In our
society, God's name is used more to damn someone or thing than to bless them.
The last few generations have no concept of sin. Wrong is right, and right is
often viewed as wrong.
Sin is the
norm for many, and church is foreign (Ephesians 4:21, 6:1; Colossians 3:9). They
view Christ's death on Calvary's cross as a waste of a life, rather than as the
ultimate sacrifice for our salvation.
Until we
understand that God's Word is our ultimate authority, we will not comprehend our
disobedience to it, and our need to ask Jesus for forgiveness (John 14:15, 23).
Even the
law of our land teaches us that there are consequences for our behavior. The
police and courts hold us responsible to uphold the law or we are punished.
When we
transgress God's law, we deserve to suffer the penalty of death. Yet, Jesus
suffered our eternal punishment for us (John 3:16-18). He gives us His life in
our spirit, which was formerly dead because of Adam and Eve's sin (Ephesians
2:1; Galatians 2:20).
When we
decide to live for God, rather than for our self, our spirit is no longer dead
in sin and separated from Him. Jesus makes it possible for us to spend eternity
in Heaven (John 3:16-18; Romans 10:13).
We are
dead to sin now, and free from its strangle-hold on our life (Romans 6:6, 11,
18). We are able to discern right from wrong and to walk in holiness by the
help of God's Spirit within us.
When we
die physically, we will not die spiritually. Our last breath on earth is
followed by our first breath in Heaven (Matthew 25:46). We will spend eternity
with God.
We can
trust our life on earth to God's perfect plan for us (Ephesians 2:10). We find
fulfillment, peace and joy through His love and forgiveness (Romans 14:17).
We
collapse into God's waiting arms with the confidence that He will catch us and
never, ever let us go (Hebrews 13:5). He abides in our spirit now and makes a
huge difference in our life (Romans 8:11).
Prayer:
Father
God, there are not enough days in our lifetime to show our appreciation to You
for all that You do for us each day. Remind us not to take Your goodness and
grace for granted. Teach us to praise You for all of the blessings You shower on
us each and every day.
Help us to
learn to discern the leading of Your Spirit as we commit each day to You
(Proverbs 3:5-6). We do not want to depend on our human reasoning, because this
reaps mediocre results at best. We want to walk in Your Will by the direction
of Your Word under the power of Your Holy Spirit.
Thought
for the Day:
God
improves our spiritual, mental, emotional, financial and physical health as we
trust Him, follow the guidance of His Spirit, and live, move and exist in Him.
- Acts 17:28
