Christ In Me

One day I had some work to do around the house so I went to the store and bought some work gloves. I don't know why they call them work gloves -- they don't do any work. Look at them...they are flat and lifeless. What do you think it will take to get these gloves to do any work? That's right! I have to put my hands inside the gloves. They won't do a thing until I put my hand inside them.

Once I put my hand in the work gloves, they can do all sorts of things. They can hammer nails, rake leaves, and hoe in the garden. They can open doors and lift and carry all kinds of heavy objects. As you know, of course, it isn't the gloves that are doing the work. It is my hands inside the gloves that are doing the work.

You know, that is the same way it is with being a Christian. The apostle Paul explained it this way, "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me."

Sometimes we may start thinking that we do some pretty great things. We may brag about how many people we have told about Jesus or we might tell everybody about how much work we do around the church. We might say, "Look at me. I do this and I do that, I, I, I..."

Ay! Ay! Ay! We have it all wrong! "It is not I, but Christ who lives in me."

The next time you start to thinking that you have done something great, remember the work gloves. They can do nothing without a hand inside. You and I can do nothing without Christ inside.

Dear Jesus, help us to remember that apart from you, we can do nothing. Amen.