The Benefits of Holy Living

God breathed the breath of life into Adam and he was born in body, soul and spirit (Genesis 2:7). God’s perfect design included all of us living in total union with Him in the Garden of Paradise. There was only one commandment Adam had to keep, and his pride would not allow him to remain faithful. Adam’s sin separated all of us from God. In fact, when Adam sinned, his spirit died. Now we are all born in this same sinful state with a dead spirit within us.

That is why human beings crave spirituality, dabble in the occult, seek Nirvana and go on holy pilgrimages. We are trying to reconnect with the Divine and to experience the rebirth of our spirit. Only those who trust in Jesus, turn from their wicked ways, and are Born Again in spirit will have eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord (1 John 5:11-12). We dwell in total union with God, live and move and have our being in Christ, and are led by God’s Spirit all the days of our life (Colossians 3:3-4; Acts 17:28; Galatians 5:16, 25).

Jesus was connected to God in Spirit throughout His lifetime (Johan 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:16; John 4:24). Since God was His actual Father, Jesus was not born with the curse of Adam’s sin on His life (Luke 2:11). However, He still lived in this sin-cursed world. His soul – thoughts, choices and emotions – was influenced by the carnality in the world around Him. His soul had to grow in wisdom and his body in stature, and it was His choice to grow in favor with both God and man (Colossians 2:3; Luke 2:52).

Before He created the world, God designed the plan to redeem man back to Himself by taking on the form of man and sacrificing Himself to pay the penalty of our sins. The Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, willingly laid down His life for us. He freely gives us His eternal life both now and throughout eternity. When our spirit is Born Again, we are united with Christ, we find our true identity in Christ and we connect with God once and for all time.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You suffered in life just as we do (Hebrews 2:14-18). You became a man, so that in You, we can live as You (2 Corinthians 5:21). Your Spirit exchanges our carnal humanity with Your righteousness. We have Your life dwelling within us (1 John 5:12). We grow in wisdom and stature by Your sanctifying process in our soul. We thank You for dying in our place and giving us Your eternal life now and forever. Teach us to have eternal values as we live in this world. Show us the reality of our union with You, so that we can reap the benefits of holy living both now and in eternity.

Thought for the Day:

Our human body will go to the grave, but our soul and spirit will never die. - John 11:25-26

Growing Weary

If we live an honorable life, God will use it to silence the foolish accusations, which ignorant people make against us (1 Peter 2:15-16). We know the truth that will set them free, but they do not want to hear it. They label us as intolerant for insisting that Jesus is the only way to heaven. Do you ever get weary of witnessing to people who will not listen? I recently grew weary and prayed about what to do.

The Lord reminded me that when we plant a seed in a garden, it takes a great deal of work and care before we reap the fruit. We rope off an area, remove the weeds and till the soil into rows. We fertilize the soil and then plant the seeds. It takes weeks for the plants to sprout and then a few months before the plants produce any fruit. We continue to water, pull weeds and keep the plants safe from obstacles to their growth. Yet, only God can give the increase.

The Lord pointed out to me that witnessing takes the same care and labor of love as gardening. A one time or another, we are tilling the ground, or planting a seed, or watering; however, only God gives the spiritual increase too, and only a few can actually harvest (1 Corinthians 3:6-9). This gave me the faith to continue sharing Christ with everyone around me. If we do not give up, we will eventually reap a plentiful harvest in God’s timing (Galatians 6:9). God resists the proud, but has mercy and gives grace to the humble (Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5).

God calls everyone to take part in His gardening process. If we liberally sow God’s truth in the lives of our friends, relatives, associates and neighbors, we will reap a hearty harvest; however if we sow stingily, we will reap sparingly (2 Corinthians 9:6). We are not obligated to share God Truth with anyone; but as a good steward, we cannot help but invest in God’s Kingdom, which brings us His rewards (Matthew 25:14-30).

Prayer:

Father God, remind us not to become weary of working in Your Kingdom, because You promise that we will reap a harvest if we keep on sowing (Galatians 6:7). Help us to follow Your gardening laws. Give us the wisdom and strength to continue with patience as we ready the ground, fertilize and water, plant the seeds, and then wait for You to give us the harvest. We know that You do not desire that anyone should die in their sin, but that everyone should come to know You in an intimate, personal relationship (2 Peter 3:9).

Thought for the Day:

God gives us His grace to allow Jesus to accomplish His work in and through us (2 Corinthians 9:8; Ephesians 2:10).