The problem that we have as Christians armed with lots of theory about
what God has done, and what we should be doing, is that we can still
find ourselves falling desperately short of our own ideals, principles,
convictions and hopes. Sometimes the power to make the Christian life
and ministry practical and real seems to be sadly lacking. It is
possible to talk about love and yet find oneself bound by selfishness
and irritation. It is possible to talk about God's power and compassion
in healing and yet
be unable to demonstrate it or testify about how He
has helped you personally.
This is due in part to a misunderstanding and neglect concerning God's
grace - which is the working of His life in us. God has not simply left
us commandments and principles to follow, without giving us the ability
to live out what He is talking about. Let us see what the Bible says on
this point in 2 Peter 1:2-4.
"Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of
Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given us all things that pertain
to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by
glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and
precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine
nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through
lust."