SEEKING THE SECRET PLACE: CHRIST FORMED IN ME

But seek first the kingdom of God
and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. —Matthew 6:33

5  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. —Matthew 5:5 - 6

16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
17  “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 
18  For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. —Matthew 5:16 - 18

Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? —Isaiah 58:6

7  Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?
8  Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
9  Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
10  If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday.
11  The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. —Isaiah 58:7 - 11

1. When Christ is formed in me, I have a love for the hurting, hopeless, and needy that leads to actions.

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, |that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh? —Isaiah 58:7

But do you want to know, O foolish man,
that faith without works is dead? —James 2:20

25  And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
26  He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”
27  So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
28  And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”
29  But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30  Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. —Luke 10:25 - 30

35  For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 
36  I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?
38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 
39  Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 
40  And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ —Matthew 25:35 - 40

2. When Christ is formed in me, I become the light the world so desperately needs.

Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily… —Isaiah 58:8a

Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. —Matthew 6:10

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 
Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. —Matthew 5:14 - 16

And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. —Colossians 2:10

3. When Christ is formed in me in the secret place, I will walk as a new creation.

… and your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. —Isaiah 58:8b

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. —2 Corinthians 5:17

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God— and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. —1 Corinthians 1:30

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. —2 Corinthians 5:21

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. —Romans 8:1

4. When Christ is formed in me in the secret place on a daily basis, I am persuaded that He ”sees” me.

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ —Isaiah 58:9a

38  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 
39  nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. —Romans 8:38 - 39