No Longer Condemned

Regardless of our struggles as Believers in Christ, no action on our part can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:31-39). We are no longer condemned, because Christ set us free (Romans 8:1). ​

When certain sins continue to entice us, we can ask God to reveal the need in us, which they supply. He gives us wisdom on how to meet those needs in a Godly fashion, and we no longer desire sin.

All sin is rooted in unbelief, because whatever is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:22-23). Satan will even attempt to condemn us with shame for our lack of faith; yet, we can cry out to God, "I believe, help my unbelief" (Mark 9:23-25).

We reject the devil's condemnation, and respond with repentance and surrender to the conviction of God's Holy Spirit. As we strive to enter God's rest, we abide in His peace and joy (Hebrews 10:4; Romans 14:17).

Choosing to refrain from running off on our own tangents, we reduce our need to cry out to God to find us and restore us back to a life in the center of His will (Luke 15:4).

Centering our life with our source in Christ in us, we do only those works, which God preordained for us to do (Ephesians 2:10, 3:17). We walk in the Spirit instead of in the flesh (Galatians 5:15-25).

We find our fulfillment in this life by walking the straight and narrow road (Matthew 7:14). We rejoice in the Lord always in every situation, because of His love and presence residing within us (Philippians 4:4).

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for providing for us the pearl of great price to pay the ransom for our sins and to set us free from Satan's lies (Matthew 13:45-46). We rejoice in knowing that we are wholly Yours and that You have a purpose for our individual life (Ephesians 2:10).

Remind us that we no longer live, but Christ lives in and through us, directing our day and giving us the desire and the power to accomplish Your will for each moment (Philippians 2:12-13; 2 Corinthians 4:11). We give You all of the praise and glory forever and ever.

Thought for the Day:

Satan tells us that we will never measure up and be enough, but Christ died for us and reminds us that in Him we are complete. - Job 19:26; Colossians 2:10

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Following in Jesus' Footsteps

As humans, we devote hours to gaining proficiency in our career, hobby, talent or sport. We sacrifice everything else in our life to acheive greatness in this one field. Yet, in our walk with God, our most important relationship, we barely give Him one hour a week. We decide that since our eternal destination is secure, we do not need to put any more time or effort into a relationship with Him.

Is our eternal desitination really secure? Praying a prayer, getting baptized, attending church on Easter and Christmas, reading our Bible and believing in God do not insure our salvation. True, authentic Born Again salvation will give us the desire to sacrifice all for God. Jesus is the pearl of great price; and we willingly give up everything to attain a deeper relationship with Him (Matthew 13:45-46).

God desires an intimate relationship with us; that is why He created us. When we finally come to the point of total surrender to God, He leads us into His perfect, everlasting rest (Hebrews 4:10). We are living stones with which He is building His holy temple (1 Peter 2:4-6; 1 Corinthians 6:19). He is faithful, and we can trust Him with our current and future life as we seek Him only and always.

Jesus is our very life (Colossians 3:4). Almighty God is ever ready to shine forth His light and life into our hearts each moment of our day. The Holy Spirit abides in us, leading and directing each step, which we surrender to Him. We can trust the Trinity to work out every aspect of our life for our good (Romans 8:28). Jesus lives His divine life in and through us (2 Peter 1:3-4).

Jesus gave 33 years of His life to show us an example of how to live a Spirit-filled life. He walked, talked and demonstrated the power of God in human form. We have this same Christ in us and we can follow in Jesus’ footsteps. He lived in complete dependence upon our Father God, absolute surrender to His will and total trust in His guidance and power (John 5:17-30). We have His same character within us.

Prayer:

Father God, Jesus knew that without You He could do nothing (John 5:17-30). He communed with You throughout His life and looked to You to fill Him with everything He needed in power and majesty. Remind us that You are in control of our life and You did not give us our life to squander in seeking earthly riches and relationships. We are the branches of the Vine of Christ and Your Holy Spirit is the sap which empowers each branch to bear fruit for Your Kingdom.

Thought for the Day:

We are dead to sin and alive to God, a living sacrifice for our Father’s use. – Romans 6:11; 12:1

Hidden with Christ in God

 

Living a life hidden with Christ in God is a lonely life, because there are few people in this world who aspire to be that united with God. It takes a commitment to shed the cares of this world and to grasp a life devoted to furthering God’s Kingdom in this world. We are indivisibly one with the only true God. We do not walk according to the flesh, but after the Spirit (Galatians 5:16,25). We traverse a deeply spiritual walk, because Christ is our whole life (Colossians 3:3-4).

We are all individual members of the worldwide family of God throughout the ages, as well as the current Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). Jesus displays His attributes in and through us. He manifests Himself to the world through His Body. He is all and in all (Colossians 1:17). We live in this world, but we are not a part of it (John 15:19). The world rejected Christ and rejects us, as well; however, this holds no significance to us.

We seek the lost; and we lead those who are willing, those whom the Spirit is drawing, to a union with and a deeper walk in Christ. His Spirit rains on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45), because He wants to draw everyone to Himself. He is a mighty God who holds the universe together, and He is a gentle God who cares about the lilies of the field, the birds of the air and the number of hairs on our head (Matthew 6:25-34).

The earth is His footstool (Acts 7:49); yet, He came to earth as one of us, to redeem us from the penalty of our sins (John 3:16). He provides for all of our needs, by His glorious riches (Philippians 4:19). He is our total sufficiency (2 Corinthians 9:8). As we seek first His Kingdom, He provides us with everything we need (Matthew 6:33). He gives us abundance, and He see us lack; but He teaches us contentment in both (Philippians 4:12).

Our food is to do the will of our Father (John 4:34). He watches over us and listens to our prayers (1 Peter 3:12). Even when we are afraid, we can put our trust in Him (Psalm 56:3-4). There is nothing life can bring against us that Christ in us cannot handle (Philippians 4:13). He keeps His promises and through them He gives us His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). As we take up our cross daily (Luke 9:23), His life shines through us to the world around us.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You vanquished sin and death by your victory on Calvary’s cross. You are now our Victory and we walk in You. Eternal life is to know You in an intimate relationship provided for us through Your Spirit. We are united with you as one being (John 17:21-23). As You are, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). You express Yourself through Your Body as we live, move and have our being in You (Acts 17:28). You are our pearl of great price and we treasure our relationship with You (Matthew 13:44-46).

Thought for the Day:

Knowing God does not involve religious activity or pious attitudes; it is simply abiding in Him.