A Miserable Christian?

Old habits die hard. I have a friend who called and shared he is struggling with his walk. He told me he is involved in several ministries, he is a part of a small group, he has personal devotional time, and he is even trying to start a Bible study where he works. In listening to him, he is doing all the right things, but he feels miserable…something is lacking. I shared with him that Jesus really doesn’t want us to do anything. We get so caught up in legalism and works righteousness that we think Christ wants us to do stuff. Truth is Jesus has done it all. What he wants from us is to be…to be in relationship with him. We didn’t save ourselves; no Jesus did that. We cannot accomplish anything in our own power (trust me it doesn't work); no we need his power. Jesus wants us to be in relationship with him so that he can live in us and work thru us. Let me be clear: we will do things for Christ...great things, but apart from relationship we will do nothing but wear ourselves out with the wrong motivations doing the wrong things at the wrong time. Fact is, the greatest thing you will ever do is to surrender your life to Jesus Christ. Do that and watch the mighty, even miraculous, ways God can use you.