Complete in Christ

By Hallie Gipson

When we think of being complete in Christ, is that a reassuring thought or something we feel inadequate to ever become? And just what does being “complete in Christ” mean?

Perhaps to understand the concept better we need to define ‘complete’ and look to the scripture to gain a Biblical perspective.  But first let’s take a look at how the dictionary defines ‘complete’. Webster’s dictionary defines “complete” as – entire; whole; perfect.

According to Biblical commentary, “whole” is to give the idea of perfected all over or fully developed in every part.

Hebrews 12:2 says “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”

             We should concentrate on Jesus who is the goal and objective of our faith. Our faith, which has its beginning in Him, is also completed in Him.

In James 1:4 the word ‘complete’ is coupled with the word ‘mature’ – the phrase states “mature and complete, not lacking anything”.

Col. 2:9-10 –”For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ . . . “

             Here Paul is declaring that the Christian is complete in Christ, rather than being deficient. Are you beginning to get the concept? We have been given this gift of ‘fullness’ if we are in Christ!

2 Peter 1:3 says: “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”

Did you hear that!? – EVERYTHING we need – not part or some of what we need but EVERYTHING!

So, if something is complete there is no need to add to it – as Christians we do have “everything we need . . . through our knowledge of Him . . . “

His divine power has given us all the things we need to live life to the full. God has made every provision for our life in Christ and our godliness of life for Him.

Do we live as if we believe that? Do we really believe that we are complete in Christ?

The secret to knowing God’s complete sufficiency is in coming to the end of everything in ourselves and our circumstances. I can tell you truthfully that is exactly where God wants us – at the end of ourselves. Only then can He work His marvelous plan and begin molding us into His likeness.

My question then is this –

Are we so completely His that all areas of our lives are surrendered to Him?

If not, what is it that keeps us from living as if we have “everything we need”?

• Is our faith lacking?
• Do we have fears that keep us in bondage?
• Have we learned to call Jesus “Friend” because we have a deep abiding relationship with Him or is He a like a distant relative we rarely see or talk to?
• Is our prayer life filled with the power of the Holy Spirit or do we feel as if our prayers barely reach the ceiling?
• Do we just muddle through those times of difficulties and trials on our own, or do we draw on Christ’s strength to give us victory despite our circumstances?

How do we become “whole” and “complete” Christians?

We know that there is no “perfection” this side of heaven – but we also know that we are on a journey toward perfection in Christ and that we are admonished in scripture to love as Christ loved us (John 15:12); to have the same attitude as that of Christ (Phil. 2:5); to live by faith (Gal. 2:20); to pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17); and to consider it pure joy when we face trials (James 1:2).

Holy Father, may we be “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” – that You will allow the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to make us “Complete in Christ”. For if we have Christ, we have ALL of God – we are ‘complete’!  Amen.

The Giver of Gifts

Our God is such a beautiful Giver of Gifts!

Some of His best gifts are the friendships I've made over the years as we've relocated numerous times.  We've been privileged to be a part of many wonderful church families.

I would like to introduce Hallie Gipson, one of these special friends,  to the readers of this blog.  You will learn more about her in her "About Me" sidebar.  She will be sharing some of her articles and devotionals as blog posts on this site.  One of Hallie’s devotional writings was included in a book titled “Women at Southern: A Walk Through Psalms”, published by The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Communications Office. 

That book is a treasured part of my devotional books library and I know it will bless any of you who might choose to read it too. If you are interested in obtaining a copy of this book, you can contact Lifeway Christian Bookstore, Southern Seminary, Louisville, KY at  502-897-4506 or southernseminary.4689@lifeway.com. The proceeds of the sale of this book go toward scholarships for women at Southern Seminary.

Thank you to all who read this blog and we especially  want to thank you for your prayers. We are praying for you as well and would love to hear what God is doing in your lives.

The Answer Is...

Jesus.  No matter what the question is, the answer is Jesus.

What are you struggling with today that seems to have no solution?

Turn to Jesus and cling to Him; don’t give up calling upon Him.  He holds the solution to all our situations, circumstances, and life issues.  No matter how long it’s been going on, no matter how dark the future looks because of it, no matter whether another human can understand our desperation, HE DOES.

He does not ignore the one who calls out to Him, He never turns away from the one who comes to Him.  He promises that we will find Him when we search for Him with all our hearts.  Go to the Word of God and seek His face.

Seek His face, don’t stop calling to Him for the help you need.  He always gives it.  Especially when we cannot see what He is doing, He is working. 

When it seems most obvious to us that He isn’t working on our behalf, we must commit to operate on faith:  believing Him when we see no evidence of His help on the horizon.

Additionally, let us ask Him in whole-hearted sincerity if there is something in us that is hindering His help at the present time.  Let us search His Word seeking His answer. 

I was recently reminded of an incident from an earlier time in my life in one of my former (and very favorite!) churches.  Our pastor would always give us an opportunity at the beginning of our Sunday morning worship services to bow our heads in prayer and ask the Lord to bring to our minds any un-confessed sin in our hearts.

On one particular morning, I am embarrassed to say that in my smug and childish immaturity, I bowed my self-righteous little head and repeated the prayer.  I remember to this day my startled reaction to what my Father told me.  I don’t recall the sin, but I repented of it and sincerely asked for His forgiveness, which He freely gave.

Isn’t it an amazing wonder that a child of God could grow so complacent in her relationship with holy God that, in the first place any un-confessed sin could live in her heart and she be so unaware; and second, that she could be so self-righteous within herself that she would entertain for a moment the very thought that she had no particular sin?!

I am so grateful for the time to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior.  God gives us time to grow up in Him.  And, oh, how I need my growing time! I have so much to learn and I am far from spiritual maturity!

 I am still growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Daily I am confessing my sins and receiving His forgiveness and His continuing teaching and guidance. And more opportunity for growing-in-grace time is given me every day.   What a great God we have!

No matter what questions we grapple with today or what situations and circumstances we may struggle with today, or tomorrow, the answer is still …

Jesus.  No matter what the question is, the answer will always and forever be:  Jesus.

“Therefore tell the people:  This is what the LORD Almighty says:  ‘Return to Me,’  declares the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty.”  Zechariah 1:3.

“… For the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate.  He will not turn His face from you if you return to Him.”  2 Chronicles 30:9b.

“You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:13.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:6.

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”  Colossians 4:2.

 “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24.

“So foolish, stupid, and brutish was I, and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.  Nevertheless I am continually with You:  You do hold my right hand.  You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to honor and glory.  Whom have I in heaven but You?  And I have no delight or desire on earth besides You.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the Rock and firm strength of my heart and my portion forever. …  But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God and made Him my refuge, that I may tell of all Your wonderful works.”              Psalm 73:22-26, 28 (Amplified Bible).

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  I John 1:8,9.

“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.  Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.  … Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity.  I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.’  And You forgave the guilt of my sin.  Therefore let all the faithful pray to You while You may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them.  You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”  Psalm 32:1-2, 5-7.

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”         Matthew 11:28-30.

Jesus said: “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have perfect peace and confidence.  In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]!  For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]”                                   John 16:33 (Amplified Bible).

 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners,  so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”            Hebrews 12:1-3.

 “… To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:  Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.  His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.”  2 Peter 1:1b-3.

“I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”       Ephesians 3:16-19.

“For no word from God will ever fail.”     Luke 1:37.

{Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™}

It's Been A Tough Year, But I Made It!!!

How About You???

Have you heard the one about the chicken with its feathers nearly pulled completely out?!

Quite some time ago, someone forwarded an e-mail to me with a comical snapshot of just such a chicken. The sight of it struck such a deep resonating chord within me that I immediately printed out the picture, trimmed it neatly and taped it to the inside door of my desk-hutch door. I knew I would want to look at that chicken again.

 A stately looking chicken it is, too, despite the fact that just nearly all of its multi-colored feathers have been plucked out!  But still giving the impression of a confident chicken it appears to be walking purposefully along a dirt and graveled road.

The caption reads:    “It’s been a tough year, but I made it!!!  How about you???”

The next thing I noticed was the head held high on an erect neck and the body fully upright with the two skinny legs taking nice long steps, even though the chicken looked for the entire world as though it had come through a near-death experience!

At some point in time I jotted down this Scripture reference on the bottom of the picture: Leviticus 26:13:   “”I am the LORD  your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.”  (NIV 2011.)

This picture has been ‘speaking’ to me over a long period of time, so why today I should sit down to reflect on it and look up again Leviticus 26:13, I can’t truly say. But it’s on my heart and I must write about it – today.

As I read today’s and yesterday’s devotionals in one of my favorite books¹, the Scripture verses and the texts both seemed to say to me about the same thing as the sight of the chicken reminds me of: 

Hard times will come to all of us, but that is no reason to give in to them.

 “If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth:  and if the tree fall toward the south or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.”  Ecclesiastes 11:3 (KJV).

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.  Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”  2 Peter 1:3-4 (NIV 2011).

“When God made thee a believer, He meant to try thee; and when He gave thee promises, and bade thee trust, He gave such promises as are suitable for times of tempest and tossing. … His Word of promise is meant to be tried and proved. … Covenant blessings are not meant to be looked at only, but to be appropriated.  Even our Lord Jesus is given to us for our present use.  Thou dost not make use of Christ as thou oughtest to do. …O…, I beseech you do not treat God’s promises as if they were curiosities for a museum; but use them as every day sources of comfort.  Trust the Lord whenever your time of need comes on.”  --- C. H. Spurgeon.¹

“… How can we have rain without clouds?  Our troubles have always brought us blessings, and they always will.  They are the dark chariots of bright grace.  … Our God may drench us with grief, but He will refresh us with mercy.  Our Lord’s love-letters often come to us in black-edged envelopes.  … Let us not worry about the clouds but sing because May flowers are brought to us through the April clouds and showers.  O Lord, the clouds are the dust of Thy feet!  How near Thou art in the cloudy and dark day!  Love beholds Thee, and is glad. ….” -- C. H. Spurgeon.¹

“What seems so dark to thy dim sight may be a shadow seen aright making some brightness doubly bright.  The flash that struck thy tree – no more to shelter thee – lets heaven’s blue floor shine where it never shone before.  The cry wrung from thy spirit’s pain may echo on some far-off plain, and guide a wanderer home again.”¹  ----- Author Unknown.

All of us have felt the hurt from our own personal “spirit’s pain,”  the hurt that hurts our hearts but yet seems to go so much deeper….  down into our very spirits.

Seldom have I experienced such pain that I have not thought even fleetingly, “Why, Lord?  Why must life and love hurt so much, so heavy, and so deep?”

 I am reminded again and again that Jesus Christ also suffered at the hands of life to conquer death and provide for His beloveds an eternity of bliss without pain.  His promises ring true and strong and do not dim with the passing of time! 

If I kept a journal of His promises, my first entry would be these verses given to me so long ago by His Holy Spirit on the day of my mother’s funeral:  “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God; believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself;  that where I am, there you may be also.”  John 14:1-3 (NKJV)

Precious promises, indeed.

What right do I have to walk with head drooping low, no matter what I encounter along the way to my heavenly home?  No matter how many symbolic ‘feathers’ get plucked off me, I am to hold my head high and His promises in my heart and take long, stately steps as I travel through this world to my heavenly abode where I will live forever with my King in utmost joy.

And, so will you, dear friends, if your hands have been placed into the nail-scarred hand of the One who loved us enough to die for us!  What a Savior!  What a God of love, and help, and hope!

No matter what we’ve walked through, what we’re trying to make it through at this very moment, what may come our way tomorrow, there is Scripture-promise for us that will energize us with love and joy and peace and patience along the way.

Christ died to provide, why cannot we search the Scriptures for the help we need?  Knowing full well and confidently believing that He has provided, and will continue to provide, no matter what comes today or tomorrow or the day after that, for every need of life.

Let us hold to His dear hand of help and hope, fully confident in Him alone to secure our safe passage into His very presence!

“But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. … To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy---–to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!  Amen.”                                            Jude 1:20-21, 24-25 (NIV 2011).

¹ Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman, excerpts from pages 236-237; Sixty-eighth Printing April 1973.

If you would like a picture of the chicken, please contact me.   Be blessed today!

Life Takes A Lifetime

This is the time to relinquish the dream.  This is the time to admit failure.  This is the place where hope changes its dream and the dream alters its hope.

Call it over, settle down, turn in the hope that you will ever change – that you will ever become a calm, quiet person of wisdom having proven yourself credible by being able to control your emotions and behavior.

Give it up.  You’re exactly what you are:  pathetic, a bit crazy, very probably unstable.

Stop pretending.  You’re such an idiot.  You’ve proven it.   Sit down, shut up, and keep your  mouth shut.  Show up on Sunday at church and smile your stupid, senseless smile.  You’re a silly old fool!   Forget it all.  It’s over, you’re done.   And, you did it to yourself.

Have you heard words like these?  Who would speak to a person in such cruel and harsh and hateful words?   Condemnation is so heavy, so hard; and it can descend upon a person like a blanket of shame. 

 A desire to flee - -  to run - -  to move - - to try to start over somehow, some way in some other place….Give up – or, begin again?  Another do-over…  is that even possible?

Could this just be another mile-marker on the road of life?   An opportunity – a place to accept reality and begin again.  There is always hope?

You’re not where you wanted to be, not what you’d hoped to be by this time, not yet spiritually mature, complete and lacking in nothing.  But, life is far from over, and there is always hope.

Absolutely, YES!  There is always hope because Jesus Christ is the same:  yesterday, today, and forever!  {Hebrews 13:8.}

Life is an unfolding process, full of changes.  Life brings love; and love, much like roses, often comes with thorns, the pains of life.

No matter what happens in life, never, ever give up! Please read James 1:12 in your Bible.

 To quietly resign from life, whether you do that formally and publicly, or quietly in the privacy of your own mind, would be like committing spiritual suicide.

No matter how hard life might seem to be or how little others might seem to understand your emotional anguish, no one ever has to surrender in defeat to life and give up.

Recently I read these words from one of my old journals:

“What a messy thing you sometimes are, life!  You can beat the living daylights out of a person and whip them down to a near senseless thing with the pain and emotional anguish!  And, you do it in such a way that one just keeps quiet and privately bears the confused, helpless, bewildered anger at the injustice of it all!”

Some trials of life leave us feeling as though we’ve been symbolically dragged down the highway while clinging to the closed door of a speeding vehicle. We know we should turn loose of the thing but the hurt of being left behind seems to hurt more than any cuts, bruises, and gashes from having layers of skin pulled off our limbs as we desperately hold on for dear life.

Until that last moment when we realize life is moving on and we must let it.  We sometimes have to turn loose of some of the things we thought we wanted most in life.

It is the pain that can’t be explained to another person.  And, sometimes we just so desperately need someone to hear our silent pain and say they understand.  We long to be known and understood in our innermost hearts.

There is One who understands because He birthed us:  “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth,…” {James 1:18}.   He knows the things we say and the things we only think in our minds and feel in our hearts.   He knows our grief and He hurts with us.  In all our distresses, He is distressed, too.

Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world and He rose again for the benefit of all who would make that intentional choice to believe in Him.  Just simply believe that God is God and Jesus Christ is the sacrificial Son given for the sins of the world.  We turn in genuine repentance from the sin of which each of us are guilty and confess our sins to Him, receiving His righteousness which He gives to us.

There is nothing automatic about salvation any more than there is anything automatic about life, secular life or the Christian life.*

Day to day living can be hard and we can be hard-pressed to live it victoriously in this sin-sick fallen world.  But, victory belongs to the one who knows the Lord Jesus Christ as his or her personal Savior and Lord.  Please read 1 Corinthians 15, especially verse 57, in your Bible.

Even Jesus did not escape this world without a crown of thorns.  He willingly wore the crown of thorns that we might receive the crown of life.   Please read James 1:12 in your Bible.

Jesus, who experienced all the pain and sorrow and suffering that life in its fallen form holds and metes out without any exceptions, knew pain intimately.  He wept.  He agonized in prayer.

“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission.  Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.”  Hebrews 5:7-10 (NIV 1984.).

Jesus:  a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. Please read in your Bible Isaiah 53:1-12.

 He knows your sorrow and He knows my sorrow – and beyond.  Amazing how many parallels I can draw from His sinless life and my sinful life.

He experienced the ultimate pain of the penalty of sin though He never sinned.  I sinned and yet escaped the ultimate penalty of sin simply because He took my place, extended to me the grace which bought my deliverance from sin’s ultimate wage:  eternal death.  {See 2 Corinthians 5:21}.  And, not only that, He gave me eternal life in His eternal life:  both of us pain-free for eternity.

Amazing and sovereign God!  God is Love and Jesus Christ is Abundant Life!  Jesus Christ, the dear Son of God:  what a Savior!

 “I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which He is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us—yes, the many good things He has done for the house of Israel, according to His compassion and many kindnesses.  He said, ‘Surely they are My people, sons [and daughters] who will not be false to Me’; and so He became their Savior.  In all their distress, He too was distressed, and the angel of His presence saved them.  In His love and mercy He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.”              {Isaiah 63:7-9 (NIV 1984).}

In the words of Dr. Charles F. Stanley, “So, the next time you’re feeling the need to be better understood, turn to the One who understands you perfectly.  Even more importantly, ask Him to help you know Him better.”  “… Be a living message of hope to those around you today.”

* If you are not absolutely certain that you are in the life-changing relationship Jesus Christ died to provide for you, or if you have any questions about the certainty of your salvation experience, please seek guidance from a pastor or Sunday School teacher or another Christian. 

If you would like to contact me for more resources, please do so by leaving a comment to this post, or send an email to me at samreanne@gmail.com.