Submitting to God
We are all undergoing a transforming of the
mind (Rom 12:1-2). It’s not easy, is it? If we’re going to live
differently than the world, we must think differently, and that’s
possible only when our minds are renewed by the Spirit of God. First of
all, you and I need to submit ourselves to God. What does that look
like? Instead of thinking only how we can change for God, consider that
our desire to change is from God because God alone gives us the power to
change by His Spirit. James touched on this somewhat when He said that
God can draw near to us only if we humble ourselves (James 4:6), if we
submit to Him so that the Devil will flee us (James 4:7), but we must
have clean hands and a pure heart (James 4:8), meaning that we must
confess our sins to Him (1 John 1:9). We must also submit ourselves to
one another since we are members of the same family (Eph 5:21) and also
submit to those in authority (1 Pet 2:13; Rom 13:1).
Slaves of Christ
Only God can give us the heart operation that is necessary to respond
to Him by taking out our stony hearts and giving us a heart of flesh
(Ezk 36:26) because we can walk with God only if He sends His Spirit to
live within us (Ezk 36:27). It is useless to try and do this in our own
human strength because we just can’t do it (John 15:5). The irony is
that we were once slaves to sin but now have become slaves to Christ (1
Cor 7:22), and being set free from the slavery of sin, we are now slaves
to God (Rom 6:22). When Christ sets us free from the slavery of sin, we
are absolutely free (John 8:36), and it is the truth about the Son of
God that sets us free (John 8:32). As a slave to God, we should seek to
be an obedient slave from the heart (Eph 6:6) and not out of compulsion,
but the danger is that we must not use our freedom from sin and the
penalty of that sin as a cloak to sin (1 Pet 2:16).
Crucifying the Flesh
Paul saw himself as being crucified to his flesh, and it wasn’t really
he who lived any longer, but Christ who lived in him (Gal 2:20) because
the old man is dead. If you are indeed in Christ, your old body and sin
nature were crucified, and now, instead of being a slave to sin, the old
crucified man is gone. Did you not get the obituary notice and miss the
funeral? At that point, the new man or woman in Christ has been freed
from that bondage for good (Rom 6:6). Anyone who claims to belong to
Christ must crucify or put to death the old flesh nature with all of its
passions and desires (Gal 5:24). When someone comes to the door of your
heart seeking the old man or woman, tell them that he or she has been
put to death and that you can’t even take a message for them; the new
resident who lives here is a new creation in Christ (1 Cor 5:17). If
they’re looking for the old man or woman, tell them to visit the
cemetery.
Conclusion
Jesus Christ has set us free from the
bondage of sin. Here is how I would describe how he did it for me: He
sought me, He caught me, He bought me, He taught me how I ought to be.
Nothing about this is from me, but it’s all about He! I am a slave to
Christ; therefore, I must submit to Him since my old man has been
crucified. Does that make sense? I pray it does.
Monday, May 18, 2015
Your Daily Blessing for 5/18/15
Monday May 18, 2015
Your Daily Blessing
Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy. You have it in you. Wait it out. When those cursed annoyingly ferocious obstacles come barreling at you...plant your feet. Oh so quietly, yet firmly, say "I'm staying right here." May you be blessed with perseverance and patience to wait it out. Sooner or later it gets easier. Promise.
Your Daily Blessing
Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy. You have it in you. Wait it out. When those cursed annoyingly ferocious obstacles come barreling at you...plant your feet. Oh so quietly, yet firmly, say "I'm staying right here." May you be blessed with perseverance and patience to wait it out. Sooner or later it gets easier. Promise.
Spiritual Wisdom
The Wise Way
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank people may cheat you.
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone may destroy overnight.
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, others may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today people will often forget tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.
Give the world your best anyway.
In the final analysis, It's all between You and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.
by Kent M. Keith
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank people may cheat you.
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone may destroy overnight.
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, others may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today people will often forget tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.
Give the world your best anyway.
In the final analysis, It's all between You and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.
by Kent M. Keith
Forgive and Forget
"I will forgive their wickedness and will never again remember their sins" (Jer. 31:34).
A group of high-spirited students once played a prank on the principal of their college. The principal overreached and the whole business caused quite an upheaval. Lectures were canceled, there was an emergency staff meeting and punishment was meted out. During the course of the day, the students in question decided to apologize, and asked for a meeting with the principal. After listening to their story and apology, the principal answered, "Gentlemen, I accept your apology and there will be no punishment. The incident will be removed from the record books."
A group of high-spirited students once played a prank on the principal of their college. The principal overreached and the whole business caused quite an upheaval. Lectures were canceled, there was an emergency staff meeting and punishment was meted out. During the course of the day, the students in question decided to apologize, and asked for a meeting with the principal. After listening to their story and apology, the principal answered, "Gentlemen, I accept your apology and there will be no punishment. The incident will be removed from the record books."
We human beings sometimes find it possible to forgive, but we seldom
forget. God both forgives and forgets. God made it possible for the
people of Israel to start over by forgiving and forgetting their
unfaithfulness and disobedience.
Jesus offers you the same forgiveness. He is ready and waiting to let you start over with no record of past wrongs. If you turn back to Him, repent, confess and decide to break with your wicked ways, He accepts your confession and says, "I will never even give this another thought." The record is blank and He puts your sins behind you forever so that you can move on with a clear conscience. You don't need to feel guilty about anything anymore because you are now in the right relationship with God. You are now free to be a new, mature person "in Christ."
Father God, enable me to follow Your example and to forgive and forget. Amen.
Jesus offers you the same forgiveness. He is ready and waiting to let you start over with no record of past wrongs. If you turn back to Him, repent, confess and decide to break with your wicked ways, He accepts your confession and says, "I will never even give this another thought." The record is blank and He puts your sins behind you forever so that you can move on with a clear conscience. You don't need to feel guilty about anything anymore because you are now in the right relationship with God. You are now free to be a new, mature person "in Christ."
Father God, enable me to follow Your example and to forgive and forget. Amen.
Good Can Come from Bad?
I want you to know, my dearest brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News (Phil. 1:12)
When things go wrong in your life, try to remember that often, in some way or another, it happens to all people. The important question is how you react to misfortune, disappointment, and frustration. You can become panic-stricken and complain, "This is it; I've had it!" You can wallow in self-pity and say, "Just look at what happened to me. Why?" Or you could say, "This is a bit of a problem; let me find a way to turn it into something I can use to my advantage, and to the glory of God."
Paul used his exceptional gifts and intelligence to advance the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He traveled far and wide to preach and establish congregations. It was in fact while he was planning more journeys to spread the Good News that disaster struck. He was arrested and locked up. Did this mean it was the end of his mission? Not at all - he started working from prison. He used his time in jail to evangelize the guards and other prisoners and to write letters that help and guide us to this day. What some people saw as a disaster, Paul changed into an opportunity.
Do not allow misfortune to ruin you. Find a way to use it to your own advantage. Give it some serious thought and ask God in prayer what He is telling you through your misfortune. It isn't just a technique of looking for the silver lining to the dark cloud, but must be seen as something God wants you to grab hold of and use to His honor and glory.
Holy God, open my eyes to spot opportunities that You hide in my disappointment. Amen.
When things go wrong in your life, try to remember that often, in some way or another, it happens to all people. The important question is how you react to misfortune, disappointment, and frustration. You can become panic-stricken and complain, "This is it; I've had it!" You can wallow in self-pity and say, "Just look at what happened to me. Why?" Or you could say, "This is a bit of a problem; let me find a way to turn it into something I can use to my advantage, and to the glory of God."
Paul used his exceptional gifts and intelligence to advance the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He traveled far and wide to preach and establish congregations. It was in fact while he was planning more journeys to spread the Good News that disaster struck. He was arrested and locked up. Did this mean it was the end of his mission? Not at all - he started working from prison. He used his time in jail to evangelize the guards and other prisoners and to write letters that help and guide us to this day. What some people saw as a disaster, Paul changed into an opportunity.
Do not allow misfortune to ruin you. Find a way to use it to your own advantage. Give it some serious thought and ask God in prayer what He is telling you through your misfortune. It isn't just a technique of looking for the silver lining to the dark cloud, but must be seen as something God wants you to grab hold of and use to His honor and glory.
Holy God, open my eyes to spot opportunities that You hide in my disappointment. Amen.
Sunday, May 17, 2015
To God the Glory and Praise
May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation - the
righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ - for this
will bring much glory and praise to God (Phil. 1:11).
Most of us have a childlike need to be acknowledged, accepted and even hugged now and again. Sometimes it becomes a childish yearning for prominence and fame. Someone said on occasion, "Even the greatest long for a gentle touch."
Most of us have a childlike need to be acknowledged, accepted and even hugged now and again. Sometimes it becomes a childish yearning for prominence and fame. Someone said on occasion, "Even the greatest long for a gentle touch."
When writing to the
people of Philippi, Paul showered them with praise and appreciation.
They made him happy and were his partners in the gospel. God started a
good work in them and they had a special place in his heart. His deepest
desire was that they would grow to maturity. Everything they had
already achieved and everything that was still to happen through their
faith and good works dare not make them proud of their spiritual
achievements. Their good qualities could be solely attributed to Christ
and the Holy Spirit working in them.
Don't pursue honor and glory for yourself. Don't strive to see your name prominently displayed when you have done something worthwhile for God. Give God the credit and glory. Be prepared to stand aside and let other people praise God for what He did in and through you. Don't destroy Christ's work by your efforts to turn the spotlight on yourself. Thank the Lord that you were able to be involved and give Him all the honor and glory.
Lord my God, let the glory always go where it is due: to You. Amen.
Don't pursue honor and glory for yourself. Don't strive to see your name prominently displayed when you have done something worthwhile for God. Give God the credit and glory. Be prepared to stand aside and let other people praise God for what He did in and through you. Don't destroy Christ's work by your efforts to turn the spotlight on yourself. Thank the Lord that you were able to be involved and give Him all the honor and glory.
Lord my God, let the glory always go where it is due: to You. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)