No Longer a Sinner - Predestined to be Conformed

God predestined those He foreknew to be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). He will present us to Himself as His glorious Bride, the Church without spot or wrinkle, glorious and blameless through Christ in us (Ephesians 5:27).

The process of conforming us to Christ's image is what most people shy away from in their journey of surrendering to God. We fear the pain of being molded or that God will send us to some unfavorable place on the earth to serve in His Kingdom.

At first, what we do not realize is that He is molding us into His grace by His mercy and love. If we completely submit to His ministry in our life, this is painless and even joyful (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Once we gain experience in the molding process, we stop fearing the unknown and embrace it with faith. We experience the glory of His transfiguration in us and are stunned by the splendor of His majesty (John 14:3, 17:24).

As the elect of God and the Body of Christ, we willingly surrender to Christ, our Head, in the process of election and sanctification. We gradually conform to the image of God, which Adam enjoyed in the Garden (Genesis 1:26-27, 5:3; 1 Corinthians 15:49).

He gives us His fruit and His gifts in order to take our place as healthy, viable members of His family. His spiritual life flows through our spirit and enables us to function in His calling for our life.

According to His eternal promises, He replaces our human nature with Christ's divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). He creates us as a new creature in Christ for good works (Ephesians 2:10) and gives us His power as His glorious Body (Philippians 3:21).

Prayer:

Father God, we look forward to seeing Christ as He is and being made in His likeness (1 John 3:2). Thank You for Your holy Word, which does not leave us clueless on this earth, but which reveals to us everything we need to see and know to live godly in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:12). Carry us through any suffering and persecution, and strengthen us in every tribulation, which we experience for Your righteousness sake (Matthew 5:10-12; John 15:18-27; Philippians 3:10).

When we suffer with Christ, we will also be gloried with Him in the day of our resurrection (Romans 8:17) and share in Your Kingdom as co-heirs of all that is Yours. Hasten the day of Your coming and take us to live with You in Your holy City of New Jerusalem.

Thought for the Day:
When Christ, who is our life, appears, we will also be revealed in all of His glory. - Colossians 3:4

The Beauty of Holiness

What most people do not realize is that there is beauty in holiness (Psalm 29:2, 96:9). There are church denominations, which add to Biblical law and fence members of their congregation into a narrow, legalistic lifestyle, which is more rigid than God ever intended. 

The standard by which we judge our behavior is not by human dogma, activities or acceptance, but the Truth of God's Word.However, there is also a tendency today to skirt Biblical directives and to partake in sinful activities, which we justify in our own heart as harmless. 

When we flirt with the flesh, the world and Satan, we walk a fine line between God's Truth and Satan's lies. We compromise our character. By our thoughts, words and deeds, we tarnish the name of our Father God.

We even shut up the Kingdom of Heaven for some, because of our hypocritical lifestyle (Matthew 23:13-14). God is holy, and He dwells within us; therefore, He desires His habitation to be a place of holiness (1 Peter 1: 15-16). 

Before He even created the world, God planned for His Saints to live a holy, blameless life before Him, out of our love for Him (Ephesians 1:4, 2:10).Human beings are so self-centered that we cannot comprehend the fullness of life beyond the grave. 

We think that we have to experience all that life on this earth has to offer, because we only have one life to live. This is a lie straight from the pit of hell. Our earthly life is merely temporary (James 4:14). It is our life in God's eternal Kingdom that is our true life.

Prayer:

Father God, our sinful habits and our sinful lifestyle spit in Your face (1 Thessalonians 4:7). We focus on issues in this life, when that is not what You are really concerned about at all. Many people wonder what Your will is for them. Your will is more about our sanctification than our place of employment, brand of car or style of clothing (1 Thessalonians 4:3). 

Giving thanks for our lot in life is also Your will for us (1 Thessalonians 5:18). You actually put us in the neighborhood and occupation in which we can further Your Kingdom, and that should be our daily focus.

Thought for the Day:

God calls us to be a living testimony of the change His presence makes in our life and as examples of righteous living to the praise of His glory. - Ephesians 1:12

Holiness is What I Long For

Prior to salvation, we had an instinctive intuition that we were faulty in character and lacking in moral fiber. Many people compare themselves to their neighbors or acquaintances, and then decide they are good enough to get into heaven.

No one is good enough to enter heaven (Romans 3:10-12, 23). We do not measure up to God's standard of holiness (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Isaiah 6:1-3). We futilely attempt to fill the gap in our life by striving to find love, to amass worldly possessions and to rise in our career. 

Jesus came to fulfill that emptiness within and to pay the penalty for our sins. He gave Himself for us, and sanctified us with His sacrificial offering on Calvary's cross (Ephesians 5:15 -17). If we humble our self and believe that Jesus died for our sins, then we are welcomed in heaven (Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9).

Holiness is the character of God (Isaiah 30:12). There is a song that I love, in which the words, " Holiness is What I Long For" ring out loud and clear (song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfiC6rkhOY8 ). 

God calls us to desire holiness. Jesus purchased our holiness by suffering horrendously outside of the gate of the city (Hebrews 13:12). He calls us to walk in holiness rather than in carnality and sin.

God's Word is Truth, and as we read and learn His Words, they sanctify us (John 17:17). God is peace, and He makes us completely holy in our body, soul and spirit through Jesus Christ, so that we are blameless when we face Him (1 Thessalonians 5:23). 

God is our Father, Jesus is our brother and their Spirit is our comforter and guide throughout our life (John 14:26). They are always with us and in us, helping us to be holy.

Prayer:

Father God, You call us to holiness, because You are holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). Help us to pursue holiness, because without it, we will never see You (Hebrews 12:14). Remind us to honor You and Your Son by righteous deeds, directed by Your Holy Spirit (John 5:22-23; Ephesians 2:10). We want to give You Your rightful place on the throne of our life and to totally surrender control over our life to You (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Thought for the Day:

As obedient children, we are not to conform our behavior to the passions and ignorance of our life prior to coming to Christ, but to be holy, even as Christ in us is holy. - 1 Peter 1:14-15

A Soul's Rest

 

True life begins when we surrender our life to God. Even Jesus cried out from His soul for God to save Him from the hour of His crucifixion (John 12:27). Yet, it is a good thing for us that He surrendered to God’s will. When we surrender to God, sin is disgusting to us (2 Peter 2:8). We are foreigners and exiles in this world. At the top of our priority list, is seeking God’s Kingdom. He provides for all of our needs (Matthew 6:33). Our soul revels in its rest, because the Lord is always good to us (Psalm 116:7).

If we hide sin in our heart, God cannot hear our prayers; but if we live in His righteousness, He pays attention to our prayers. He satisfies our longing and He fills our hungry soul. To authentic Born Again Believers, His loving kindness is better than anything this world has to offer. He will not turn away from us or withhold His love from us. He will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). We praise Him with our lips for as long as we live (Psalm 63:2-5, 107:9).

Paul encourages us to keep our whole spirit, soul and body blameless until the return of Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Jesus teaches us to love God with all of our mind, choices, emotions and strength (Mark 12:30; Matthew 22:37; Luke 10:27). When Mary found out she would give birth to Jesus, our Savior, her soul glorified the Lord (Luke 1:46). As we walk in God’s will for our life, we also live a life of praise to His name. We cease from our own labors, and our soul enters God’s rest (Hebrews 4:10).

Many spend their lifetime working for their self and then for God, but blessed are those who learn to cease from our labors and enter God’s Sabbath rest. God gave us this example when He rested from His works after His monumental feat of creation (Genesis 2:2-3). We keep each day holy for Him (Exodus 20:8-11). His presence goes with us and insures that we rest in Him (Exodus 33:14). Even if our flesh and our heart falter, God strengthens our heart, because He is our portion for eternity (Psalm 73:26).

Prayer:

Father God, remind us that life on this earth is not an end in itself, but merely an opportunity to choose eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Our soul is capable of becoming distressed and discouraged (Psalm 42:5). Yet, our soul praises You, who are the only One who can truly encourage our soul (Psalm 42:6 & 11; 3:1, 104:1). Our soul finds rest in You, because You are always good to us (Psalm 62:1-2). Help us to live our whole live, in every endeavor You lead us to accomplish, to the praise and the glory of Your name (Psalm 103:22; Ephesians 2:10).

Thought for the Day:

The soul that finds its rest in God matures to the point of abstaining from sinful desires, because they no longer appeal to us in any way. - 1 Peter 2:11

Each New Day

 

We all pay a litany of consequences for our choices. Even Saints who are forgiven may still suffer the consequences of our behavior, just as the thief who had to die on the cross. However, for those who surrender to God, we are forgiven from the penalty of our sins. Jesus paid the debt for us and takes us with Him to heaven for eternity. This gives us a reason to rejoice as we read His Word, as well as to stay far away from everything, which tarnishes or stands against His name.

Those who trust in God can rejoice with each new day and gladly face the hardships that come (Psalm 118:14,24). When we hide in the refuge of our Savior, no one can do anything to us that is outside of His will. There is no reason for us to fear the trials in this world or for us to rely on anyone other than our Father God (Psalm 118:6, 8-9). God is our strength and shield. He puts His song in our heart at the moment of our salvation. God’s continual loving kindness and truth endures forever (Psalm 117:2).

Our help comes directly from the Lord, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. He will not allow us to stumble or to be cast down. He even watches over us in our sleep. He is our protector and provider. He gives us shade in the intense heat of daily life and safety from the terrors of the night (Psalm 91; 121:1-6). When we find our rest in Him, we quiet our soul and do not worry. We are as safe as a child in its mother’s loving arms (Psalm 131:1-2).

As we seek Him with our whole heart, walk blamelessly before him, and keep His precepts, He blesses us in every area of our life. He provides us with His light in our darkest experiences. He keeps us from evil and preserves our soul for eternity. He watches over us each moment of the day both now and forevermore (Psalm 121: 7-8). This is why we love Him with all of our heart, and live in faithful obedience to Him to the end of our days (Psalm 119: 1-2,105,112).

Prayer:

Father God, You know everything we think, say and do. There is no place for us to hide from Your care and concern over our life (Psalm 139:8). You give great peace to everyone who loves Your ways. As we keep our focus on You, nothing will cause us to falter from our life in You (Isaiah 26:3). We love You with our whole heart and we rejoice in Your ways (Psalm 119:162-168). In the quiet hours of the night, we join the trees clapping their hands in praise to You, as they perform in perfect harmony with the wind. We give our life and love to you (Isaiah 55:12), and we live each day for the glory of Your name.

Thought for the Day:

If we look at all the worries in our life, we get overwhelmed with stress. If we walk in the Spirit each moment of the day and leave the rest to God, we will live victoriously.

 

Living in Christ

Righteousness can come from God or from our own soul. The difference is that self-righteousness is birthed from pride and Godly righteousness comes from humility and surrender to God. If we attempt to gain God’s favor by performing holy actions, we fail. All of our human righteousness is like filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6). We can do nothing to earn God’s favor or to work our way into heaven. Nothing less than complete surrender to God will do.

We receive God’s righteousness in exchange for our sinfulness, at the moment we repent of our sins and look to Jesus as the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:3). It is a gift, not something we earn (Romans 3:23). The righteous works of a Believer are simply the evidence of our faith (James 2:14-26), not an attempt to earn God’s acceptance. We only perform the works, which God intended for us to do before we were even born (Ephesians 2:10).

When the Holy Spirit governs our behavior, our works endure and we receive rewards for them on judgment day. When our human flesh directs our works, they are wasted energy and simply burned up on the day of judgment (1 Corinthians 3:15). Although we are still saved, we do not receive rewards for these works, because they are not done in obedience, but by the flesh, which is enmity against God (Romans 8:7).

God created each of us for a purpose, and only these works will survive the test of God’s consuming fire (Ephesians 2:10). When we abide in Christ, we dwell continually in His presence. The Holy Spirit gives us the character, nature and perspective of Jesus, which replaces our carnal persona (2 Corinthians 3:18). God does not give us a list of rules to adhere to, which is the law. But He gives us a whole new way of life in Christ as co-heirs and children of the King.

Prayer:

Father God, You call us to live IN Christ, not FOR Christ. You want Christ to live through us, so that we will accomplish Your will in the earth and bring forth the fulfillment of Your Kingdom. Create a new heart and renew a right spirit in us (Psalm 51:10). We acknowledge Your holiness and stand in awe of You in Your presence (Isaiah 29:23). You formed and made us from the dust of the earth, and we are created for Your glory, not our own (Isaiah 43:7).

Thought for the Day:

God chose us in Christ, holy and blameless in His sight, before the earth was ever formed. – Ephesians 1:4

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.

What "Union with Christ" Means

Our actual union with Christ is founded on our salvation, from beginning to end (Hebrews 12:2). The basis of our union is Jesus’ redemptive work on Calvary’s cross (Ephesians 1:7). We were dead in sin and made alive in Christ to do the good works, which God prepared for us before the beginning of time (Ephesians 2:4-5, 10). We are also united with Christ in regeneration. It is not something we strive to enter. In this union, we are in Christ (John 15:4,5,7; 1 Corinthians 15:22; 2 Corinthians 12:2; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 1:4, 2:10; Philippians 3:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 John 4:13).

We are in Christ, but Christ is also in us (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1 27; Romans 8:10; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Ephesians 3:16-17). This makes our union complete. In this guaranteed bond, Christ dwells in our heart through faith (Ephesians 3:17). Our union with Christ brings us into a state of holiness through sanctification, not by human effort, but by His grace (Ephesians 2:8-10). We are baptized into His death, resurrected with Him from the grave, raised with Him in His ascension and we sit with Him, even now, in heavenly places. We will return to earth with Him when He appears in His glory to rule and reign in His Kingdom (Romans 6:14, Colossians 2:11-12, 3:1-4; Revelation 19:14; Colossians 3:1; 1 Corinthians 15:22).

There are three stages of our union with Christ. Initially, we are justified in our death with Christ (Romans 14:8; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:8-9; Revelation 14:13). Then, we are made holy through out sanctification through Christ (John 15:4-5; Ephesians 4:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17). Finally, we persevere in our union with Christ through the faith of Christ, and nothing can separate us from the love of God (John 10: 27-28; Romans 8:38-39). Our Father is the origin of our union; Jesus is the provider of our union; and the Holy Spirit is the bond of our union.

 
Union with Christ includes more than drawing our life from Christ; it also means living in Him and Him living in and through us (Romans 6:3–4, Galatians. 3:26–27). Jesus is our rock, fortress and deliverer in whom we can take refuge. He is our shield and the horn of our salvation, our stronghold (Psalm 18:2).  He is also our loving husband (Revelation 19:6-9). We are the apple of His eye, and we can hide under the shadow of His wings (Psalm 17:8). We are Jesus’ offspring and the sons of God (Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 8:14-15). We the Body of Christ, and He is the Head of that Body (1 Corinthians 12:12–27).

When we are one with Christ, we are also one with the Father (1 John 2:24). Jesus is the foundation of the building God is making without human hands. We are the temple of God, in which He dwells (1 Corinthians 3:10–11). We belong to God as a chosen people and a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). God chose us before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless, predestining those who believe in Christ as His adopted sons (Ephesians 1:4-5; Galatians 4:6-7).

We are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's Saints and members of God's household (Ephesians 2:19; Philippians 3:20). In our union with Christ, we are also to live in union with one another as His Body. We have many gifts and talents among us to meet the needs of each individual member of the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12). In our union with Christ, there is no distinction between anyone’s station in life, race, color or gender (Galatians 3:28). We are all one Body in union with one another in Christ.

Prayer:

Father God, our relationship with You, now and in eternity, occurred in our union with Christ. Because of Christ, You raised us to new life. In eternity You will give us immortal bodies with the power of Christ's resurrection. We thank You for Your spiritual blessings to us in the heavenly realm in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). In Him all of Your promises come to pass and we are partakers of those promises (Ephesians 3:6).

Thought for the Day:

It is seeing our self from the perspective or our union with Christ, which energizes us to grow in purity and holiness.

With Due Diligence

The world’s philosophy is that accumulating more is better than living with less. Life with “gusto” is often pictured by a man grabbing with both hands everything he can get from life. Unsaved humanity does not like to consider God or His requirements for their life. They are filled with every dishonorable activity known to mankind. They not only perform these degrading actions, but they also take pleasure in persuading others to join them in perpetuating these coarse practices (Romans 1:28-32).

God gives us both His Word and His ministers to teach us, as well as to show us by example, how to exchange this ungodly behavior for actions that give glory to God (Ephesians 4:11). We find rest for our soul in God alone. Our hope comes from Him, because He alone is our rock and salvation. He is our fortress, and He will never allow us to be shaken (Psalm 62:5-6).

The truth in the Bible states that one handful of quietness is better than both hands full of trouble and exasperation of spirit (Ecclesiastes 4:6). Solomon understood that a meal of vegetables where there is love is better than a meal with a fattened calf where there is hatred (Proverbs 15:17). We do not need to covet what others have, because the road to hell is slippery ground. Their unbelief casts them down to ruin. They are suddenly destroyed and completely swept away into eternal terrors (Psalm 73:18-19). However, God gives Believers everything we require for a satisfying life both now and in eternity (Psalm 73:16-17).

Since Paul gathered his strength from the Lord regardless of his circumstances, he learned to live in victory both when he abounded with plenty, as well as when he suffered deprivation (Philippians 4:11-13; 1 Timothy 6:6). God provides for us as well. He fills us through all of our being with all the fullness of His presence (Ephesians 3:16-19). Then, He promises never to leave us nor forsakes us (Hebrews 13:5). We find deep contentment in our relationship with Him rather than in the temporal provisions of life.

So often we experience first hand our deliverance from some awful circumstance by God’s miraculous hand, only to forget about it a few days later. We get caught up in the current situation and overlook the dynamic power of God just waiting to deliver us once again. We forget the Word of Truth we relied on to keep us in peace throughout the last trial we experienced (Deuteronomy 4:9-10). We also fail to diligently relate to our children the testimony of the astounding power, which God used in our behalf (Deuteronomy 6:5-10).

Worse yet, we receive God’s free gift of salvation and then fail to keep His commandments, walk in His statutes or share His love with those He puts into our life (Deuteronomy 6:17). If instead, we remember His blessings, share with our children the testimony of God’s provision and walk in obedience to His commandments, then He can deliver us again and again in an even greater capacity than ever before (Deuteronomy 11:22-23, 28:1). As we cling to Him and serve Him with our whole spirit, soul and body, He abundantly provides for us through all of the circumstances of life (Joshua 22:5; Psalm 77:6, Psalm 119:1-4; Proverbs 4:23)

In these trying times in which we now live, we may be tempted to give in to jealousy and bitterness toward people in the world who seem to have so much more than we do (Psalm 73). However, these temporal things only serve to defile their whole life (Hebrews 12:15). Instead, we can focus on the fact that God called us to a sure election and He will never fail us (2 Peter 1:10). Then, we will live our life in peace and present our self to Him without spot and blameless on the day of His appearing (2 Peter 3:14).
 
Prayer:

Lord God, without faith it is impossible to please You. Therefore, we trust in the truth that Jesus gave His life as a ransom for our freedom from sin and sin's penalty.  We know without a doubt that You reward those who seek You with due diligence (Hebrews 11:6). You never forget our labor of love, which we show in Your name as we minister to Your Saints and to the world around us. You give us the full assurance of a hope placed in You and You provide us with the inheritance of all Your promises throughout our life (Hebrews 6:10-12).

Thought for the Day:

What we often hope to accomplish with ease is often finished only by applying due diligence.