Jesus is a Friend of Mine

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

We receive Eternal Life at the moment we walk away from our sinful lifestyle and follow God's will for our individual lives (John 3:14-15). God does the rest by perfecting us according to His will.

Eternal Life is not some ethereal state of being, or one that only occurs after we pass from this life, but is simply knowing the one, true God and Jesus Christ, whom He sent to save us from our sins (John 17:3).

If we know Jesus, we know our Father as well (John 14:7). Jesus appeared to many people in the Old Testament. These are called Christophanies.

Jesus is actually the Trinity in physical form (Gen 12:7-9, 18:1-33, 22:11-18; Exodus 24:9-11; Daniel 3:23-24). He dwelt on this earth for a brief thirty-three years to give us an example of how to live.

Every day, God leads us through Christ by His Spirit (Romans 8:14). He does not speak to us in our mind, but in our spirit. It is an impression, a strong knowledge of what we are supposed to do.

The thoughts in our mind can be influenced by God, but are also influenced by the devil, our flesh and the world. Before following these ideas, we are wise to submit our thoughts to the test, to see which spirit is influencing us (Philippians 4:8; 1 John 4:1).

With practice, we begin to know God’s voice (John 10:27). Throughout the day, we do the works, which He ordained for us to accomplish before we were even born (Ephesians 2:10).

Prayer:

Father God, Thank You that Your Spirit speaks to us throughout the day. Your Spirit also communicates to other people through us (Matthew 10:20) by helping us to speak and by teaching us what to say (Exodus 4:12).

Make us ever mindful of the leading of Your Spirit in our life. Before we even put our feet on the floor in the morning, make us aware of Your will and direct our steps each moment of our day (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Thought for the Day:

We consider everything we possess in this life as rubbish when we compare it to our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

- Philippians 3:8

In Constant Union with Christ

 

Here is a fun exercise for you. Whenever you remove produce from your grocery bag or eat the fruit from a vine, remember that you too are a branch on the Vine, producing similar fruit for God’s Kingdom. Let it remind you that we are as dependent on the Vine as the vegetable or fruit was, which you are preparing to eat.

God grafts us into the Vine of Christ when we humble our self and admit that we need Jesus as our Savior. We are reciprients of the work of Christ on Calvary’s cross. He is our Vine, and we are His branches. A vine takes the nutrients from the soil and sends them to the branches. Our Vine separates the nutrients from the compost of life and sends it directly to our spirit.

The branch does not walk off by itself, but is absolutely dependent on the Vine. All Born Again Believers have this same constant union with our Vine. Nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:31-39). The sap never, ever stops flowing into the branch. It provides everything we need for every moment of our life. This is the secret of our true success.

Branches participate in this process too. We have the leaves, which  take time to bask in the Son and collect the nutrients from His presence. We reflect His beauty and holiness to the world around us. If the branch gets the idea it does not need the Vine, it will wither and die. The Holy Spirit uses the fruit of the Vine, which grows in our life, to benefit those who need the life of Christ within us.

Prayer:

Father God, You are our Vinedresser. You protect us from disease, insect invaders and scorching trials, which Satan sends into our life. You provide the supplements we need to grow into vibrant branches on the Vine of Your Son. You make us fruitful (Galatians 5:22-23) in order to bless those You bring our way. Send people to pick the fruit You produce in our life and remind us to generously share Your work in our life with them.

Thought for the Day:

We abide in the Vine in total dependence. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. - John 15:5

When Our Children Reject Us

 

When my daughter grew into a young woman, she distanced herself from me for sharing Jesus and Bible verses with her and some of her friends. She believed that I was trying to convert them and this offended her. She stopped contacting me and eventually told me to stop contacting her. People ask me all the time how I can possibly deal with my daughter’s rejection of me.

I remind these caring people that my trust and hope is in God. My spirit is Born Again and Christ in me helps my human soul. My soul – my thoughts, emotions and choices – misses fellowship with my only daughter. However, my spirit rejoices, because she realizes my strong commitment to Christ.

One day she will comprehend that I live my life according to all of the teachings of Christ, not just the popular ones. For the glory of God, I imparted to my children the wisdom of Biblical precepts and knowledge (Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 4:9; 6:6-9).  I know that one day they will all be encouraged and strengthened by these same convictions, which I cling to.

God has a plan for each of our children. God fills our quiver with them and then shows us in which direction to aim them as arrows into the future (Psalm 127:4-5; Proverbs 29:17). Paul commended Timothy because he shared the same faith as his mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1:5). My younger son already shares and lives by Biblical faith. I look forward to the day when my daughter and my older son come to faith in Christ as well (2 Timothy 3:14-15).

Prayer:

Father God, we surrender our children to Your care and Your purposes for their life. Teach our children by Your Spirit and impart Your wisdom and peace into their lives (Isaiah 54:13). We release them into Your care, protection, direction and provision (Psalm 127:3–5). Humble them until they exalt You in their life. Protect them in the palm of Your hand and draw them to Your bleeding heart by Your sacrificial love.

Thought for the Day:

Children are a gift from God; they are a reward from Him. – Psalm 127:3

Sinners Become Sons

Read: Romans 8:16-17
 
“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” – 1 John 3:2

At the cross God extended great and immeasurable mercy on mankind (Romans 6:23). Christ died for the worst and the least of sinners, because all sin deserves punishment by death (Roman 3:23). Christ bore our penalty for our sin; so that we can receive His righteousness in exchange (2 Corinthians 5:21).

What a powerful demonstration of God's eternal love toward those who love Him (Jeremiah 31:3)! Although God offers salvation to everyone, each one of us must accept this free gift individually.

Born Again people can no longer live in habitual sin (1 John 2:3-6, James 1:12-16, 1 John 3:7-10). If we were convicted of our sin, asked Jesus to forgive us, worship with other Believers, talk to God and He continually draws us closer to Himself, we will change. However, if there was no spirit transformation in us, our experience was merely a sentimental occurrence in our soul – in our mind, will and emotions. Our spirit was never born again. It is still dead in trespasses and sin (Ephesians 2:1). If we still live in habitual sin, we are not living a converted life and we are not saved from the power of sin. According to 1 John 3:9, this lifestyle proves that we are lost and going to hell.

Those who live in consistent sin were just convicted and not converted. He/she is double-minded in their lifestyle and not sincere in their service. They changed nothing by praying the sinner's prayer, going to church, serving in a ministry, talking to God, getting baptized or even tithing their income. They are just doing good works, and that does not get you into heaven (Eph 2:8, Rom 6:12-14, Matt 5:27-30, Rom 7:13).

To all who actually receive Jesus, however, who believe in His name, who surrendered their life to Him and who are led by His Spirit (Romans 8:14), God gave them the right to become His children (John 1:12). Therefore, only Born Again believers are children of God through our faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26). How do we know if we truly are God’s children? God’s Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are His children (Romans 8:16). He is our Father and He lavishes His love upon us (2 Corinthians 6:18; 1 John 3:1). Now, all of creation eagerly waits for the revelation of God’s sons and daughters, so it too can experience this same salvation (Romans 8:19).

Without faith, it is impossible to please God. In fact, anyone who wants to become His son must believe both that God exists and also that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). When people mock us, lie about us, persecute and say evil things about us, their words and actions do not need to have any affect on us. In fact, we can be thrilled about this mistreatment; we can leap for joy, because we are counted worthy to suffer in a similar manner that such great men of faith as the apostles and prophets, as well as Christ also suffered. God blesses us as His true followers and a great reward waits for all of us in heaven (Matthew 5:11-12).

Another reason we can rejoice when we encounter trials and problems is because we know that God is working endurance in us. Then, this endurance produces character and eventually a hope that is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ and His righteousness (Romans 5:3-4). We have a secure hope, which anchors our soul during the tempests of life (Hebrews 6:19). We will receive the crown of life, which God prepared for those who love Him (James 1:12). Also, if we go one step further and love people who insist on treating us as enemies, we gain an even greater reward (Matthew 5:46).  

When Christ returns, He will bring His reward with Him, and He will give to each of us according to the type and amount of works we accomplished for Him during our lifetime (Revelation 22:12). These works do not earn our salvation, but they earn us our rewards (1 Corinthians 3:14). Who does not like a paycheck at the end of the work week?

Comprehending our standing in Christ helps us to realize that we are different from non-believers. We no longer need to live as slaves to sin, to the devil and to our flesh. This also helps us to understand the plight of our unsaved family and friends, and encourages us to make a difference in the world to which God calls us. Do people know who you really are and what you truly stand for? Are your actions and words any different from an unsaved person’s? Do your friends and family know that you are a child of God?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for the life-altering change You made in our lives. Your death on the cross gives us victory over sin and Your resurrection secures for us victory over death. I now have eternal life in You through Your mercy and grace. I love to meditate on your promises and to praise You for all that You do for me each day. Spur me on now to share this life-changing power with everyone I meet.

Thought for the Day:

We sinners become sons of God, because the firstborn Son of God bore the punishment of our sin.




Thank you, Tonia Neal, for the use of your photo.

Complete Through Christ IN Us

Read: Galatians 2: 20-21

“God wanted his people throughout the world to know the glorious riches of this mystery – the mystery, which is Christ living in you, giving you the hope of glory.” - Colossians 1:27

In the perfect balance of the Trinity, God is three separate entities – the Father, Son and Spirit - who all dwell within each other in a spiritual union. God sits on His throne and Jesus sits at His right hand; however, we forget that by the Spirit, the fullness of the Godhead also dwells within us (1 Corinthians 6:17).  When we repent and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, we connect in a spiritual union with the entire Trinity (Galatians 2: 20-21). Even when we realize this fact, however, for some reason, we continue to view God as “up in Heaven” and separated from us down here on the earth.

If we view our lives as separate from Christ, we feel forsaken when we endure our trials. However, our whole attitude and outlook about life change, when we come to realize that Christ is in us (Colossians 1:17). We no longer face adversity unaided. We are now assisted by all the power of the Godhead, which dwells within us (Galatians 2:20). Therefore, we no longer live alone, but Christ lives His life in us and through us. This means that we can do all things through Christ who empowers us from the inside out (Philippians 4:13).

John explained, "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life" (I John 5:12). This is what Christians mean when we say we are “Born Again”. A person without the Spirit of God has a spirit, which is dead in trespasses and sins. It is only when we are born again of the Spirit of God that He breathes His life into our spirit and regenerates us (John 3:6). We are then "born from above" (John 3:3,7). The full power of the Godhead dwells in us from that moment of Salvation.

God does not visit us occasionally, nor does He listen to our prayers from His throne in heaven. He took up permanent residence in us the second we asked Him to forgive our sins. He possesses us - body, soul and spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23). God does not only reveal His Son to us, but in us as well, because Christ “is all, and is in all” (Colossians 3:11).

How does this transforming manifestation occur? Christ converts our natural man (1 Corinthians 2:14) into a spiritual being (1 Corinthians 3:1). He changes us from "children of the devil" (1 John 3:10) and "sons of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2; 5:6), to "children of God" (Romans 8:14,17; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 3:26; 4:6,7; Hebrews 2:10; John 1:12; Romans 8:16; 1 John 3:1,2,10). The Trinity’s presence and function within us now identifies us as Christ followers (Acts 11:26; I Pet. 4:16).

We are in Christ and He is in us. Biblical evidence reveals that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). This means that the unregenerated “old man” (Ephesians. 4:22; Col. 3:9), who is worthy of eternal death, has been crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6). Now, with Christ living in us, we become a "new man" (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10).

From this point on, when we perform the good works, which God prepared for us before time began (Ephesians 2:10), this is actually the Trinity working in us and through us. We are now pleasing in His sight (Hebrews 13:21). Our life manifests as a living letter of Christ, not written with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, on the tablets of human hearts (2 Corinthians 3:3). Jesus is in the Father, and the Father is in Him (John 17:23). Born Again Christians are in Him as well, and He is in us (John 14:20). This means that the Father and the Spirit are also in us.

Within each of us is God’s Divine power, which delivers and defends us. We do not need to feel fearful when a friend turns against us, when a mate leaves us, when a child rejects us, when our boss dismisses us, when our transportation breaks down on us, when our body gets sick, when the pantry is empty and when there is no more money in the bank.

We only need to dwell in the shelter of the Most High and to rest in the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1). We have a mighty fortress deep within our spirit, in which we can hide and feel safe, until we connect with His Spirit and gain the strength to face our trials. Then the Trinity, dwelling within us, triumphs over every negative circumstance in our life.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, we are complete in every facet of human existence because You dwell within us (John 14:17; 2 Timothy 1:14; James 4:5). We will never be worthy of your sacrifice on Calvary’s cross. However, Your power and might manifest in our lives, which make it possible for You to dwell within each of us. Now, we ask You to use us, body and soul and spirit, for Your glory on the earth.

Thought for the Day:

The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, dwells in every Born Again Christian.

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