Genie in a Bottle

 

As we focus on Christ as our life, all of our needs are supplied in Him (Colossians 3:4; Philippians 4:19). He gives us love and acceptance in His family (Romans 5:8, 8:17; 1 Peter 2:5; Ephesians 1:6), security and protection under his wings (Psalm 91; Hebrews 13:5) and His righteousness so that we are guiltless in His sight (Colossians 1:22). Satan knows our weaknesses and preys upon them in order to discourage us from serving our King (Ephesians 6:16). However, we can face Satan’s temptations with victory, because he is simply attempting to draw us away from holiness in Christ (Revelation 12:10).

As Born Again Believers, God gives us a unique identity as a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our righteousness is based on God’s existence rather than our self-efforts. We live in union with Christ, not by our own merit, but according to His mercy (Titus 3:5-7). Jesus liberates our spirit, soul and body (Galatians 5:1,13). He provides us with meaningful service, which He prepared for us before the world began (Ephesians 2:10; 4:12; Galatians 5:13). He adopts us into His family and makes us courageous conquerors (Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:26; Romans 8:37). He gives us the desire to live a holy life (2 Timothy 3:12).

Even when we face great upheaval and pressure in life, God helps us to remain true to our convictions and to resolve to serve Him moment by moment throughout the day. A lack of joy in our life may come from unrealistic expectations, unconfessed sin, disobedience to God’s will, discord with another person or focusing on the negative aspects of life. God desires for us to serve Him with singleness of purpose, to bring Him honor and glory (Matthew 3:22,33) and to allow our light to shine so that people will see Christ in us.

So often we take God for granted, not even noticing His little love letters, which He sprinkles throughout our day. We spend more time dictating our desires to Him than we do in praising Him for what He already provided. We hand Him our to-do list each morning and expect it to be complete by the end of the day. God supplies all of our needs out of His love for us, not due to our worthiness. I hate to break the news to you, but God is not our personal genie in a bottle! He is not our instant wish-granter, meal-ticket or desire-implementer! He is Lord.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You give us so much to praise You for, and joy always comes as an outpouring of our praise to you (1 Peter 1:9). As we dwell in Your presence, You fill our soul with peace and give us Your pleasures now as well as in eternity (Psalm 16:11). Even as we submit to Your Spirit as He crucifies our carnal flesh on the altar of God, You are our joy and delight (Psalm 43:4; Psalm 51:12). We will praise You regardless of whether or not You ever provided another one of our needs. A life of praise overflows from our lips from the rising of the sun, until it fades beyond the horizon to usher in the night (Psalm 113:3).

Thought for the Day:

God is the parent who provides our every need, even when it is not what we really want, because He loves us and wants only what is best for us.

Shining Like Stars

Jesus is the first born of God’s children (Revelation 1:5; Romans 8:29). Our hope of resurrection comes through Him (1 Peter 1:3; Ephesians 1:1,5; Romans 6:11). He laid down His life for His brethren and conquered death, so that He could provide us with the life of His Spirit through His resurrection (John 5:24, 6:63, 11:25; 1 John 3:14; Acts 2:24; Philippians 2:8: 1 Corinthians 15:4). God separated the light from the darkness during creation and now He uses His Word as a sharp, two-edged sword to separate the carnality of our soul and our union with Christ in our spirit (Hebrews 4:12).

Even the good that is in our human heart must be laid at the altar of God, so we do not take pride in it or count on it for our salvation (John 1:13). We work out our own salvation only through the desire and power given to us by God (Philippians 2:12–13). It is through the regenerative work of God’s Spirit that we are renewed; separated from the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil; transformed into the likeness of Christ; sanctified in our soul and eventually glorified in our body.

God leads us to live in a realm of life deeper than our thoughts and emotions, which is influenced by His Spirit within our spirit. We move beyond the petty, superficial existence and concerns of this world and into the profound reality of life in the Spirit. He creates for Himself a holy habitation within our spirit in which He dwells. Now we are actually dead to sin, and united with Him in His resurrection (Ephesians 2:6; Romans 6:5; Colossians 2:12). Jesus gives us newness of life forevermore (Romans 6:4; 1 John 5:12).

He slowly manifests Himself through our regenerated soul. He heals our mortal body by His abundant divinity within us (2 Corinthians 4:10-11; Romans 8:11; John 10:10).  His Spirit gives us a new perspective on life and we start to do everything without complaining or arguing. We display the fruit of God’s Spirit and the peaceful fruit of righteousness to the world around us as we submit to His cleansing work each moment of the day (Galatians 5:22-23; Hebrews 12:10-11).

He transforms us into shining stars and makes us blameless and pure as His dear children, even in the midst of a depraved sea of humanity surrounding us throughout our daily life (Philippians 2:14-15). We lead as many of these drowning people to Christ as will humble their pride and surrender their life to Him (Philippians 2:16-18). We add to our prayer list those who refuse to accept Jesus, and until our dying breath we pray for them to find this unity with Christ.

Prayer:

Father God, we find rest for our soul only in a life lived for You. The trials of life discourage us. The tribulation of life threatens to overcome us. Without You, we are hopeless and undone. Thank You for salvation in Christ and encouragement from Your Spirit. Lead us by Your Spirit moment by moment throughout the day so that we can shine as stars in Your universe, as we walk in victory as overcomers because of Christ within us.

Thought for the Day:

Surrounded by the trivial concerns of life, we stand the chance of losing our perspective of eternity. Guard it with your life.