“Yes, in me, in me He dwelleth – I in Him and He in me!  And my empty soul He filleth, now and through eternity.” – H. Bonar

I mentioned in last week’s note that, after many years of fruitful service, Hudson Taylor discovered Christ in a new and deeper way.  It completely changed his life.  There is no doubt that Taylor was saved and effective before, but the power of the Spirit rested on him in a new and more powerful way from that point forward. 

What Taylor learned is described both by the quote from Bonar above and Galatians 2:20. 

“I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me,” Gal 2:20 ESV.

This has often been referred to as the exchanged life.  When we are saved, we receive new life in Jesus Christ.  What that often means, though, is that we continue living by our own strength and wisdom, aided by Jesus.  What Jesus wants for us, though, is for us to allow Him to live through us, not just to aide us.  He wants to exchange His righteousness for our unrighteousness.  He wants to exchange His power for our weakness.  He wants to exchange His wisdom for our confusion.  He wants to exchange His All-sufficiency or our insufficiencies.  Jesus described this life as abiding in Him.  He said, “apart from Me you can do nothing”! 

Too many believers are striving to be and do something for Christ when Christ wants them to allow Him to be and do something in and through them.  We cooperate with Him in what He wants to do, rather than continue striving to do something for Him.  It is Christ in you that is the hope of glory, (Col. 1:27).  Hudson Taylor put it this way, “The Lord Jesus received is holiness begun; the Lord Jesus cherished is holiness advancing; the Lord Jesus counted upon as never absent would be holiness complete…” 

Abide in Jesus.  Count on Jesus.  Allow Jesus to exchange His life for yours.