We
are not children of God until we actually receive Christ's saving work in our
life (John 1:12). Regeneration is the lovely word, which describes what happens
to us.
Jesus
plugs us into His power supply and charges our battery. What we were blind to before
we received His to salvation is now more than obvious to us (John 3:3).
He
makes us a new creature and everything about us changes for the better (2
Corinthians 5:17). We are no longer slaves to sin, but slaves to God instead
(John 16:8).
Through
regeneration, we turn from unrighteous decisions and live and walk in God's
truth and righteousness (Roman 6:1-2, 15; 2 Corinthians 7:10). Everything we
think, say and do is motivated from our desire to bring glory to God (1
Corinthians 10:31).
Living
in continual sin proves that we do not know God's Truth and that He does not
live in us (1 John 2:4-6; Romans 3:23). However, Salvation is just a prayer
away (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9).
It
is a free gift from God, which we cannot earn for our self, but was earned for
us by Christ's willing suffering of the horrendous death on the cross (1 Peter
2:24).
God
plainly sees all that we do in secret. He rewards our righteous deeds and
disciplines us for our transgressions; because He loves us and does not want us
to reap the degradation of sin any longer.
His
desire is for us to walk in step with His Spirit every moment of our day. He
has a perfect plan, which will unfold for us as we patiently obey His Word
(Ephesians 2:10).
Prayer:
Father
God, You intended for us to enjoy Paradise from the beginning of time. When sin
entered the world through Adam and Eve, we lost the benefits of living in Your
presence. Bereft, we comb the earth looking for the fulfillment, which only You
can supply.
Once
we come to Christ, You restore our link to You and You will also restore to us
the blessings of Paradise in eternity. In the meantime, You bless us with Your
presence, make all things new and lead us by Your Spirit as You give us the
desire and the power to walk in Your Salvation and Sanctification (Philippians
2:12-13).
Thought
for the Day:
Once
God convicts us of our sin, our lost condition and our need for a Savior, we
accept His free gift of restoration through Christ's grace and by faith in His
faithfulness.
