How it Works Out in Practice

Ron Block is a musician with Alison Krauss and Union Station. He wrote the following about how recognizing Christ as our life works out in practice:

"Let’s start at the ludicrous and work our way back just to make the point.

"There is no way a Christ-ian can be faith-ing in Christ as his indwelling Patience while at the same time he is yelling at his wife. The two things are mutually exclusive. You can insert any obvious sin--putting others down, gossiping, pornography, drunkenness, spiritual pride, etc.

"Our God-created tempt-ability is a key point here. Temptations will come daily; that’s a given. What we choose when tempted is crucial. Do I identify with the temptation, see it as 'me' and see myself as sinful, and then try by force of will or 'accountability' (often a guise for 'using pride to beat down the smaller vices', Lewis) to keep from doing the sin? That’s the straight path back on the treadmill of human effort, Law, and sin. Try-sin-repent-try-sin-repent.

"Or, in the temptation, do I respond by reaffirming who I really am? 'Through Christ within me I’m a new creation. I’m holy. Christ is now my righteousness. He is my patience, my peace, my purity. I have everything I need for life and godliness, because I have Him.'

"The object of faith is everything. 'Who am I trusting?' We can trust that something will be OK, whether an action or a circumstance, and that 'trust' can be presumption. We’re not really trusting God, but presuming.

"But reliance on Christ doesn’t fail. It’s connecting the power cord to the outlet. It’s plugging in.

"Too many of us are used to blaming the old man (which the Bible clearly and consistently states is dead and buried) rather than recognizing that 'I sinned because I didn’t trust Christ’s power' or peace or you-name-it.

"Concrete example--this kind of thing has happened many times to me, especially when I used to pray, 'Lord, make me more patient' (an unbelieving prayer, really, because I have perfect Patience Himself living in me). Let’s say one day I’m running late to the studio; I’ll get there on time if I keep at it steady.

"But Farmer Joe in his 1947 red Case tractor lumbers out like a constipated elephant onto the two lane, just in time to slow me down to 20 mph. No passing zone. Oncoming traffic. And there my steam starts building--frustration. Emotions rising. And right there I have a choice. Where is Christ? Well, He’s in me, the Bible says, this Person who created the universe. Do I really have everything I need for life and godliness? Yes--right there inside me as my temper is about to blow and prompt me to pass when unsafe or cuss or whatever. I can do that, and of course God forgives me and Jesus paid for my sins. I can go ahead and let 'er fly. Or I can thank God (even if I don’t feel it) and praise Him that Christ within me is all the patience I ever need for life and godliness: 'Thank you, Lord, that you are my Patience. I trust You. I rely on your Power, and Peace, and Patience, right here and right now.'

"God can’t resist that kind of faith, that everyday resting, trusting, submitting, surrendering faith.

"The two different choices produce two different results. One, blowing my lid, getting wrathful, or whatever. The other, peace, a sense of humor, and the boiler pressure going back down. One is an unrighteous reaction produced by unbelief. The other is a righteous action produced by faith.

"I’ve done both, and I’m always amazed at how I feel five minutes after making the right choice. The other choice is always a waste of time, energy, thought, and breath.

"Now, of course, just why I put myself in the situation of running late, that’s another story."