When
Christ moves into our spirit, we are weary and heavy laden; but He offers us
rest for our soul (Matthew 11:28). His righteousness, peace and joy replace our
worry and deprivation (Romans 14:17).
We
live in ceaseless wonder at the sacrifice He made for us on Calvary's cross
(John 17:3). If we are in Christ, God gives us a new life (2 Corinthians 5:17),
and provides for all of our needs according to His glorious riches (Philippians
4:19).
Like
the children of Israel, we fail in our attempts to live for God (Hebrews
8:7-9). Therefore, we no longer seek to reach heaven by our own efforts through
our good works (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Instead,
we accept His eternal salvation and an intimate relationship with Him (John
17:30). We rely on our Father God as He sanctifies us through our union with
Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:2, 30).
We
walk by faith and submit to God's Holy Spirit, as He crucifies the deeds of our
flesh (Hebrews 7:22; Romans 15:16); and we look forward to our heavenly home as
we abide in Him forevermore (Psalm 16:11).
His
Word plays a huge part in our sanctification process. It washes us clean as we
obey its precepts (Ephesians 5:26; Hebrews 12:14; 2 Timothy 2:21-22). God's
Spirit writes His laws on our heart (Hebrews 10:16).
As
God's children, and members of Christ's Body, we are filled with the fruit of
God's Spirit (1 John 3:2; Romans 12:5; Galatians 5:22-23). We no longer work
for God, but we totally surrender to His Lordship, so that He may work through
us to accomplish all that He has planned for us (Colossians 1:27; Ephesians
2:10).
Prayer:
Father
God, we have come to realize that the more we abide in Christ, the deeper we
experience Your security and blessings through our position in You. Thank You
for sanctifying us by the truth of Your Word (John 17:17). Helps us to walk in
Your ways and to keep Your statutes (Ezekiel 36:7).
You
give us Jesus as the fulfillment of Your covenant with us, and Your Spirit as
our guarantee. We find our rest in Your everlasting arms, and we rejoice that
we are now heirs of all of Your promises (Ephesians 3:6; Deuteronomy 33:27; 2
Corinthians 1:20). We constantly give You the praise that is due to Your name.
Thought
for the Day:
Our
justification in our spirit, sanctification in our soul, and our glorification
in our body are not accomplished through our human resources, but by the work
of the Triune God within us.
-Titus
3:5; Ephesians 5:26; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 3:18
