We do not base our identity on the
talents of our flesh or the state of our soul – our mind, choices and emotions;
but on our relationship with Christ. Our authentic self is found in the person
of Jesus Christ who dwells within us. We find our success by living, moving and
having our existence in His divine presence (Acts 17:28). For
instance, God took my insecure, introverted, melancholic personality and
exchanged it for the fruit of His Spirit one aspect at a time. Thanks to the
Holy Spirit’s regeneration, I am Christ secured and assured. I look at life
through His outlook of faith and I never meet a stranger (Romans
12:2). That is true transformation!
God searches our hearts and knows
the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for us according to God’s
will (Romans 8:27). His life is manifested through us as we follow the
leading of His Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 4:12; Galatians 5:25). Jesus
pours out His life in us to others (John 12:24; 1 Peter 2:20-25). As we
follow His direction, He prospers our way and gives us His success (Joshua
1:8). He matures and fortifies us, as He makes His home in us (1 Peter
5:10). He also meets the needs of others through us, so that we might win to
Christ whoever is willing to believe (1 Corinthians 9:22).
The Lord does
not remove us from temptation or tribulation. Since He lives in us, He walks
through it with us. He gives us everything we need to resist trials and to
withstand sin’s persuasion; we simply need to utilize his wisdom and strength.
He gives us His mind about the movies we watch, the books we read, the
television we view and the people we hang around with. If we choose to ignore
Him, then we will certainly reap corruption in our body, soul and spirit. If we
choose to follow the Spirit’s leading, we will shine like stars in the Heavens (Philippians 2:12-18).
We have the abiding love and peace
of God residing within us (Romans 5:5; Ephesians 2:14). We
desire to live Godly lives, and we have everything we need to accomplish this
through Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:13; 2 Peter 1:3). We are
controlled and guided by His Spirit, which fills us (Ephesians
5:18). This is accomplished by the particular gifts of the Spirit, which He
gives to each one of us individually (Ephesians 4:8-16; Romans 12:1; 1
Corinthians 12:1-11, 27-31). Christ performs His work through us, which God
prepared for us before the world ever began (Ephesians 2:10).
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, we function in life
as a lamp, a vessel or a branch. You are the Light, which shines through our
lamp, the vine to which our branch is connected and the substance within our
vessel. We bear Your life in us, and it flows through us out into the world (John
15:5; Romans 9:21). We have no goodness of our own, not even by keeping the
mandates of Biblical law. Our human attempts at righteousness are simply filthy
rags in Your sight (Isaiah 64:6). It is only by faith in You that
we receive in our spirit Your imputed righteousness (Philippians
3:9).
Thought for the Day:
Once we are dead to this world, we
no longer submit to its standards, practice its worldly religious rituals or
partake in fleshly extravagances. - Colossian 2:20-23