Growing
up in a Christian home, or church attendance or Christian service will not
guarantee us a place in God's Kingdom. Total surrender to Jesus Christ is our
only ticket to Heaven (John 3:16-18).
God
loves us and desires for everyone to come to the saving knowledge of His Son,
so that He can adopt us into His family (Ephesians 1:5). Once we trust Him, God
transforms our life by His grace (Matthew 5:6).
We slowly come to the place in our Christian walk
where we no longer care about accumulating things of this world. We truly
realize that our home is not here, but in heaven.
We mature to the place of being more spiritually
minded than carnally minded, and we realize that our identity and victory come
only from Christ in us.
Therefore, the lusts of the eye, the lusts of the
flesh and the pride of life have no more appeal for us (1 John 2:16). We desire
only what God wants for our life (Ephesians 2:10).
Our
body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). If anyone
attempts to destroy His temple, God will destroy that person, because He
considers us set apart for Himself as His Body (1 Corinthians 3:17; Ephesians
2:21-22).
A
person may be able to harm our body, but only God can affect our soul (Matthew
10:28). Even in times of trial or difficulty, God gives us victory as we
maintain our faith in His faithfulness.
Prayer:
Father
God, it amazes us that You actually rejoice over us with singing (Zephaniah
3:17). We hope in You and praise You, because Your love radiates in and through
us (Psalm 43:5). You
abide within us and are always in control of our life.
We
trust in Your unconditional love for us, and we rejoice in the all-encompassing
salvation, which You provide for us (Psalm 13:5). We sing of Your mercies
forever (Psalm 13:6, 89:1).
When our soul despairs over the trials of life and
the current events swirling around us, we will hope in You and praise You with
our whole body, soul and spirit (Psalm 43:5).
Thought
for the Day:
Full
salvation takes more than good deeds or a mental assent; it requires total
commitment of our life to Christ.
