God's
Word challenges us with every turned page to live as His disciples, mirroring
Christ's life in our thoughts, words and deeds. The main recommendation is to
take up our cross every day, or we are not worthy of Christ (Mathew 10:38; Luke
14:27).
At
Salvation, our old nature literally dies, and God births His life within us
(Colossians 3:3-4). We no longer entertain the desire to participate in sinful
activities or to dwell on unholy thoughts. Jesus’ holiness fills our heart more
each day (Galatians 2:20).
There
is a paradox here. If we surrender our life to Christ, we find it more
fulfilling and successful than if we continue to attempt to live by our own
direction (Matthew 10:39). We no longer dictate to God, but we submit to His
will for our life (Ephesians 2:10).
God
is love, but He is also righteous, just and holy. He has a standard of living,
which He requires from all of us. Of course, He does not expect us to reach
this standard by our self. God's Spirit is the one who actually does the work
in us (Philippians 2:12-13).
As
we take up our cross, He crucifies our old, carnal nature until we walk in His
holiness (Luke 9:23). We no longer sit on the throne of our life; but, as we
follow the leading of God's Holy Spirit, we yield to His Lordship and wisdom.
Sin is no longer a part of our nature.
The
more our soul walks in the holiness of His completed work, the more peace and
fulfillment we enjoy. We draw near to God, resist Satan and He must flee from
us. We live and move and have our being in Jesus Christ, our Lord, Savior,
Master and King (Acts 17:28).
Prayer:
Father
God, at first, it is hard to understand the concept that we no longer abide in
this temporal world, even though we remain in it physically. Yet, as we focus
on the eternal, immortal aspects of life in Christ, we find our righteousness,
peace and joy in You (John 16:33). We follow Christ as He followed You.
We
believe in, trust in and cling to Him for every thought, provision and emotion
in our life (2 Corinthians 4:16-17). We
confidently approach Your throne as we greet each new day, and we walk in Your
Spirit as we focus on each moment of our day in You (Galatians 5:15-26).
Thought
for the Day:
Every
authentic Born Again Believer finds the secret to contentment in total
surrender to the will of God for our life.
– Philippians 4:12
