A Divine Relationship

Many people attempt to develop a relationship with Jesus and are not able to completely enter into this intimate union with Him (Luke 13:23-24). This is because they seek this relationship for all the wrong reasons.

They want the benefits of the fulfilled Christian life, but they do not want to live up to the commitment. Joshua encouraged Israel to choose to serve the Lord, and that is actually what it takes to have this coveted relationship (Joshua 25:15).

God's grace provides the opportunity for salvation to every person ever born (Titus 2:11). He is not willing for anyone to perish in the flames of hell for eternity, but for everyone to come to Him in repentance (2 Peter 3:9; John 3:18).

We do not earn this stature, because it is a free gift; but it does require a choice to commit to the Lord in wholehearted dedication to His ways and His Word (Romans 5:15).

Satan will fight our choice at every turn. He is used to having us in his service and he wants us back. Therefore, spiritual battle is an ongoing event in the Christian's life (1 Timothy 6:12).

Our power of choice is still alive and well in the heart of every Believer. We make choices every day either to serve God, our flesh, the world or the devil.

Satan tempts us as he did Adam and Eve, to make choices from our self-motivated will, independently from God's will for our life (Genesis 2:1-17; Ephesians 2:10). To draw us away from God's best, he uses legitimate needs we have as human beings; but they end up being lies.

God will convict us; but it is up to us to choose to totally surrender our body, soul and spirit to Him; so that His Spirit can heal our body, sanctify our soul and regenerate our spirit.

Prayer:

Father God, remind us that conviction does not save us, it simply humbles us and brings us to the point of repentance. The good news is that Christ in us is greater than any influences outside of us (1 John 4:4). The more we understand our new identity in You as an authentic Believer, the more quickly we grow in spiritual maturity.

With maturity, we find it easier to choose to live in dependence on You for all of our needs. We realize that it is not necessary for us to sin in an attempt to meet our basic needs. When we hunger and thirst for Your righteousness (Matthew 5:6), You supply everything for us according to Your glorious riches (Philippians 4:19).

Thought for the Day:

Conversion only comes through a heart-felt commitment to follow Christ with our life; and it stirs us to read our Bible, to attend worship services, to attend Bible studies and to praise God in every moment through every circumstance - the good, the bad and the ugly.

A Surrendered Life

In spite of His trepidation over facing His separation from our Father, as well as taking on the weight of the sin of the entire world for all ages of time, Jesus faced the cross in the power of the eternal Spirit of God (Hebrews 9:14). As authentic Born Again Believers, we have this same Spirit living within us. We overcome every trial we face through His power, and we reap minimal consequences from any fiery dart, which Satan sends our way (Romans 8:31-39; Ephesians 6:16).

Through every moment of life, God illuminates our life with His Spirit. We maintain a healthy conscience, as we remain penitent before the Lord. We often step out in faith to perform some work or ministry for God, which we deem noble and necessary. However, if God does not direct us, we simply grieve Him in the process (Ephesians 2:10). Faith without works is dead, but faith used to perform dead works is even more lifeless.

Peter is an accurate example of a man who lived in the flesh. It wasn’t until he denied Christ that his remorseful tears brought complete surrender to God. He fell on his face as a failure and rose up in the power of the Holy Spirit. Overall, Peter accomplished much in the power of God. Paul is another example. He actually fought against God, but the bright light of the revelation of God humbled Him and illuminated the error of His thinking and behavior.

God will do the same thing for all of us who desire to live a Godly life. We sit before Him in our spirit and we ask His direction for each moment of our day (Proverbs 3:5-6). Then we go out with joy and we are led forth by His peace (Isaiah 55:12). We are sons of God and we walk by the Spirit (Romans 8:14). Jesus is our Lord and King and we are His subjects. We desire only to do works, which brings Him pleasure (Philippians 2:13). By His divine grace and mercy, we live a life totally surrendered to His will.

Prayer:

Father God, the cross is our birthplace, Jesus is our motivation and Your Spirit is our sanctifier and guide. In surrender, we display the humility of Jesus death and the power of His resurrection. Your Word is the two-edged sword, which divides our carnal human nature from Your nature within us. We live simply and desire only to further Your Kingdom on the earth. We know without a doubt that You will provide for us every good thing, which we need.

Thought for the Day:

In total surrender to the Spirit of God, we live the adventure of the fulfilled Christian life.