Reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ

For if by the offense of the one death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. (Rom 5:17)

This morning in my prayreading, these key words came to me. "Receive" and reign in life "through the One". 

Receive

I'm reminded the fact that I'm a receiver, and I should be open to receive. But what to receive? "the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness". I repent to the Lord, sometimes I don't find His grace abundant or don't find His gift righteousness is realised in me, and that's not God's problem but mine. Simply because I don't open wide enough to receive this abundant grace. I told myself that if next time I complain to the Lord and find His grace short, I shall be reminded to repent and praise. For His grace is abundant, and I shall not fall short of it. All I have to do is to open to Him and receive. 

Reign in life through the One

Still, in my daily life I'm used to apply my own strength in everything. Even read this verse could be my doctrine. I could possibly thinking how to realise the abundant grace and the gift of righteousness in my life. Oh Lord, how much I need to realise this. My reigning in life (zoe) is through You. None of other methods can help me reign in this divine life. I need to come to You, Lord, because the reigning is through You, Jesus Christ. Please remind me to come often to You even though I will be busy writing my essays. 

The result

What is the result of us receiving Him and Reigning in life through the One? Well, the result is to help the church. 

If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask and he will give life to him, to those sinning not unto death. There is a sin unto death; I do not say that he should make request concerning that. (1 John 5:16)

"He shall ask and he will give life to Him. " Referring to the footnote, it doesn't mean the asker who has the life to give to his brother. It simply means that the asker is also a receiver, and he has received the life from God so that he will be able to dispense the divine life to his brother. How wonderful! I'm encouraged to be the one who receives life first, and the purpose of our receiving is not for our own spirituality. Even more, we're here in the church life to encourage one another, to dispense life to one another and for the ultimate goal- the Christ and the Church! 

(Materials from 2016 Memorial Day Conference, message 3 Morning Revival- page 2)