A Normal Christian Life
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 54:1-5
In these five verses of Isaiah the people of God are commanded to sing, enlarge the place of their tent, and fear not. In each case, the command is followed by an explanation as to why they could and should obey these exhortations. The church should sing because of the many children she would be given. She should make room for expansion because the nations would become a part of her people. She should not fear because her Maker is also her husband.
Each of these speaks of the normative state of the people of God because of the accomplished work of Christ. Joy is then normal for God’s people. It is not an exceptional case. Growth is to be expected. It is not to be a surprise when it happens. Confidence and peace are to be the church’s settled state, not an occasional experience.
Too often we think of things like joy, peace, and growth to be things God reserves for special occasions. When we do so we slight the accomplishments of Jesus. He suffered to bring us a salvation that has these kinds of fruit necessarily accompanying it.
May the fruit of Christ’s work not be a rare jewel, but the normal state of our lives in Jesus.
