“Both God and Satan use the strategy of elevation, but Satan uses it in temptation, and the effect is quite different. When the devil elevates you to a certain place, he causes you to fasten your idea of what holiness is far beyond what flesh and blood could ever bear or achieve. Your life becomes a spiritual acrobatic performance high atop a steeple. You cling to it, trying to maintain your balance and daring not to move. But when God elevates you by His grace into heavenly places, you find a vast plateau where you can move about with ease. Compare this week in your spiritual life with the same week last year to see how God has called you to a higher level.” CHAMBERS
Have you felt like you had to be a spiritual acrobat? Constantly aware that you were on the edge .. doing your best to keep your balance .. trying hard not to sin. Chambers gives us a great picture of what it is like to try to work your way into being acceptable to God .. to live your life in a manner that you think pleases God. You might look pretty good but in your heart you know that one wrong move and you are toast … Once slipup and you are headed back to terra firma … and then you will have to start all over again … If you are living your life in Christ like that, it is a life of fear – anxiety …
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." (Romans 8:15)
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
Those verses tell me that if I am fearful, it is not from God. If I am living my life in constant fear that I am going to mess up … that is not what God intended for me.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
That is not to say that it’s OK if we sin .. sin is never OK … but our focus must be heavenward. Our eyes must be on the Lord and not the steeple. We must rest in His power and might … to walk and run on that ‘vast plateau’ … which reminds me of a song … I’m runnin’ where the rivers are flowin’ I runnin’ where the grapes are growin’, I’m runnin’ yes I' runnin' in Canaan’s land, it’s really grand. In my heart there is joy divine just to know that the Lord is mine …
Your feet on are solid ground .. our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus and His righteousness .. on Christ the solid rock we stand, all other ground is sinking sand … Walk in the fullness of your new life today with confidence that the God of heaven has got your back.
Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)
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