The natural
mind cannot comprehend spiritual truth with the intellect. Without the Holy
Spirit of God resident within our spirit, God's truth seems foolish (1
Corinthians 2:14).
Without the
Spirit of God, we pick and choose what we want to believe from the Bible, if
anything at all. We attend church services to feel good and make friends. We may
even find a place of service in the church and community.
Our inner being
needs strengthening by God's Spirit, so that we can receive Christ in our
spirit (Ephesians 3:16). If anyone is willing to trade pride and rebellion for
humility and submission to God's Spirit we can experience salvation (Matthew
5:5).
Then God fills
us through our entire being with all of His fullness and gives us the richest
portion of His presence, so we become a body completely filled with all of God Himself
(Ephesians 3:17-19).
As we are quiet
before the Lord, He inspires us (Psalm 46:10). Christ abides within us by His
Spirit, influencing our thoughts, words and deeds; helping us to fulfill God's
pre-ordained purpose for our life (Ephesians 2:10).
We stop
stressing over life, or attempting to find God's will, or to make a living and
to amass worldly goods. We enter God's rest, and He floods us with His peace
and joy regardless of life's circumstances.
God directs
each moment of our day and provides for our every need (Proverbs 3:5-6). We are
the only Bible some people will ever see, so let us live life in God's fullness
and righteousness.
We exemplify to
them God's reality, love and peace, which transcends all human understanding.
We are the branch on the Vine, bearing fruit used by a lost and dying world to
nourish their souls and strengthen their spirit, so that they too can believe
(Ephesians 3:16; Galatians 5:22-23).
Prayer:
Father God, we
realize that all of You dwells in every Believer at the moment of salvation;
but Your Word teaches us that we can increase the intimacy of our union with
You (Psalm 42:1-2; Zephaniah 3:17; John 14:21).
Remind us to
pursue You rather than worldly gain, and to taste and see just how good You
really are (Psalm 34:8; Hebrews 6:5). Your Word is sweeter than fresh honey to
our mouth (Psalm 119:103). We delight in You always and rejoice in Your
presence in us through every trial and tribulation we ever experience in this
sin cursed world (Philippians 4:4; Psalm 37:4; Matthew 28:10).
Thought for the
Day:
At the coming
of Christ, the whole earth will be filled with His glory, just as the waters
now cover the earth.
- Isaiah 11:9; Jeremiah 31:34
Many thanks to Matt Milligan for the use of his photo.