Expressing Christ 8/8

Let Go; Let God

It can be easy to say all this, but our human brains are trained from birth to look for the how-to of everything. The short answer is an old cliché. Let go and let God.

"Let" is a verb that means: “not prevent or forbid”; “allow.” Anything that can be allowed or prevented must be available.

This definition points us toward the fact that when we let or allow a thing, it is not an action on our part, but rather it is refraining from an action and instead accepting the default situation. Resting, if you will.

Here's an example from life. Let’s imagine that you and I are driving on the freeway. I am going 68 miles per hour, and you are traveling at the speed limit, 70 miles per hour. In my rearview mirror, I see you getting closer and closer to me. I am faced with a choice. I can speed up to match or exceed your speed, thus preventing you from passing me. Or, continuing merrily along, I can take no action whatsoever and "let", or "allow", you to pass me.

This is the way it is with the Spirit. He is at work completing the good work He has begun in us. His fruit is being produced because we are branches drawing energy from the Vine.

For example:
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you..." (John 14:27) and "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts..." (Colossians 3:15)

Jesus has given us peace. Because that peace is already within us, we can let that peace operate in us rather than preventing it and having a troubled heart.

Philippians 4:5 says, "Let your gentleness be evident to all." One aspect of the fruit of the Spirit is gentleness Galatians 5:22-23

We have gentleness and unless we prevent or forbid it, that gentleness will naturally be expressed to others.

Let, allow, yield. We see these words often in the New Testament. They are verbs, action words, yet the action they require is not the doing of something. Rather, it is the inaction of presuming upon God to be the one at work.

This is the way we manifest the life of Christ. We let the Spirit lead us and we let the Love of God be expressed through us by depending on Him to orchestrate what He desires us to be doing. In this way we do not quench the Spirit by preventing Him from being the leader, the vanguard, the trail blazer, leading us, as the psalmist put it, “in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

We just live our lives and yield to the quiet inner prompting of His still, small voice.

He's in there.
He's alive and living in us.
He's producing godly fruit.
He's manifesting Himself through us.

Trust that this is so and enter His rest. That's the easy yoke and light burden.