Psalm 118:5-6 NLT
In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?
Every day we are exposed to people and most of them have their own agenda. As do we. They may appear to come alongside us in our walk, but they are really on their walk. And I am speaking of a worldly walk, not our walk with Jesus. However our walk here on earth is everything about our walk with Him as well.
In our culture we have learned that it is all about us. The world shows us how important it is for us to be happy above all else. And to get that happiness the world suggests things to buy, people to hang around with, beverages to enjoy, places to travel to, and more.
In our quest for this worldly happiness which only lasts until the next thing looks even better, we may even lapse into a fear of not having what everyone else is enjoying. Maybe we even purchase it with money we have not earned by slapping down a credit card. Then we live in fear of not being able to pay it back.
Jesus came to set us free of the need to look to the world for that happiness. He came to release of from all fear, to set the captives free. No longer do we have to be controlled by the desires of this world. And not matter what people try to get us to desire because of their perceived happiness, we know better. There is nothing people can do.
With Jesus we have all we need. Our only desire is to be where He has for us to be, when He wants us there, and to be available to do the work He sets before us. As we do that work and He works through us there is no greater joy, no greater happiness. Thank you Jesus!
Monday, January 19, 2015
Monday, January 12, 2015
Right With God
Acts 13:38-39 NLT
Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in him is declared right with God-something the law of Moses could never do.
Most people in today's world are not trusting of everyone. They look for flaws and are slow to jump into relationships with others. Gone are the days of the interview leading right into a handshake and a job. Apply for a job today and they run a background check before making any decision on hiring. We can even log into sites on the Web and for as little as $1 find out everything about anybody!
Our relationship with Jesus has nothing to do with our past. We could have been the best person in the world or an evil drug pushing scumbag. When we ask Jesus into our heart ALL our past is washed away. Father God sees us as He sees His Son Jesus. For He is in us and we are in Him.
Because of the blood of Christ, we are bought and made free from the punishment of sin. And because of His blood, our sins are forgiven. His loving-favor to us is so rich. (Ephesians 1:7 NLV).
Sure our past still exists and anyone can check us out on the Web. But know this. All our sins, past, present, and future are covered by the blood of Jesus. His shed blood covers all our indiscretions. This does not mean we are to willfully sin, but when we do it too is covered.
Jesus forgives us, but to walk in that forgiveness we have to forgive ourselves. And Holy Spirit can help us with that. All we have to do is ask Him.
God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. (1 Corinthians 1:30 NLT)
In Christ we are righteous. We are right with God.
Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in him is declared right with God-something the law of Moses could never do.
Most people in today's world are not trusting of everyone. They look for flaws and are slow to jump into relationships with others. Gone are the days of the interview leading right into a handshake and a job. Apply for a job today and they run a background check before making any decision on hiring. We can even log into sites on the Web and for as little as $1 find out everything about anybody!
Our relationship with Jesus has nothing to do with our past. We could have been the best person in the world or an evil drug pushing scumbag. When we ask Jesus into our heart ALL our past is washed away. Father God sees us as He sees His Son Jesus. For He is in us and we are in Him.
Because of the blood of Christ, we are bought and made free from the punishment of sin. And because of His blood, our sins are forgiven. His loving-favor to us is so rich. (Ephesians 1:7 NLV).
Sure our past still exists and anyone can check us out on the Web. But know this. All our sins, past, present, and future are covered by the blood of Jesus. His shed blood covers all our indiscretions. This does not mean we are to willfully sin, but when we do it too is covered.
Jesus forgives us, but to walk in that forgiveness we have to forgive ourselves. And Holy Spirit can help us with that. All we have to do is ask Him.
God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. (1 Corinthians 1:30 NLT)
In Christ we are righteous. We are right with God.
Monday, January 05, 2015
Burdens
Matthew 11:28 NLT
Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."
When I first heard this verse from a pastor many years ago all I could picture was a man with a large and heavy bag of his belongings strapped to his back, I did not relate burdens with the baggage we carry from our years of living in this world. I guess I was too young and did not have anything to relate it to at that time in my life.
We all had baggage when we asked Jesus into our heart. And we had the same baggage one minute afterwards. The baggage does not go away. We are forgiven of all our sin, past, present and future. And we live in Him. in Christ. And in Him we are righteous. In us, we still have our baggage to deal with.
As we make this transformation journey which started with that confession of faith, we shed our baggage one piece at a time. And each one goes off as we decide to let it go and ask Holy Spirit to help us be free from it.
For some it is obvious to others when some baggage has been cleared away. We are different. An obvious weight has been lifted off. But for others, the baggage was hidden and only we who had the hidden baggage can tell when we are free.
Less baggage means less flesh to deal with as we continue on in our walk to become totally in the spirit. It is a walk that takes a lifetime as a human to take. And even when our expiration date is reached, there will most likely still be baggage left. But then it does not matter because we will be all spirit with Him.
Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."
When I first heard this verse from a pastor many years ago all I could picture was a man with a large and heavy bag of his belongings strapped to his back, I did not relate burdens with the baggage we carry from our years of living in this world. I guess I was too young and did not have anything to relate it to at that time in my life.
We all had baggage when we asked Jesus into our heart. And we had the same baggage one minute afterwards. The baggage does not go away. We are forgiven of all our sin, past, present and future. And we live in Him. in Christ. And in Him we are righteous. In us, we still have our baggage to deal with.
As we make this transformation journey which started with that confession of faith, we shed our baggage one piece at a time. And each one goes off as we decide to let it go and ask Holy Spirit to help us be free from it.
For some it is obvious to others when some baggage has been cleared away. We are different. An obvious weight has been lifted off. But for others, the baggage was hidden and only we who had the hidden baggage can tell when we are free.
Less baggage means less flesh to deal with as we continue on in our walk to become totally in the spirit. It is a walk that takes a lifetime as a human to take. And even when our expiration date is reached, there will most likely still be baggage left. But then it does not matter because we will be all spirit with Him.
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