What Portion Of My New Life Belongs To God?

 In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them about the day on which they were selling provisions. Men of Tyre dwelt there also, who brought in fish and all kinds of goods, and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, “What evil thing is this that you do, by which you profane the Sabbath day? Did not your fathers do thus, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath. .... In those days I also saw Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and could not speak the language of Judah, but spoke according to the language of one or the other people. So I contended with them and cursed them, struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters as wives to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or yourselves. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his God; and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless pagan women caused even him to sin. Should we then hear of your doing all this great evil, transgressing against our God by marrying pagan women?”- Nehemiah 13:15-18, 23-27

When we are born again by the Spirit our primary perspective on our lives on this planet should and must become spiritual. But there is a problem. I included verses from Nehemiah to give you a hint that while the mandate from God has not changed since the beginning, neither has the people's wandering from their godly devotion. 

God has called us out of the world's order into His order of things. He has called us to be separate from the world and our old nature. Now when I refer to our old nature I am speaking to anything that runs contrary to His revealed will.  There are many things that are natural that are part of His created intent for mankind that do not draw our hearts away from God.

But there are many things in the natural that do draw our hearts away from our devotion to God and our new life. Things that demand our heart's devotion. In Nehemiah there were several mentioned. God made it clear that the Sabbath was His day - our tithe - a day of rest - no work - and yet there they were buying, selling, harvesting. He was explicit in His command that the Jews not be unevenly yoked in marriage with non-Jews. It always led to the Jews worshipping other gods. Yet generation after generation yielded to the temptation.

Today - we face the same challenges. Embracing the culture. Justifying why what we do is "really OK". Missing the point of what it means to be salt and light in a world that desperately needs to see Jesus in us. What we say - what we do - the way we live out our faith. To be the fragrance of Christ. 

As an example, you are driving along and I wave you to a stop to tell you that the bridge is out and the road is flooded ahead. That you should not continue on that road but should go another way - and you acknowledge that what I told you is true but continue down the road in spite of the danger. It is no different than hearing the Word of God - acknowledging that the Word is Truth and, as Dr. redmond said about 2 Timothy 3:16, that the Word of God is Doctrine - that is it's about what’s [right], Reproof - that is it's about what’s [not right], Correction - that is it's about how to [get right], and Instruction in righteousness - that is it's about how to [stay right] but you still continue on with your love relationship with your culture. Remember what Jesus said?  .... 

If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. - Matthew 16:24

Do you think denying your old nature is easy? It is a battle - every day. 

The Apostle Paul wrote

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. - Romans 12:1-2

That is an intentional - deliberate act of lying your old life down and yielding to the Spirit of God not just having a good and hopeful attitude.

'Nuff Said

Think about it – Pray about it - Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

I've Got The Love of Jesus Where?

The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. - Romans 10:8-9

We say “Jesus is in our hearts” because it’s a simple, emotional way to describe a deep spiritual reality—not a literal one.

The short answer

As Christians we use that phrase to express relationship, transformation, and presence. It’s about Jesus shaping our inner lives—our values, our motives, our identities—not about Him physically living inside our chests.

So what does the phrase really mean?

First. It describes a relationship

Saying Jesus is “in my heart” means He’s not just an idea or a historical figure. He’s someone you’ve welcomed into the center of your life. It’s relational language—like saying someone “has a place in my heart.”

Second. It describes a transformation

The heart represents the core of who we are:

• our desires

• our choices

• our character

• our moral compass

So when we Christians say Jesus is in our hearts, we mean His teachings and His Spirit are reshaping those things in us.

Third. It refers to the presence of the Holy Spirit

Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to live within believers. So “Jesus in my heart” is a shorthand way of saying: God’s Spirit is with me, guiding me, comforting me, and changing me from the inside out.

We must be born again by the Spirit through faith in Jesus.

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. - John 3:3-6

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? - 1 Corinthians 3:16

Fourth. It refers to our identity

It’s also a way of saying: “My life belongs to Him. He defines who I am now.”

We don’t say "Jesus is in my heart" literally because ... 

The Bible uses “heart” symbolically. In Scripture, the heart is the seat of:

• thought

• emotion

• will

• spiritual life

So the phrase is metaphorical, but the experience it points to is real.

How the Trinity fits into all of this

Jesus - Redemption, Intercession, and Judgment

Spirit - Regeneration, Transformation

Father - Source of divine life and authority, Sender of the Son, Initiator of redemption, Provider and sustainer, Spiritual Father to all believers.

Think about it – Pray about it - Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Trust And Not Understanding Is The Prerequisite For Obedience

"Let us go to Judea again." The disciples said to Him, "…are You going there again?" —John 11:7-8

"Just because I don’t understand what Jesus Christ says, I have no right to determine that He must be mistaken in what He says. That is a dangerous view, and it is never right to think that my obedience to God’s directive will bring dishonor to Jesus. The only thing that will bring dishonor is not obeying Him. I know when the instructions have come from God because of their quiet persistence. But when I begin to weigh the pros and cons, and doubt and debate enter into my mind, I am bringing in an element that is not of God. This will only result in my concluding that His instructions to me were not right. Many of us are faithful to our ideas about Jesus Christ, but how many of us are faithful to Jesus Himself? Faithfulness to Jesus means that I must step out even when and where I can’t see anything (see Matthew 14:29). But faithfulness to my own ideas means that I first clear the way mentally. Faith, however, is not intellectual understanding; faith is a deliberate commitment to the Person of Jesus Christ, even when I can’t see the way ahead.” - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest 

"I know when the instructions have come from God because of their quiet persistence." So knowing that it is God is not so much the issue, but knowing the “why” is the criteria for obedience to many people. For most, before they will do something they want to know the reason. Why? I believe because they want to know so they can decide if they agree with it. And so it is with receiving God’s direction often times.  What we are asked to do may not make "natural" sense …. Get out of the boat and walk on water … walk across a flooded river … march around a fortified city 7 times … wash yourself in the river 7 times … put your faith in Jesus and walk … draw from the well that never will run dry … trust in the Lord and do not lean on your own understanding … confess and believe and you will be saved.  (Isaiah 55:8) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.” 

When my daughter was taking Algebra in school, she asked me how to solve a particular problem.  I showed her but then proceeded to explain to her “why” we solved the problem that way.  A page and a half later, her eyes were glazed over and like with Charley Brown's teacher all she heard was “Wah Wa Wah Wa Wah”.  The only way we will understand the “why” is by the Spirit of God, and truth be told, we may still not “get it” fully.  Understanding is not the prerequisite for obedience, trust is.  Our mental capacity is not adequate for fully understanding God.  He is the potter and we are the clay. 

“But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” - Isaiah 64:8 

I recall when God was giving Martie and me a mission change. We had just spent 5 years in Mississippi responding to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. We knew a message was from God because the instructions have come from God with quiet persistence.  People who did not know each other - geographically separated had told us that we should go to Haiti. Honestly, I had to look up where Haiti was on the map.  But, Martie and I knew it was God.  When I told a friend in Waveland, Mississippi when asked where we might go next my reply was "God is sending us to Haiti.". He looked me square in the face and asked "Are you crazy?" To which I replied "It is not my idea - it's God's." That was not false bravado on my part but a resolution for us to go when God says "Go" and do what God says to do. 

To walk by faith and not by sight. - 2 Corinthians 5:7

What has God said to you? It doesn't matter how far He sends you - around the world or around the block. When He says "Go" then Go!

Think about it – Pray about it - Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Why You Do What You Do And Why You Believe What You Believe

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.- Proverbs 3:5-7

Before you were born again, you trusted in your own understanding of this natural life before, but when  you were born again you "should have" started trusting  - in Jesus - and in Jehovah God. I have been taking with someone who does not believe in God. And so. our conversations about religious topics are short. They have no interest and, I think, they feel sorry for me because I am so naive in my beliefs and have devoted my life to that which they believe is patently false - fiction - made up. Are you familiar with the discipline called Apologetics. 

Apologetics is the practice of defending a belief—most commonly a religion or worldview—by giving reasons, arguments, and answers to objections. People who do this are trying to show that their beliefs are rational, credible, and/or true, or at least to make them understandable and persuasive to others. You may have been tempted to try to argue someone into heaven. Throwing every verse you know at them with the hope that they would "see the light" and surrender by faith to Jesus.

You are not misguided. We are to share the gospel with words and the way we live our lives. However - comma - I think it is important to understand that it is not the power of our words but of the Spirit of God that brings conviction to the sinner - just as it was with a sinner like me.  In Matthew 16, people were trying to reason out who Jesus was. A prophet, Elijah, even John the Baptist - Jesus cousin - I never could figure that out. But then Jesus asked who the disciples thought He was and Peter answered. 

Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. - Matthew 16:17

Me understanding who Jesus is and my need for a Savior is a spiritual happening - not a result of mental gymnastics and logic. Consider what the Word says about the capacity of the natural man to understand spiritual truth, and so I question our ability, on our own, to argue someone into the kingdom.

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. - 1 Corinthians 2:14

Pretty clear.  You will not come to faith through natural reasoning but revealed truth can be used by God to draw you to Himself. Like I have said before - you can't save anybody but you should tell everybody. 

I have heard the joyful sound - Jesus Saves!

Think about it – Pray about it - Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Stopping Short with Our Confession

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. - 1 John 1:8-10

It is a simple thing to confess that we have done something wrong - sinned against God. It can be just words - "Father forgive me for I have sinned" and then we press on with our lives.  I am certain you remember the story of the prodigal son.  You never really know at what point he realized that he had indeed sinned against his father. In fact if you read the story - the reason he went back home was that he was tired of dealing with the consequences of his sin. He had abandoned his family to go his own way, but it didn't work out - and I think that is most often the case.

So he could have said "I messed up, maybe I can go home and pretend that everything is well" When in fact there was a fracture in their relationship that he caused. His father still loved him, but the relationship was broken and there was only one way it could be mended. Repentance -  a heart change. I think that is the failing of many people who think that forgiveness is something they can get so they can continue to live the way they want to. They can continue to sin and then get that sin erased so as not to interfere with their lives and their poor choices.

When we seek forgiveness through confession it must be preceded by a change of heart. That I would love God with my whole heart and not myself. When David was confronted by the Prophet Nathan concerning his sin with Bathsheba and the death of Uriah (the Bible doesn't say that explicitly, but those two things - adultery and murder -  went hand in hand) David said "Create in me a new heart and renew a right spirit in me" Psalm 51.  

With confession must come a rending of the heart - repentance - a turning away - not seeking the opportunity to continue in my sinful ways. You would say "You are not talking about me!" and I would say "Oh really?"  I am talking about all of us. We make excuses for our sin. Perhaps are not really sorry that we sinned but that we got caught in them or are, like the prodigal, dealing with the consequences of them.

The prodigal son was certain he did not deserve to be restored to a place of sonship but was satisfied with being a servant. Repenting of his sin, the father restored him and rejoiced at his return.

"And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.  And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found." - Luke 15:21-24

Think about it – Pray about it - Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Don't Be Satisfied With Less Than God's Best

May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless… —1 Thessalonians 5:23

Do we believe that God can fortify and protect our thought processes far beyond where we can go? “…the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). If this verse means cleansing only on our conscious level, may God have mercy on us. The man who has been dulled by sin will say that he is not even conscious of it. But the cleansing from sin we experience will reach to the heights and depths of our spirit if we will “walk in the light as He is in the light” (1 John 1:7). The same Spirit that fed the life of Jesus Christ will feed the life of our spirit. It is only when we are protected by God with the miraculous sacredness of the Holy Spirit that our spirit, soul, and body can be preserved in pure uprightness until the coming of Jesus-no longer condemned in God’s sight.”  Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

 As I write these devotions, I can see a thread that runs through them ...  I have been writing them since 2012 and have published 3639 as of this writing. That is a long thread!  But it is the same thread that runs through the Bible.  

God has called us to a life of faith and holiness.  We cannot achieve that life on our own.  And even when we are born again, even though we are “awakened” to the reality of spiritual Truth, we continue to struggle with living a life of faith and holiness.  We make excuses for our failings, unfortunately often resolving ourselves to some lower level of faith and holiness that God never intended as some sort of self-defined compromise.  

When you talk to other Christians, even those that you might consider “more spiritual than most”, you should never think that they are immune to that same struggle.  For Christians, our struggle with sin is the proverbial "elephant in the room". everyone knows it is there, but no one really wants to talk about it. 

None of us are like Jesus yet, but all of us will be, one day.  So should we be content with our not being like Him yet?  God forbid.  We are on a spiritual journey.  We are being conformed - we are being transformed. It is a life long process. Perfection - sinlessness will continue to be out of reach until we go to heaven. In the meantime, we must keep our eyes fixed on Him, and press on.  

And so my friend, let me encourage you to press on in your faith with confidence that “He who began a good work in your will be faithful to complete it.” (1 Philippians 1:6)  

“I am not the [person] I ought to be, I am not the [person] I wish to be and I am not the [person] I hope to be, but, by the grace of God, I am not the [person] I used to be.”

― John Newton 

 I changed the word "man" to "person" in the quote since it applies to all Christians - male and female

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:13-14

Think about it – Pray about it - Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Understanding The Times

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. - Ephesians 5:15-17

In 2 Samuel 23 there were 37 men singled out as the Mighty Men of David. They were called “mighty men” because they were elite warriors in David’s army—men known for extraordinary courage and fighting ability and for performing remarkable acts of bravery for David, especially in battles. The “sons of Issachar” are described most clearly in 1 Chronicles 12 Among David's mighty men who were especially valuable to David because of their understanding and strategy, not just their strength. They are said to have “understanding of the times”—they knew when to act and how to make good decisions in Israel’s situation—so they came to David with help that was both wise and effective in battle.

I had an interesting conversation the other day. I was asked if I believed a certain statement as being fact. I said "no", in fact I had not given it any thought. I asked how they new it to be fact and they answered "Everyone knows it is true." (me) So who is everybody? (them) Well the people they follow on the internet and other social media apps. (me) And how do those people know? Do they have proof? Proof that you can see and verify independently? (them) Well, they must. People who believe the Bible don't pay any attention to what is going on around them in the world. There are bad things happening.

That was a conversation with a person who sees the world through natural eyes. I would say that person is full of fear. While talking to them I was thinking about Romans chapter 1.

Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man....And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,  backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,  undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. - Romans 1:21-23, 29-32

It is not that Christians are unaware of how far mankind - to include our culture - has fallen away from God - but more that we understand the times and as much as we are dismayed and disheartened by what we see - we know that "all have sinned" and "there are none righteous". The tendency of sinful man is to move away from God and godly values and not toward Him. To not just tolerate the sin of others but to approve it and even promote it. So what do we do as Christians? We let our light shine. We do not hide it under a bucket but set it on a hill. The darker the night - the brighter the light. We pray for an awakening and revival knowing that things will get much worse before Jesus returns for His Bride.  

Our response is practical - how we live and spiritually how we pray. "In God We Trust" is on our  currency and in the U.S. House Chamber area and also over the U.S. Senate south entrance of the Capitol building.  That might suggest that our government places it's confidence in God first. After all our founding documents allude to Jehovah God and His precepts - but the United States is a secular nation. And so what we see happening should not be surprising to we Christians - just read the Old Testament about the faithfulness and lack of faith of the Jewish people.

So - are Christians unaware of the moral mess our country is in? - No. Surprised - No. Hopeful - yes because "In God we trust"

Think about it – Pray about it - Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone