Among the thousands of modern conveniences we enjoy are the cordless devices: cordless drills to cordless sanders, self-contained devices to slice your roast or trim your whiskers, portable telephones, rechargeable flashlights, ad infinitum. The principle is: Use it till its power is exhausted, return it to its "base station" for recharging, then repeat the cycle. When it's finally called home to gadget heaven, you give it a decent burial and pick up a new one. Ya' gotta love 'em!

But, gang, God never intended for us to apply the effectiveness of such self-empowered devices to our day-to-day personal walk with Him. Christians who approach life via the "cordless" method live in the power of their own personality and/or body. Their source for living life is themselves, and they are vulnerable to slowly losing their cutting edge and finally grinding to a halt. God calls this trusting in the "arm of flesh" (2 Chronicles 32:8). "Thus says the Lord, 'Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength . . .' " (Jeremiah 17:5). If Christians with this self-reliant philosophy of the Christian life were expendable tools, they would be ready for the trash bin, but with God they're ready for the fresh revelation of how to trust Christ within them as even more than Savior and Lord; Christ is to express His life through them. I wonder if Christ could live an overcoming life through you if you knew how to cooperate with Him to do so? Of course. That's what experiencing Christ as life through us is all about.