The nation of Israel is a perfect
example of God’s people who try, in the power of their flesh, to live for God (Hebrews 8:7-9). They
occasionally made great strides, but they constantly failed to keep the law.
We have no more success than they did
in obeying God’s Word on our own. We fail just as miserably to keep the letter
of God's law without the power of His Spirit within us.
However, as we rely on our triune God,
He sanctifies us through our union with Christ (1
Corinthians 1:2,30), the washing of
the water of His Word (Ephesians 5:26) and our obedience to His precepts (Hebrews
12:14; 2 Timothy 2:21-22).
We are the sons of God (1 John 3:2), members of
Christ’s Body who are fitly joined together (Romans
12:5), and filled with the fruit of His
Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). We do not work for God, but Christ lives and works in and through us (Colossians 1:27; Ephesians 2:10).
Our justification, sanctification and
glorification are not obtained through our human effort, but by the work of our
triune God within us (Titus 3:5). The Trinity works in us as individuals and as the united Body of Christ
(John 13:35; Ephesians 4:11-12).
Our Father God provides our
sanctification (Hebrews 8:10-12; Philippians 2:12-13), Jesus is the hope of our glorification (Ephesians
5:26), and the Spirit does the work of
sanctification within us (2 Thessalonians
2:13; 2 Corinthians 3:18).
As we mature in Christ, we are examples to the world of Agape love,
because we abide in Christ and His divinity dwells within us (John 15:4-5).
This allows us to make disciples of those in our sphere of influence (Matthew
28:19-20).
Before we were ever born, God planned what gifts and ministries He
would give to us to use for His Kingdom (Ephesians 2:20). He joined the Body
together so that each joint would supply what is needed for the healthy
function of the whole (Ephesians 4:16).
Prayer:
Father God, You shower us with Your blessings so magnificently that we
cannot count them all. We so enjoy walking in Your Spirit and living with Your
presence within us (Galatians 2:20). You give to us so that we will have the
ability to meet the needs of everyone You bring into our life (Matthew 10:8).
You meet all of our needs physically, mentally, emotionally and
spiritually and allow us to bring this same healing and supply to others. We
rejoice that we are members of Your Body and that we can supply our part so
that the Body is healthy and whole.
Thought for the Day:
The more we abide in Christ, we deeper
we realize the security and blessings of our position and promise in Him.
