept that to follow the Spirit's leading is no hard work. He is present within us, dwelling in our renewed spirit, awaiting that we walk in a manner worthy of our calling (Col. 1:10).
His leadership is not an action, it is a person living within us: The triune God who is becoming the leader in our spirit if we are willing to let Him do what only He can do: Love us.
If we care about Him, if we really want to be with Him, we will be spontaneously led by Him.
If I'm a child of God, I cannot live my own life anymore. Through my agreement in taking on the redemption Christ offered, I become a debtor of Christ and my motive to serve is not mere thankfulness that He saved me and healed me, but I come to the realisation that every bit I count of value in my life I owe to Redemption (Phil 3:7-9). Through Redemption we have access to the Father "Abba", whom we can approach without fear. Just as Jesus was one with the Father and only did what He saw the Father do, we now are shareholders of the secrets of God.
True sonship – Leaders in the wilderness
As a leader, it can be intimidating to lose faith while in a leadership position. But remember that as children we do not crave to be used by our Father. We do not have to live in fear of losing our heritage, our position on earth, or in heaven. When we understand the power of sonship, we realize that we have a position of love that no one can take away from us. When we truly understand this, all comparison ceases. Empty deeds have an end. We consciously choose not to follow religious practices and enter into a deep and intimate relationship with the Father.
The joy of Christ was His self-surrender and self-sacrifice to His Father. We are not aiming to copy the works that Jesus did, but having the personal presence of the Holy Spirit working within us.