Our Only Passion

By God’s grace, Jesus Christ brought salvation to the whole world. He dwells within us and inspires us to abandon all unrighteousness and carnal desires.

Living in union with Christ becomes our only passion. We live, move and have our being only in Him. He is our life, our motivation and our inspiration (Acts 17:8; Colossians 3:4)

He redeems us from sinful behavior and purifies us as a people who belong to Him. His Spirit within us allows us to live a self-controlled, holy and upright life in this world.

As we wait for our blessed hope, which is the reappearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, we cheerfully and zealously follow His Spirit’s direction (Titus 2:11-14).

Since we are in union with Christ, the kingdom of God is now within us, and God blesses us with all spiritual blessings from His throne (Luke 17:21; Ephesians 1:3).

We set our mind on things above, not on things on the earth, and our treasure in not from this world (Colossians 3:2; Philippians 2:5, 4:8). Jesus gives us great power, which comes from God and not from our self (2 Corinthians 4:7).  

The more we submit our life to God, the more we die to sin and the less Satan is able to hassle us. We live by the faith of Jesus who loves us and gave Himself for us (Hebrews 1:3; Galatians 2:20).

As we walk in the Spirit, we are assured that everything happening to us is the will of God for us. We may feel unhappy, stressed, anxious or fearful; but as we keep our mind on God, He gives us His peace (Isaiah 26:3; John 14:27).

God's Spirit enables us to change our focus about the negative issues in our life. We no longer see an empty cupboard, but room for more of God's blessings. He is always faithful to provide for all of our needs (Philippians 4:19).

Prayer:

Father God, the trials we experience are not as devastating to us as they used to be. They are only light and momentary affliction now, because we no longer focus on the things we see in this transient realm of life, but only on the eternal weight of glory You are preparing for us.

We look forward to this glory, which far exceeds anything we have ever seen or experienced on this earth (2 Corinthians 4:13-18). As we share the gospel of Jesus with others, Your grace extends to more and more people, which increases our thanksgiving to You (2 Corinthians 9:8).

Thought for the Day:

Everything we ever accomplished in our flesh is minimized by what we gain in Christ; being found in Him through faith in Him increases our passion for knowing Him in His exceptional greatness. 
- Philippians 3:7-9

The Divine Life

The divine nature of Christ was not changed when the Word became flesh (John 1:14). He was fully human and still fully divine.

All the fullness of the triune God resides within Christ, and Christ dwells within the spirit of every Born Again Believer (Colossians 2:9). We are the temple of God’s Holy Spirit, which resides within each of us (1 Corinthians 3:16).

Therefore, all the fullness of the triune God dwells within each authentic Christian. We often struggle with our human and spiritual natures, which war against one another.

However, we learn obedience through the things that we suffer, just as Jesus did (Hebrews 5:8). Even though we dwell in a mortal body, we are buried with Christ in baptism and raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).

We are transformed by God's Holy Spirit who renews our mind until we have the mind of Christ, and who enables us to absorb the truth of the Word of God (Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 2:16; Philippians 2:5, 4:8).

Through regeneration we come to identify, understand and seek after the things of God. We live a fulfilled life of faith, love and complete holiness, absorbed in the presence of God.

We have the divine nature of Christ within us (Colossians 3:3). As our life decreases, His divine nature in us increases (John 3:30; Acts 17:28). This makes a huge difference in how we face life and what we accomplish in it.

We have more faith, because of God's faithfulness to us. We have more power because we cease living in our own efforts. We enjoy God's divine presence within us, because we know that without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5).

Prayer:

Father God, never let us feel superior or prideful because You dwell within us. Humble us in Christ's humility and remind us that it is only through Christ that we can accomplish anything good (Romans 7:18). You are the Vine and we are the branches, and You cut off any branch that does not bear the fruit of Your Spirit (John 15:2-5).

We cling to You with our whole being, knowing that this world holds nothing for us without You. You are our motivation, our success and our whole life (Colossians 3:4). We meditate on Your Word day and night, and we find our only source of life within the verses on each page.

Thought for the Day:

As Believers we grow to enjoy the divine nature of Christ, free from the passion of sin and loving only what He loves.

- Romans 6:6; 1 John 4:4; Galatians 5:22

Perfect Children

 

As a parent, we dream of well-behaved children, who share our goals and dreams for their life, listen to our Godly wisdom and live according to Biblical principles. This is rarely the case, however, except in a few situations. Most of the time there are no perfect children, just like there are no perfect parents. We all require discipline.

Since God cares enough about us to discipline us, we need to care enough about our children to discipline them (Hebrews 12:5-6). This discipline is only for direct disobedience, not for childish behavior, which gets on our nerves. Children need to be children and to run, jump and play. If we do not give them opportunities to expend their energy at the park or outside in the yard, they will do it in the house at the least appropriate times!

God challenges us to encourage our children's individuality, which He creates in them. We pay attention to God's will for their life and we do not push them in the direction of our own aspirations for them. We discover the areas where our children excel and discover what their passion is. God places a call on each life and He has His plans for us before we were ever born (Ephesians 2:10).

Discipline allows children to feel safe and proves that we care about them and love them (Psalm 3:11-18). Consistency is the main ingredient whether we use a few swats on their rear, time out or the loss of some cherished item for a short period of time. God's discipline is for our good, not His own; and we discipline our children for their good, not our own. This helps them to grow up as self-disciplined individuals.

Prayer:

Father God, we thank You for Your Word, both Old and New Testament, in order to make us wise in this secular world and to use to raise our children according to Your nurture and admonition (Ephesians 6:4). Help us to proclaim Your Word to our children and to the world around us, through Your Spirit, bringing healing and salvation to them all because of Christ who abides within us (Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:14-21).

Thought for the Day:

God's Word, taught from infancy, makes us wise individuals.

- 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Taking Thoughts Captive

    

Our old, carnal nature is very susceptible to temptation. Satan attempts to distract our passion for God by stirring up our former desires for sin. His lies remind us of forgotten memories, which trigger negative thoughts and behavior from our soul. The devil knows that if he controls our thoughts, he will also control our actions.

Discouragement often opens our ears to hear Satan’s lies, but focusing on the positive, beautiful aspects of God and His Kingdom keeps our mind on praiseworthy issues (Philippians 4:8). A grateful attitude will ensure our success in this area. The friends we keep, the people we work with and our other associates may influence us to sin or to walk away from God (1 Corinthians 15:33).

However, as we bring our thoughts into obedience to Christ, Satan has no power over us (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). As we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the former lusts of our flesh (Galatians 5:15-25). We seek to build God's eternal Kingdom, rather than to erect our own little kingdom here on earth (Colossians 3:1). Issues which grieve God's Spirit grieve us as well (Ephesians 4:30).

We can also meet with an older Believer for discipleship, to learn the elementary teachings of the Word (Hebrews 6:1). We devour the Word of God, by using a Bible translation we understand or by using a topical Bible. We attend Bible studies with our church family and in our community. God's Spirit perfects us in holiness with the mind and divine nature of Christ (2 Corinthians 7:1; 2 Peter 1:4).

Prayer:

Father God, if we sow sin, we will reap corruption (Galatians 6:7-8). That is why You encourage us not to fellowship with unbelievers who walk in darkness (2 Corinthians 6:14-15; Job 4:8; Proverbs 22:8; Hosea 8:7). You pour out Your wrath on all ungodliness and unrighteousness, which prevent Your elect from knowing Your Truth. Submitting our life to Your Word and living according to Your precepts is the only way we can enjoy a fulfilled life on this earth and be ready to rule and reign with Christ in eternity.

Thought for the Day:

We have less of a desire to partake in carnal behavior every day that we spend with the Lord.

Inner Transformation

God promises never to leave us nor to forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). When He seems distant, it is because we have drifted away from Him, not that He left us. Mental knowledge about God cannot compare with knowledge of God in a personal, spiritual relationship (John 17:3). This intimacy transforms us from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).

God’s presence in our life changes us from the inside out. We are still rough around the edges outwardly; but inwardly, we have more peace and joy than ever before. The fruit of God’s Spirit replaces our carnality (Galatians 5:22-23). We fall more in love with Jesus every day. Our fears, deep-seated anger and insecurities diminish as God heals the pain of our past.

Our faith in God’s faithfulness grows with each trial, which He works out for our good, as well as through each weakness He enables us to overcome (Romans 8:28). We come to Him and willingly lay our goals and desires at His feet, embracing His will for our life. Our prayer time grows from a few moments each morning to continual communication throughout the day (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

We feast on God’s Word and allow it to dictate our thoughts and behavior. When we, who know God intimately, share with others what Christ does in our life, many of them will desire to know the Lord too. I do wish our passion for God was catching, so that everyone would come to know His love intimately. However, everyone does have a chance, because He calls “whosoever will” (Revelation 22:17).

Prayer:

Father God, our unity with You is our greatest joy. All of our other relationships and activities are influenced for the better, because of Your presence in our life. We love that we can be Your friend (John 15:13-15). King David gives us such insight into our relationship with You. The possibilities are endless (Psalm 63:1-8). Thank You for making us joint heirs with Jesus Christ of the glory of Your Kingdom (Romans 8:17; Philippians 3:10).

Thought for the Day:

When we fully love God and keep His Words, the Trinity makes their abode in us. – John 14:23

To Know You Intimately

The word “to know” in many places in the Bible has the same meaning, although it refers to both our relationship to a mate and to our God. The meaning of this word “to know” is a bond more intimate and personal than any other human relationship. For instance, Adam “knew” his wife, which resulted in the birth of their son Cain (Genesis 4:1). This same word, with all of its intensity, is also used in other verses pertaining to our relationship with the Lord. This relationship leads to a blessed life now and in eternity (John 17:3).

Christians can understand and “know” God in the spiritual sense with the same intimacy Adam “knew” Eve (Jeremiah 9:24). We can have this same passionate, cherished and personal relationship with our God. We not only know about God, or believe in Him, because even the demons know and believe (James 2:19). We have a deep, personal “knowing” relationship with God that transcends the intimacy of any human relationship. Not a physical relationship as in marriage, but a reciprocal emotional and spiritual intimacy that fills our soul and our spirit to overflowing (Luke 6:38).

However, so many people never develop this connection with the God of the universe. A friendship and a marriage take time and effort. A deep, personal relationship with God is more powerful and fulfilling than any human relationship. Yet, Christians take God for granted. We use Him like a mall to provide the things we want. We try to use Him as a shield from the unpleasant side of life. We nag Him about our pet peeves and we harangue Him to bring peace to the world and to fix our other altruistic causes.

However, we rarely take even a moment of our time to express a word of praise for all He has done and is doing in our life. Here is the real question! How many times do we just praise Him for who He is, apart from what He does? How many minutes in the day do we spend giving Him the praise and honor and glory that is due His name (Psalm 29:2, 66:2, 96:8)?  We often spend more time longing for a fulfilling human relationship, which is not possible as long as we are self-centered humans, than we spend in the relationship we have with God.

Since we cannot see God, feel His arms around us or actually hear his voice, we put a relationship with Him in a sub-category in our thoughts. We say, “Oh yes, I love the Lord; I claim His promises for my life.” We may also spend countless hours serving Him in ministry to our church and community. However, how much time do we actually spend “knowing” Him, sitting quietly in His presence and acknowledging that He is Lord of all (Psalm 46:10, 24:1)?

There are some Christians who do take their relationship with God seriously. They sit in His presence throughout the day and actually feel His love pouring over them like a waterfall. They spend time reading His Word and meditating on (contemplating) what they read. Words of praise are never far from their thoughts and lips. They live in the Spirit and walk by the Spirit every moment of the day (Galatians 5:16, 25).

They recognize that they no longer live in their body, because Christ is living in them and through them (Galatians 2:20). They pray without ceasing and their thoughts are not centered on the world around them, but on God’s will for them in this world. They work and play with the realization that God is using their body, soul and spirit for His purposes. They have few desires of their own, but they live to fulfill God’s desires in their life.

It is not that they are so religiously minded that they are no earthly good. They live and love everyone around them completely and fully as God uses them to bless those He places in their life. They actually find it more fulfilling to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). When they have a need, they either meet it, they ask someone to help them to fill it or they turn it over to God to provide it in His way and timing. This way, their focus is constantly on walking in the will of God moment by moment throughout the day.

Moses felt this same longing for intimacy with God (Exodus 33:13). King David passionately sought the Lord (Psalm 63:1-3, 84:1-2,). Paul considered everything in his life useless when compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus (Philippians 3: 8-11). Elijah enjoyed this intimacy and God sent a flaming chariot from heaven to bring Elijah home (2 Kings 2:11). Enoch had this intimate, personal relationship with God, and he never tasted death. He was walking with God along the road, and God just took him home to heaven (Genesis 5:24).

It is possible for all of us to have this union with God through salvation through Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:7-10). To start, confess any known sin in your life and totally surrender your life to God, read God’s Word throughout the day, spend daily time in prayer, and then wait on God and listen to the lover of our soul as you go about fulfilling His purpose for your life (1 Chronicles 22:19; Matthew 22:37; Psalm 103:4; Jeremiah 29:11).

Prayer:

Lord God, we give You praise, honor and glory for who You are. We thank You for the multitude of blessings You pour out on us every moment of every day. We thank You for allowing us to represent You in our world and for helping us to make life better for those You give us the privilege of serving. Pour out Your love in our life and allow us to recognize that it is no longer us, but You living through us (Galatians 2:20). Remind us to constantly center our focus on You.

Thought for the Day:

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” - Psalm 42:1-2