There is No Condemnation

 

 

Satan loves to use condemnation to defeat God’s Saints. His condemnation causes us to sink into the quicksand of shame with no visible way out. We see our faults and are burdened by our failings. Satan plants lies in our soul during each perceived failing; and we readily believe them, because of our feelings of hopelessness.

 

God, on the other hand, does not condemn us, He convicts us. Conviction reveals our guilt with a desire for repentance. Repentance means to turn away from sin and move toward holiness. Even if we never commit some gross sin of immorality or murder, we are still sinners (Romans 3:23). No amount of good works or self-effort can free us from the penalty of our sins.

 

Trusting in Jesus is our only means of salvation (John 14:6). His Holy Spirit breathes God’s breath of life into us and our spirit is no longer dead in sin. We completely surrendered our goals, dreams and aspiration in life to God’s will for us (Ephesians 2:10). We serve God with authentic devotion each moment of the day. We no longer desire a life of worldly pursuits and willful sin.

 

God’s Spirit converts our sinful nature to the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). We realize that God’s presence is within us and the Holy Spirit is sanctifying us. We are truly saved from hell and going to heaven (2 Corinthians 13:5-6; Lamentations 3:40-42). God removes our condemnation by washing us as clean as snow, and giving us a new heart and spirit within us (Ezekiel 36:25-27). 

 

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for washing us clean, and giving us righteous desires and Your Spirit to direct us (Colossians 2:13-15). Thank You also that Jesus nailed our sins to the cross and blotted out the charges proved against us. Remind us not to live for You in our human effort. Help us to allow Christ to richly dwell in us as Your Body, so that whatever we do in word or deeds, it is all done for Your glory and honor (Colossians 3:16-18).

 

Thought for the Day:

God took away Satan's power over our life and openly displayed to the whole world the triumph of Christ over Him; so that there is no longer any condemnation for those who love God and who are called to serve Him in His purpose for our life. – Romans 8:1; Colossians 2:15

 

Keeping Up The Image

Read: Romans 8:15-30

Our eternal destination depends upon our righteous standing with God and the grace He gives to each individual who calls upon His name (Galatians 3:8, Amplified Bible). God’s desire is to conform us into the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). He uses the trials in our life to bring about this major fundamental change in our character, vision and goals. When we resist trials, we resist what God intends to do in our life, using this very trial.

Our faith through every negative circumstance in our life is in Jesus, who lives within us and is our hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). The Holy Spirit, who is one with the Father and Son, intercedes for God to strengthen us in our trials (Romans 8:26). The Spirit uses the knowledge we have about God and His Word to conform us into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). Then everything we do by the Spirit’s direction is lasting and has value in the eternal kingdom of our King Jesus.

Before Christ, we built our hopes and dreams upon shifting sand (Matthew 7:26). The least little storm came and blew them all away. If the Lord does not build our house, all of our labor is in vain (Psalms 127:1). With the life of Christ now residing within us, we build our hopes and dreams upon the Rock, which is Jesus Christ (Psalm 18:2; 1 Corinthians 10:4). We build our marriages on the Rock, our business on the Rock, our family on the Rock, our church life on the Rock and our friendships on the Rock. Now, they are lasting and eternal.

If we fail to walk in the Spirit, and live instead for our own pleasure, we will not escape the fires of hell (1 Corinthians 3:15). The activities we perform in our own strength, no matter how successful they are, will not survive the flames of God’s justice. They will be consumed (1 Corinthians 3:13). Unless we are doers, as well as hearers of the Word, we are deceiving ourselves and clinging to a false hope of going to heaven (James 1:22-24).

When we are crucified with Christ into His death, we are also raised with Him in His resurrection (Romans 6:5; Galatians 2:20).  This gives us an eternal perspective on life. Our priorities change and our focus is more spiritual. We stop wasting our precious influence, assets and time by pursuing worldly interests. We walk in the Spirit and we stop fulfilling the desires of our flesh (Galatians 5:16). The Master Architect makes a new creation out of the ruins of our life (2 Corinthians 5:16).

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Your will is the only part of life worth pursuing. Help us not to waste another moment of this precious time, which You gave to us. Show us where we take control away from You, and give us the strength and courage to surrender everything to You each day of our life. Use us to accomplish only that which will last for eternity. Do not allow our labor to be in vain. Teach us to worship Jesus, our Rock, in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:23-24).

Thought for the Day:

We are related to God in Christ by the Holy Spirit who bears witness within us that we are the children of God conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6).

How to Make a Lasting Difference

Read: Luke 10:38-42

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” - 1 Corinthians 10:31-32

The story of creation proves to me that God intended for us to live in paradise. Instead, mankind chose to exalt himself as equal to God and ended up in this pain-filled earth. God’s Spirit within us, however, makes life in this sin-filled world, not only bearable but also victorious. We only need to accept God’s complete forgiveness and relinquish our will to His in order to make a lasting difference in our life and in the world around us.

Mary realized this truth and she relinquished her need to control her environment and chose to sit at Jesus feet. Martha, on the other hand, had to be in control to impress Jesus with her efforts. Busyness often causes mental breakdowns and emotional wounds. As we simplify our lives and walk in the Spirit, however, we end up doing only those activities, which God’s Spirit leads us to do. We accomplish only what God calls us to do each moment of the day. We have a much less busy schedule and the positive results of our efforts are much greater.

Prayer:

Lord, teach me to adjust my priorities and eliminate busyness, which needlessly contaminates my thoughts and clutters up my time. Help me to find my fulfillment in You, so that I have no need to participate in worldly pursuits.

Thought for the Day:
Though many things may seem important, only God’s will is necessary.