"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not [d]imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:17-20
“We get ourselves into circumstances that were not chosen by God, and suddenly we realize that we have been making our plans without Him— that we have not even considered Him to be a vital, living factor in the planning of our lives. And yet the only thing that will keep us from even the possibility of worrying is to bring God in as the greatest factor in all of our planning. In spiritual issues it is customary for us to put God first, but we tend to think that it is inappropriate and unnecessary to put Him first in the practical, everyday issues of our lives.” OSWALD CHAMBERS
Something that I noticed as I was driving along the interstate … there are a lot of people around me that I don’t know and will never know. (Brilliant deduction you are thinking!) Each one has a personal life with personal relationships. Some have money troubles and some do not. Some have broken hearts and some do not. Some without hope and some full of hope. Each has a unique set of circumstances shaped by seemingly random events … some of those events out of their control and some not. But is that really the case? I can say with confidence .. yes and no. Yes, if you are lost and bound for hell … But it is not the case if you have been born again by the Spirit of God through faith in Jesus. You are not just one of the "rats" … you, Christian, have a unique distinction … in this rat race that we call life on earth.
Our struggles come when we live like we are just like those on this planet who are not born again. Responding to our daily choices and manner of living and relating in the flesh and not the spirit. Listen, you are always a Christian no matter what is going on around you. God is always your Father .,. Jesus is always your Savior … The Spirit is always in you … the Word is always true and applies to every life situation .. every second of your life on this planet and every moment into eternity. You must embrace that to live with hope and not despair. Jesus said “I came that you might have life” (John 10:10) Living above your circumstances .. enduring in the face of trouble .. having hope when the situation seems hopeless … it’s all yours … it’s within your grasp .. but not if you disregard the One who is the source of hope. If you choose to live like all of the other rats around you.
Perhaps you are thinking - "That may be true for others, but I have done things in my life that I cannot forgive myself for. I am no better than the other rats." It is true that we are no better than anyone else, but we are saved by faith from the fate of those without faith in Jesus.
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you." Romans 8:1-9
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
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