When people first come to faith, they often have certain expectations about what the Christian life will be like. Over time, many discover things they never anticipated.
What has surprised you most about your walk with Christ?
The reality of eph3:18+19, it is mind blowing!
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Colossians 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
When the Holy Spirit opened my ‘spiritual eyes’ to this verse, I was awed for days and still am. I never realized to take this verse literally. Everything we see and don’t see with our physical eyes are held together by Him! The laws of Physics, our bodies, grass, air pressure and just EVERYTHING is held together by Him. He exists right in front our noses because these thing are held together by Him and for Him.
The absolute depth of the blind hatred of God, His Word, Jesus, and even me, as His child. Oh, I read,
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." John 15:18-19
“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4
And even
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." Matthew 6:24
My thought, well, not everyone believes I get that. What I found was, “Jesus loves you.” DIE!!! DIE YOU XXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXX XXXX XXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXX!!! What I saw and continue to see and increase of people literally barking at Christians. Seeking to kill Christians. Demons manifesting at the mere sound of Jesus’ name.
Don’t believe me? Go online, ANY Social Media, find someone live, join, and say “Jesus loves and died for you.” Watch their whole demeanor change. What their face, body language, and if they do not block you, you may even see a demon manifest right before your eyes. It is amazing.
Peter
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What has surprised me most is discovering just how much of the Christian life is God’s work before it is mine.
Studying Isaiah 53 opened my eyes to the depth of Christ’s substitutionary work in a way I had never fully appreciated. But equally surprising has been realizing that the Holy Spirit is continually at work, building me up from the inside out. Scripture calls this oikodomē, being built up or edified (Ephesians 4:12, 16). It isn’t merely about gaining more knowledge; it’s about Christ being formed in us (Galatians 4:19) and being transformed into His likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Looking back, I’m amazed at the patience of God. He not only saved me through Christ’s finished work (Isaiah 53:5–6), but He continues His work in me, faithfully conforming me to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29; Philippians 1:6).
J.
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