Infinity + 1

We are born with certain gifts, but having a talent doesn’t count for anything unless we use it.

 

What do we do with a strong body and health if we have them? What do we do with a strong memory skill or a strong mind if we have it? What do we do with a healthy conscience or strong spirituality if we have it?  We may have inherited these, but is it enough just to own them? What will we do with them? Inheriting them is just the beginning. Our inheritance is not something to show off; it’s to be invested.

 

Jesus inherited every trait we have; He had more than all of us put together. But He didn’t just sit on a throne, waiting for His every whim to be pleased and served. Even though His Father gave Him a perfect body, He continually stretched its powers to the limit. He never rested on His inheritance. He never relaxed from working until His Father told Him that the last second of the work day was over. “The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:28). “For even Christ pleased not Himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached Thee fell on Me.” (Rom. 15:3).

 

Infinity + 1 is the great God’s great program.

 

Infinity + 1, doing a little more than before, works in every pursuit. If we are overweight, we can cut out a meal one day this week. Then next week do the same for two days. When every day of the week has two meals, then we can leave out a meal on one day each week. If we want to fast, we can go the decided time without eating and then go a little more. If we wanted to fast a day, continue the fast until mid-day, and let that meal carry us over to the next day before resuming the regular eating schedule. “Fear not, nor be dismayed.” (2Chron. 20:17).

 

For those who are anorexic, take an extra bite of food. Then, next meal after eating all that you can, take two extra bites. Stretch yourself to the limit, “and see the salvation of the LORD.” (2Chron. 20:17)

 

If you see that you are selfish, “give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” (Matt. 5:42). Not only “spend” for others, but “be spent” (2Cor. 12:15) sometimes. Jesus has proven that Infinity + 1 makes the happiest life.

 

Jesus first

Others next

Yourself last

 

While godliness benefits in everything, physical exercise does have its sure benefits. But, remember the principle of Infinity + 1. For sit-ups do all according to the strength that your body inherited. Wrestle to do as many sit-ups as you can do, go to your body’s infinity, then eek out one more sit-up. Do the same for push-ups and pull-ups, or whatever exercise you like. When walking do the same, “whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.” (Matt. 5:41). Then we will have some fellowship with Jesus’ sufferings.

 

Go for the burn, as coaches say. This Jesus did every day of His life. “I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened [afflicted] till it be accomplished!” (Luke 12:49,50).

 

Jesus went for the burn. He was the great sin offering, the great burnt sacrifice. Better than all of us Jesus knew His father’s Infinity +1 program. He submitted to His Father’s program, trusting in His Father’s wise oversight. Christ’s tests of stamina came not from His own estimation and His own decision on how much He could take, but from His Father’s estimation of His capability. His Father wouldn’t give Him more than He could take, but He would certainly give Him as much as was needed to be our example; and Jesus hungered for more. His Father put Him through an infinite test throughout His life. Everything Jesus taught us to be He was. He was the truth. He was Infinity + 1 for our salvation and for His Father’s exoneration. And His children will accept the Father’s same program.

 

“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matt. 5:44-48).

 

Even in His death Christ patiently bore all of His Father’s exercise program. He stretched every power that He had exercised all His life in order to remain in the infinite fire long enough to satisfy His Father and the angelic court. For us He struggled to remain under the wrath of God due for a whole world of sin. The Lord spent all that He had for His Father to expend all His justice against us.

 

Now Christ is our exercise coach. His program is the same as His Father’s Infinity +1 program.

 

“I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth.” (Jer. 9:24). We don’t decide our exercise program; we must submit to our Coach to exercise us. But, who will keep with His Infinity+1 program to the very end?

 

“For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end” (Heb. 3:14). Many are called but few are chosen. Who will be the chosen few?

 

“Christ as a Son over His own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” (Heb. 3:6).

“The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Mal. 3:1).

 

“Behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought Him near before Him. And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” (Dan. 7:13,14).

 

“But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: and He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.” (Mal. 3:2-4).

 

“And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.” (Isa. 13:11,12).

 

The going will be exciting and joyful, but also horrendous and horrific. Who shall be able to stand? Only those who Jesus has already exercised under His Father’s Infinity + 1 program. On the whole, everything will work together for good, to those who love God and who are the called according to His purpose.

 

“Ye shall drink indeed of My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with.” (Matt. 20:23).

 

Let’s begin today.