Wednesday, November 12, 2014

The Consequence Of A Compromised Faith

My Utmost For His Highest
 
“What understanding do you have of the salvation of your soul? The work of salvation means that in your real life things are dramatically changed. You no longer look at things in the same way. Your desires are new and the old things have lost their power to attract you. One of the tests for determining if the work of salvation in your life is genuine is— has God changed the things that really matter to you? If you still yearn for the old things, it is absurd to talk about being born from above— you are deceiving yourself. If you are born again, the Spirit of God makes the change very evident in your real life and thought. […] What difference has my salvation and sanctification made? CHAMBERS
 
2 Corinthians 5:17 (I will let you look it up) is a verse that I share often when I speak in Haitian churches.  Many Haitians struggle with putting their belief in Voodoo, devotion to their culture, and identity in their ethnicity behind them.  It is easy to point at other people and discuss their failings in the faith,  so before you shake your head and tell me that you will pray for them, think about your own life.  The truth is, every Christian struggles with the very same challenges.  The labels may change .. for Christians in the US .. Voodoo can be replaced by materialism … money … trust in the government before God.  The point is that, as a Christian, each of us has been called to a new life .. empowered by the Spirit to live it, and given the Word to understand it.  Our citizenship is in heaven … but many of us prefer to maintain a dual citizenship.  One foot in heaven and one foot in the world.  The problem is, we live our lives satisfied with the compromise with our old nature.  And we miss the fullness of life that we might enjoy were we willing to pick up our cross and follow Jesus. The promise is, Jesus came that you might have life and have it abundantly, but it is up to you to fully embrace that new life. My job, if you will, is to remind you and encourage you to not be satisfied with anything less.  ELGIN
 
(John 10:9-11) “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.  The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep."
 
Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

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