Prior to coming to
Christ, we were shackled with our old soul nature and a spirit dead in sin. We
were crippled by having a body that started dying the day we were born, a
dysfunctional soul, and a dead spirit to cart around with us as we
danced through life to the tune of lies from Satanic spirits (1 John 5:19).
We did our best
to survive and thrive. Yet, even if we are successful in the eyes of the world,
we still lack the basic connection with the God of the Universe, who took on
the form of a human being in order to bring us new life.
At times, even God's
servants go off on our own tangents and smear God's name, purposes and
direction for our life. We work in God's name, but do not follow God's will,
which defames His name among the nations - the exact opposite of God's plan for
us (Ephesians 2:7-3:19).
When we come to
Christ, He forgives our sin, rejuvenates our body, gives our spirit new life,
and heals our soul. This gives us the maximum benefit of having a wholesome
body, soul and spirit in order to relate to the issues in our life.
Our God-shaped
vacuum within us is no longer empty and lifeless, but filled with God's Spirit
and renewed each and every day because we are Born Again. We have a purpose in
life, our identity in Christ and our vision clearly focused on the will of God.
The old sinful
nature died and we are resurrected in Christ. He is now our whole life
(Ephesians 3:3-4). We experience the exuberant goodness of our God toward us
through His love (John 3:16-17).
Christ's
sacrificed His life on the cross to eliminate our sin debt for us and to
guarantee the Holy Spirit's residence within us, if we will only humble our
self in the sight of the Lord (James 4:10).
Prayer:
Father God, please forgive us for giving You a "bum wrap" and "bad press" among the society of nations across the ages and around the world. Our human behavior, done in Your name, tainted Your name and defamed Your honor among the nations. True salvation connects us to the living water within us, and allows it to flow from us to those You bring into our life (John 7:38).
Father God, please forgive us for giving You a "bum wrap" and "bad press" among the society of nations across the ages and around the world. Our human behavior, done in Your name, tainted Your name and defamed Your honor among the nations. True salvation connects us to the living water within us, and allows it to flow from us to those You bring into our life (John 7:38).
Lead us in a
level path in this exact moment, and all of the moments of our life, because of
our enemies. Help us to walk in true holy living according to Your Spirit for
Your name's sake (Psalm 23). Regardless of our circumstances, when You are
involved in them with us, You turn all of them around for our good (Romans
8:28).
Thought for the
Day:
With the same
conviction we enjoy in knowing that we are born of God's Spirit through our
salvation, which comes from Christ alone, we live with the fulfillment and
power of realizing that our sanctification also comes from Christ alone. -
Galatians 3:1-3
