Chosen People Choosing Rightly

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor." - 1 Peter 2:9-17

I was driving in a small town in Alabama and missed my turn so I made a U-turn. It was a divided boulevard. I did it safely.  There were no signs posted saying not to make a U-turn there. But ... the next thing I saw were flashing lights in my rear-view window. The officer told me that I had made an illegal turn. I explained there was no sign telling me I couldn't to which he replied, "We have a statute in this town that does not allow any U-turns anywhere unless posted that they are allowed." He gave me a warning and let me go without a ticket, although ignorance is not an excuse.

The day we yielded our lives by faith to God, we became citizens of heaven. Yet Jesus, when tested, said give to Caesar what is his and to God what is His. (paraphrased) And if there is a conflict then we must obey the higher authority. Which is God.  Knowing there may be consequences from the lower authority - that being Caesar.  

The conflicts we will face will most often be with morality - not rules of the road. We must be willing to stand our ground and to be the light. Remembering that the wisdom of God is foolishness to the natural man.  

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 

Somebody Is Right And Somebody Is Wrong

"The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit." - 1 Corinthians 2:14

Before I launch into this post, I want to make clear that I believe that everyone has a right to believe something other than what I believe. That right was granted by the creator God and in the Garden, man chose poorly - but choose he did. It was that life that you and I were saved from - restored to God's intended relationship with Him through faith in Jesus.

I was having a conversation with a friend the other day. He was telling me about his belief in ghosts. Or at least his suspicion that they actually exist. That conversation drifted into other "paranormal" beliefs. This friend is very well educated. Interpret that to mean they are a very smart and experienced person. However, when our conversation drifted to spiritual matters, he expressed his doubts as to their veracity. 

That got me to thinking about 1 Corinthians chapter 2.  Why would someone who believes in the paranormal or supernatural is real, but when faced with the possibility of there being a benevolent supernatural being - the Creator God - well that is outside to realm of possibility. The short answer is that the natural world is at odds with the God - they are enemies. We don't like to think about it in those terms, I think because it seems so harsh - but it true, nonetheless.   

Unless you have the Spirit of God in you by faith, the idea that there is a benevolent God at work is foolishness. 

"And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."  - 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

The thing is that they don't know they are blind - that their minds have been clouded - like Joe in the movie "Joe and the Volcano" blinded by with a brain cloud. The only solution is to have a personal encounter with the Spirit of God and rebirth.  My friend tolerates me and allows me to believe what I believe even if, in his mind, it is untrue.  He may even feel sorry for me, deluded as I seem to be. The thing is, I think the same thing about him. And most probably each of us is hoping the other one will see the light of the truth one day.  At least I am. Both of us will see the Truth, one day, but sadly then it will be too late for my friend.

You probably know people like that in your sphere of relationships - some may even be family. You can't argue them into heaven, but you might be able to love them there.  Be the Light!

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 

Be Careful Little Tongue What You Say

"Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." - 1 Peter 3:8-9

Have you ever gotten into verbal altercation? Something is said or done and you feel that you must defend yourself, someone else, perhaps right a wrong, or maybe just hit back because you have been hurt. Of course you have. It is part of the human condition. The temptation is to respond. The feeling that rises up in you is not reflective of the "spiritual you".

"I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish." - Galatians 5:16-17

Your flesh will seek opportunities to dominate you. Your flesh is contrary to your spiritual self. Before you know it - something will come out of your mouth that is not reflective of the Spirit in you.

"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.....  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control." - Galatians 5:18-23

James wrote about the tongue and the challenge to tame it. It is so easy to speak against someone and feel justified. Unless you read what the Bible says about it.

"And the tongue is a fire, a world of [c]iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?" James 3:6-11

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 

Mutual Submission

"Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers." - 1 Peter 3:1-7

I know that the idea of submission is a very popular subject. Particularly when it has to do with wives and husbands. The takeaway is that the wife is to submit to the husband like a servant. I can see how that can be understood if you just read verse 1. It is especially vexing if the wife is not married to a Christian. She is living in a relationship that is unevenly yoked. But that is a thought for another day.  Let's focus on a marriage where both are Christians.  

Read verse 7. In the same way as the wives, husbands are to be considerate to the wives. Treating them with respect and as fellow heirs and for the wonderful gift that they are. In my mind, from my perspective, the most important person on the planet. A precious jewel.  Does that sound like it is ok to "bully" the wife because the husband is "in charge"? Actually, the husband is responsible for the wife and children to God. With authority comes responsibility. God has established an order for His purpose. It is His design- not man's. But man seems to always have a better idea than God about how the family should work. Think about the implications of this verse.

"Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her." - Ephesians 5:25

Or how about this one.

"How can two walk together unless they be agreed?" - Amos 3:3

Martie and I talk about this a lot. There must be spiritual agreement. In other words - both the husband and wife agree that it is the right thing to do. That does not mean that one or the other is not having their faith stretched by God. God will very often take us to places that will stretch us - make us sweat - if you will. There is opportunity for either one to miss the mark and sin. This only works if both the husband and the wife are "right" spiritually. It is not a natural thing - it is a spiritual thing. It is not a submission of the will to each other - well actually it is - but not before their will fully is submitted to God.

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 

New Heart Or A Clean Heart

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." -  Ezekiel 36:26-27

That was the Lord's promise to the people of Israel after they had been scattered because of their disobedience. Israel was and is a physical representation of something spiritual. Something that included people beyond the Jewish nation. It is referred to as "the" mystery in the New Testament.

"It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." - Romans 9:6-7

"This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus." -Ephesians 3:6

As Jesus told Nicodemus - "You must be born again" by the Spirit. He would not find God on the basis of his natural birth. By faith God gives us a new heart and puts His Spirit in us. In you and me. We are faced with a choice every day - every second actually. Which heart will we allow to guide us. If we are not deliberate in focusing on guide and our new life then our old life will dominate our thinking and our doing. We will continue to cling to the fact that we are saved - but live like we are not. Our flesh is drawn to the world and what the world desires. 

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." - 2 Corinthians 5:17

We are immersed in a world that we are no longer a part of - spiritually. Like walking through a mud puddle and not getting muddy. Is it possible? Yes. But impossible if we trust in ourselves to stay clean. We could not do it before we met Jesus, and we can't do it - by ourselves after. 

I write these devotional thoughts to encourage you in your faith and your day to day living. I am not seeking your mental - tacit - agreement with what I share - but spiritual agreement where your new heart says, "yes and amen". And more that you consider your ways - as I do every time I sit behind this keyboard - I write to myself before I share with you.

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 

Jars of Clay

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies." - 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

When we are born again and the Spirit of God takes up residence in us, our jar of clay if you will - That is a mystery that is not clearly explained in the New Testament. What we do know is that the Shekinah Glory - the visible presence of God was in the Holy of Holies over the Ark of the Covenant. The Bible does not make a clear connection between the Shekinah Glory of the Old Testament and the Holy Spirit of the new but Christians are referred to as the temple of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:19)

So, to my point. You are well aware that the presence of the Spirit in you does not protect you from temptation or from sin for that matter. The Spirit does convict us of sin and does seal us for the day of redemption. We are cautioned that we should not quench the Spirit and go our own way. 

"Do not quench the Spirit." - 1 Thessalonians 5:19

Quenching the Spirit would be to ignore or deliberately disobey the leading of the Spirit. Jesus said the Father would send the Spirit to help us. Help us do what? Live our new life - our spiritual life. I have always thought of the Holy Spirit as the heavenly connector or adapter. When we were living in an RV in Mississippi, Florida and Texas our trailer was powered through a 30 amp circuit and a specific plug. Sometimes there was not 30 amp connection only a 50 amp connection that requires a different plug. So, we had to get an adapter (30 to 50) that allowed us to connect to the source of power.

That is like the Spirit in us. The Spirit gives us a spiritual connection so these Jars of Clay can connect to the Father. To give us the spiritual power we need to live our new life. Quenching the Spirit is like pulling the plug. We are on our own at that point. That is not to say we have lost our salvation - but we are living on our own power. Not a good place to be but it is all too easy to go there, as you probably already know if you have been a Christian for more than a week!

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 

Happy or Holy

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" - 1 Peter 2:9

I happened to see a post on Facebook that was a challenge to the Christian readers to consider the question - "Does God want us to be happy or holy?" I suppose a follow-on question might be - "Why can't we be both?"

The idea of being "holy" is to be consecrated or set apart, dedicated or devoted to serving God. Separate from the world and devotion to the things of the world. That possibility happens the moment that we are saved by faith. Another question might be - "What is the source of our joy or happiness?" Position or possession. Have you ever heard someone ask in frustration, "What does it take to make them happy?" There is a quote from John D. Rockefeller when he was asked how much money he needed. The answer, "Just a little bit more." The pursuit for the things of this world to make us happy is never ending. The desire is insatiable. People with a lot of many very often have lives that are relational disasters. 

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world." - 1 John 2:15-16

If you should find yourself in pursuit of "more" in your quest to be happy, you might very well have to deny your faith - obedience to the Word - your new nature - to acquire that which you desire. The Bible is a mirror, if you will. It reflects the nature of God and the nature of man. It is also about transformation - mankind cannot become like Christ on our own - but we need God's intervention. 

"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 12:2

"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." - Romans 8:29

The truth about happiness is that only way to be truly happy is to be holy. 

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 

Speak Lord - Your Servant Is Listening

 "And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down" - 1 Corinthians 14:30

Have you ever had that happen to you? You were not expecting it but "wham" you had a sudden realization. And more than that you knew that it was from God.  That happened to the Prophet Samuel before he was the "mighty" prophet. 

"(Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.) And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here I am, for you did call me. Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, Samuel! Samuel! And Samuel answered, Speak, for Your servant hears." - 1 Samuel 3:7-10

Do you believe that the Lord would ever speak to you? I hope you do. But you may not know it was the Lord just like Samuel. He had to seek the advice of someone who understood. Do you remember when CB radios were the thing. You do know what a CB radio is, right? Hey - you got your ears on good buddy!! Do you remember that. Channel 19 was the channel (there were 40) that the truckers used most often. That is how you knew if there were road hazards or if "smokey" had a speed trap set up.  Now you GPS tells you all of that. But I digress :)

In the study, Experiencing God, Dr. Blackaby says that there are 7 spiritual realities that, as Christians, it is important to understand. But more than that to embrace as we live our new lives in Christ. The fourth reality is that God speaks to us. He speaks by the Spirit, who is in us, through Prayer, the Word, circumstances and other Christians. I suspect that a number of people who we have led through that study had no problem accepting that truth - but putting it into practice well that is "a horse of a different color".

When I am listening to a sermon the thought I have is "Speak Lord, your servant is listening."  The pastor has been called by God to share Truth with the Believers and the Gospel with those who are lost. I am interested in hearing that Truth, but more I am waiting to hear from God as well. God does not speak because I decide it is His turn - but I hear because I am focused and listening for His voice. And when He speaks, it is always consistent with His revealed will and always requires me to exercise faith to respond. That typically means that something is about to change.

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

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 

I'd Rather Burn Out Than Rust Out

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." -  1 Corinthians 15:58

When do you retire from active Christianity? I don't think it is possible. One of the things that Martie and I are sensitive to is the idea of being shuffled into a "pasture" for the "seniors" at a church as if you are incapable of making a spiritual contribution to the rest of the local body of believers. Do you think there is a time when the Lord says, "OK, I think you have done enough." If He does, then wouldn't it make sense for Him to just call you home? I mean - stick him with a fork - he is done! Unless I missed it, the whole idea of our being here is that we are to be salt and light in a sinful world - there is no age caveat with those verses. That as we accumulate spiritual wisdom, it is our responsibility to share that wisdom with less mature Christians. And if it is us'ns that are immature then Houston we have a problem. The book of Hebrews speaks to this problem - so it is not new.

"We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness." - Hebrews 5:11-13

I think that part of the problem is that, at least in our culture, there is an expectation that our usefulness in the local church is used up by the time we are ready for social security. And many Christians just go along with that idea. Churches organize around it. What I tell people is that I would rather burn out than rust out. 

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

Does that sound like the Lord has a retirement plan for older Christians? I am thinking not. How about you? For Martie and me, when a certain work is finished the thought is never that we are done with service, but what does the Lord have for us next to do. One day it will be to join Him in heaven - but not this day. And like the prophet Samuel, we say, "Speak Lord your servants are listening."

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 

Living In Heaven - Not Like Living On Earth

"So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.  So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man. I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable." - 1 Corinthians 15:42-50

Have you given much thought to what it means to have eternal life? More than that - what it means to live for eternity when this mortal life is over? I think I shared that Martie and I watch a television show called "The Repair Shop". The "shop" is in England and is staffed by expert craftspeople. I always stumble the words that end in "men" these days. If I write craftsmen it is not meant to disenfranchise women but just to use a word to describe both men and women and the word just happens to end in "men". But I digress and I will stick with "people".

The "shop" captured our attention because of the great care that the repairers showed in restoring whatever it was that was brought to them. In every case, the object had significant personal meaning to the families who typically brought it to the shop as a "last resort". No one else was able to repair it. Now to my point - very often the question to the owner after the repair would be something like "so what do you think your grandfather or other relative would say about the repair?" And more often than not the owners would say, "Well, if they are up there looking down, I am certain that he or she would be very pleased to see it repaired to its former glory". 

That comment got my attention. First it suggested that they did not know if the person was in heaven. Second that the person, once in heaven, would even care about something they left behind. Jesus gave us perspective on worldly possessions that we value in this life.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:19-21

Both Paul and Jesus spoke to the difference in what is valued in heaven in contrast to what is valued on earth. The owners of the items in the Repair Shop comments also serve to reveal that we, whose feet are firmly planted on this Earth are inclined project our natural thinking onto what life in heaven will be like. So why do I bring this up? Because the issue is not ever discussed among Christians - in my experience - and I have been a Christian since 1976. We tend to over value possessions, accumulation and relationships during this life. It will all be left behind. We must be careful that we don't have the attitude of Lot's wife who obeyed God physically but looked back on Sodom with regret. Like the song, I Left My Heart In San Francisco. 

I am reminded of a story about a very rich man whose last wishes were that on the day of his death - all of his wealth would be converted to gold and it would be buried with him. And so it was. As he approached the pearly gates, he was dragging his coffin behind him.  Saint Peter asked him what was in the coffin? The man told him it was all that he spent a lifetime accumulating and raised the lid to show him. To which Peter inquired "Pavement?" 

My point - set your heart on things of heaven and don't assume that when you are in heaven that you will just pick up your life where you left off while you lived this natural life. Understand and accept that living in heaven will not be like living on earth. 

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world." - 1 John 2:15-16

Believe it when the Bible says you cannot love God and money. You will love one and hate the other. And you can take that to the bank.

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 

Living Up To What We Have Attained

 "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God....Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11,19-20

When I write these devotional thoughts (this one makes 3203 days that I have shared with you), my hope is not to necessarily reveal some spiritual truth that has escaped you, although that may happen from time to time, but to encourage you to remember who you are in Christ today - at this moment. I must add that the first reader is always me. That somehow it will give you renewed perspective as to how, as Christians, we should live our lives - how we are to act toward others and to live in reverence to the God who has saved us by grace through faith. 

My intent is to remind you that we are by no means perfect by deed or thought so long as we walk this earth but, at the same time, have been supernaturally perfected in Jesus. Not that we might then excuse our sin, but to understand that we were born into sin, our first birth. and will be tempted by sin until we breath our last breath. That you should not be discouraged by that thought but rather be encouraged knowing that He who has begun a good work in you, our second birth, will be faithful to complete. That on Christ the solid Rock you are standing - and all other ground is sinking sand. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians......

"... let us live up to what we have already attained." - Philippians 3:16

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 

Our New Spiritual Life

"You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you." - Romans 8:9-11

So, as you already know, as born-again Christians, we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). If that was all there is to it, then all we would need to do is wait until this life is over and - presto - change-o we would be in heaven for eternity and we could begin our new life - which will be for eternity. But that is not what happened. At the point of our salvation - our new birth - we started our eternal existence as the children of God. God put His spirit in each one of us.

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

It is the Spirit of God that "quickens" us toward God and enables our understanding of spiritual truth. We were sealed by the Spirit. God put His mark not on us but in us. 

"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." - Ephesians 1:13-14

Unfortunately, we, all too often, forget that the Spirit is present in us. The presence of the Spirit is similar to what King David said of God. I love this psalm.

"O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." - Psalm 139:1-14

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