Monday, March 16, 2015
The Firewall
God is not concerned about what we do not do. He is blessed by what we do. Jesus stands as a firewall between God the Father and us. The Father does not see our transgressions. He does not see what we miss. He does not see when we mess up and take our eyes off Him. Thank God for the Blood of Jesus that covers us in all actions and reactions as we walk out this life on earth, this salvation walk in fear and trembling.
His Grace
2 Timothy 1:9 NLT
For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time-to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.
Grace is defined in the dictionary as a controlled, polite, and pleasant way of behaving. I believe it is more than that. I think of His grace as His unmerited favor in our lives.
Ephesians 2:8 NLT
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
It was His grace that allowed us to be saved. When we stepped out in that tiny bit if faith to ask for His forgiveness we were washed clean in the blood of Jesus and stepped into a new reality. We were born again and received the Holy Spirit, the spirit of Christ to become one with our spirit man.
Our new man does not need God's grace. In Him we have it all. All authority. All power. All righteousness. The fullness of God through Christ who strengthens us.
Our old man is another subject. He is being changed daily to line up with our new man. It is in our continued walk through this earthly life where we continue to need God's grace. He covers us as we walk in the flesh, as we walk out our salvation with fear and trembling. His unmerited favor is upon us as we look to Him daily.
As we allow Holy Spirit to teach us, we learn daily to die to parts of our flesh and turn over our life to our new man, our spirit man who is pure and righteous.
Thank you Jesus for changing me, for renewing my mind, and giving me the grace to learn from my fleshly mistakes and walk more and more in the spirit.
For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time-to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.
Grace is defined in the dictionary as a controlled, polite, and pleasant way of behaving. I believe it is more than that. I think of His grace as His unmerited favor in our lives.
Ephesians 2:8 NLT
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
It was His grace that allowed us to be saved. When we stepped out in that tiny bit if faith to ask for His forgiveness we were washed clean in the blood of Jesus and stepped into a new reality. We were born again and received the Holy Spirit, the spirit of Christ to become one with our spirit man.
Our new man does not need God's grace. In Him we have it all. All authority. All power. All righteousness. The fullness of God through Christ who strengthens us.
Our old man is another subject. He is being changed daily to line up with our new man. It is in our continued walk through this earthly life where we continue to need God's grace. He covers us as we walk in the flesh, as we walk out our salvation with fear and trembling. His unmerited favor is upon us as we look to Him daily.
As we allow Holy Spirit to teach us, we learn daily to die to parts of our flesh and turn over our life to our new man, our spirit man who is pure and righteous.
Thank you Jesus for changing me, for renewing my mind, and giving me the grace to learn from my fleshly mistakes and walk more and more in the spirit.
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Knowledge
In the world it is said that knowledge is power. We are taught from an early age to accumulate it throughout our earthly lives. But, there is a difference between the accumulation of knowledge and the application of it. Even in the world knowledge without wisdom is useless information. As believers we are called to walk with Jesus not just have knowledge of how He walked as described in the Gospels. As we step out of our comfort zone and reach out to that person in need Holy Spirit in us comes upon us. Then it is His hands and His words that heal and comfort them. It is not us in our wealth of knowledge wordsmithing the right things to say to convince Father God and them; it is Jesus alive in us. It is not our flowery prayers to the father that heals them, it is our Trust in Him and knowing He is doing the work that person needs. For Jesus tells us "You shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover." Thank you, Jesus.
Monday, March 09, 2015
Follow Him
Galatians 5:25 NLT
Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.
If I were to move to another country where English was not spoken I would learn their language. I would learn and follow the customs of that country and blend in as much as possible.
So we become a follower of Jesus and begin our new life as a Christian. We go to church when we feel like it or don't have anything else to do on Sunday morning. And when we are around other Christians we emulate them in words and actions as much as we can.
God has given us a new life. We have been reborn in our spirit. Holy Spirit is in us and yet we are pulled like with a strong magnet back into our old life. How can we follow Jesus when we have the spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit inside of us and ignore Him?
Following Jesus is more than going to church on the weekend. It is more than trying to look like other Christians we know. It is more than praying before a meal. It is more than reading a devotional every day. It is more than listening to the latest Christian music while driving. It is a lot more.
Father God, help me to be more like Jesus. Help me to die to my fleshly desires. Show me what I should do and what I should not do. Show me those around me that are a bad influence on my growth in You. Help me to follow You all the days of my life. In Jesus name, I pray.
Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.
If I were to move to another country where English was not spoken I would learn their language. I would learn and follow the customs of that country and blend in as much as possible.
So we become a follower of Jesus and begin our new life as a Christian. We go to church when we feel like it or don't have anything else to do on Sunday morning. And when we are around other Christians we emulate them in words and actions as much as we can.
God has given us a new life. We have been reborn in our spirit. Holy Spirit is in us and yet we are pulled like with a strong magnet back into our old life. How can we follow Jesus when we have the spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit inside of us and ignore Him?
Following Jesus is more than going to church on the weekend. It is more than trying to look like other Christians we know. It is more than praying before a meal. It is more than reading a devotional every day. It is more than listening to the latest Christian music while driving. It is a lot more.
Father God, help me to be more like Jesus. Help me to die to my fleshly desires. Show me what I should do and what I should not do. Show me those around me that are a bad influence on my growth in You. Help me to follow You all the days of my life. In Jesus name, I pray.
Wednesday, March 04, 2015
Monday, March 02, 2015
Behavior
1 Peter 2:12 NLT
Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
When I grew up it was not uncommon to hear someone in authority over me to say "do as I say not as I do". They knew what was right but were not following it.
And we heard what they told us but grew up doing what they did and not what they said. Actions speak louder than words.
How we behave around others is an example of how Christians behave. We are their example of Christ. When they hear about Christians, it is us they think of and our example, our behavior on a day by day basis.
1 John 3:18 NLT
Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.
I hope my behavior shows the love of God to all who come in contact with me in person, on the phone, and on Facebook. May I be the reflection of Jesus in all I do and say.
Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
When I grew up it was not uncommon to hear someone in authority over me to say "do as I say not as I do". They knew what was right but were not following it.
And we heard what they told us but grew up doing what they did and not what they said. Actions speak louder than words.
How we behave around others is an example of how Christians behave. We are their example of Christ. When they hear about Christians, it is us they think of and our example, our behavior on a day by day basis.
1 John 3:18 NLT
Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.
I hope my behavior shows the love of God to all who come in contact with me in person, on the phone, and on Facebook. May I be the reflection of Jesus in all I do and say.
Sunday, March 01, 2015
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