| Live -- Part of 1 (of 4) of Live Your Life |
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This is a four part series, the first three parts will focus on each of words of the title: "Live Your Life," and the last part will briefly tie them together.
Live
Live: (v) \'liv\ -- 1: to be alive 2: to continue alive3: to maintain oneself. (Merriam-webster Online).
Did you notice I chose the (intransitive) verb form of "Live"? This was intentional, not merely coincidental. I believe that we are called to action--living our life; not inaction or just subsiding--letting life happen.
Three verses I want to look at while we talk about Live-ing (yes, I know it is spelled l-i-v-i-n-g)--
Since "the last shall be first," let me start with the passage from Gospel of John.
This is the first verse that came to mind when this inspiration came to me. Unfortunately, what I had in my mind was another McGown paraphrase. [No lectures please, I understand how dangerous such things can be.] I remembered it as: "I have come so that you may have life more abundant"--close by no prize (I'm not allowed cigars). In this case, it's not so bad; I believe I captured the essence of the passage.
While NIV is my normal book of choice, my favorite for any given passage is almost always the Amplified Version. Once again, the extra dimension (through the verbiage) gives a powerful insight to this passage. It reads: "I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." "Till it overflows!" This is not letting life pass you by. This is not being 'so heavenly minded, that you're no earthly good.' This is not a passive concept. This is life so full that this earthly vessel can't contain it all. This is living life. This is action!
Of course, you can't look at the abundance without looking at the source--Christ. Why did Christ come to earth? To enslave, no. To overthrow, no. To take, no. No! Christ came to give life. "Give" nothing we can earn, nothing deserve, nothing we can buy--no matter our credit limit or score...GIVE. Not give a little, not give stingily. Christ gives "abundantly!" Christ gives and gives. Christ gave until it hurt--literally; and He is still giving today.
How did He give? Through His life and His Spirit. That brings us to Romans 8:1-17. DISCLAIMER: This is my favorite passage of scripture, it fits most situations in my life. In Romans 8:10-11specifically, we read that our spirit is alive "through" His Spirit, though our body is dead. We are alive because the Spirit "testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." We live our lives with Christ and through Christ. Notice the action? Nothing passive here.
The Ephesians passage puts a fine point on the passages in both Romans and John. Once again, I would like for you to look at this passage in the Amplified Version, the link above will take you to the NIV and KJV also. Did you read it?
There is nothing more I need to add to that.
There you have it...take action--LIVE. Live in Christ, be alive in Christ! |
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