John 14:17 "the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."
The Spirit of truth. Constantly reminding, always revealing. Light piercing the darkness, exposing. Quenching lies, showing Christ. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." Why? Jesus says in John 8:31-32, "'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.'" Freedom it says. But how many times do I cling to the darkness of lies, afraid of the truth that brings freedom. I am afraid of its penetrating light, what it will reveal. For some reason I think in my heart that obedience is bondage, that death to self only brings misery. But I am forgetting what the freedom of rising with Christ is like. In the words of Jim Cymbala, "To reject God's requirements does not set us free to enjoy our independence. It instead plunges us into ever more complicated bondages." So the Holy Spirit is not only a Spirit of Truth but also a Spirit of freedom, because embracing the truth sets me free.
Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if they Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:34-36)He also said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my hand upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)We see the contrast between the bondage of thr "independance" of rejecting God's requirements, and the freedom that comes giving up our heavy yoke of sin for God's yoke in which we will find "rest for our souls."
"But you know him," I know the Spirit of Truth, he lives with me and in me. The world cannot accept the Spirit, cannot embrace the freedom of living in truth. But I can accept him because he has opened my eyes to know him, i have seen him work around me and I've seen him work in and through me.
This verse shows me a connection between loving God by keeping his commands and receiving the Spirit of Truth. Obedience to the revealing light of the the Holy Spirit will fill me with his presence, setting me free from the power of sin. Today, will go before the Holy Spirit, bringing before him places that have been hardened towards his filling which have been placing me in chains and preventing me from living a life of freedom.
Friday, August 21, 2015
John 14:16 "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever---"
The Counselor will remind us of everything that Jesus taught us, He points us back to Jesus. He urges us to obey, reminds us of what we must do to be a faithful servant of the Savior who we love. When Jesus told his disciples that he was leaving this world, the Holy Spirit was promised in his place to council and to keep the words of Jesus alive in their hearts. He still plays that role today in our lives as well.
"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I said to you." (John 14:26)
"He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you." (John 16:14-15)
When Jesus visited the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus in Luke 10, Mary chose to ignore the business, stress, and worry that Martha was caught up in. Instead she chooses to put that aside, quiet herself, and sit at the feet of Jesus listening to what he has to say. Today, I can not physically sit at the feet of Jesus because Jesus is not physically present in this world, but he has sent his Spirit to council me and remind me of what he has said. Like Mary, I need to humble myself and sit quietly before the Lord. I need put aside distractions and invading thoughts and quietly open my mind to what the Spirit has to remind me of.
"Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." Not only do I need to be attentive to the counsel of the Spirit, I need to be ready to obey. In the parable of the sower in Luke 8, the seed that was sown on hard ground, was plucked away because the ground heard it but did not retain it. That ground hardened itself to conforming to the Word, therefore the Word had no impact on its life.
This study was convicting to me because I realized that I have been hardening my heart to the Holy Spirit's counsel, holding him at a distance in fear of what he was going to convict me of. I read in Hebrews 3 of the Israelites, who, "for forty years saw what I did," yet they still kept unbelief in their hearts that caused them to test God in the desert. God had miraculously led them out of bondage in Egypt, yet "they were not able to enter [his rest, the promised land], because of their unbeleif." Likewise the Lord, has done great things in my life, he has brought me out of the bonds of slavery to sin. Yet he has called me to something higher, a victorious life.
"See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." (Hebrews 3:13)
If I am to live a victorious life, I must rely on the Holy Spirit and be attentive and obedient to his voice. I can no longer hold him at a distance if I want him to change and impact me.
The Counselor will remind us of everything that Jesus taught us, He points us back to Jesus. He urges us to obey, reminds us of what we must do to be a faithful servant of the Savior who we love. When Jesus told his disciples that he was leaving this world, the Holy Spirit was promised in his place to council and to keep the words of Jesus alive in their hearts. He still plays that role today in our lives as well.
"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I said to you." (John 14:26)
"He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you." (John 16:14-15)
When Jesus visited the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus in Luke 10, Mary chose to ignore the business, stress, and worry that Martha was caught up in. Instead she chooses to put that aside, quiet herself, and sit at the feet of Jesus listening to what he has to say. Today, I can not physically sit at the feet of Jesus because Jesus is not physically present in this world, but he has sent his Spirit to council me and remind me of what he has said. Like Mary, I need to humble myself and sit quietly before the Lord. I need put aside distractions and invading thoughts and quietly open my mind to what the Spirit has to remind me of.
"Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." Not only do I need to be attentive to the counsel of the Spirit, I need to be ready to obey. In the parable of the sower in Luke 8, the seed that was sown on hard ground, was plucked away because the ground heard it but did not retain it. That ground hardened itself to conforming to the Word, therefore the Word had no impact on its life.
This study was convicting to me because I realized that I have been hardening my heart to the Holy Spirit's counsel, holding him at a distance in fear of what he was going to convict me of. I read in Hebrews 3 of the Israelites, who, "for forty years saw what I did," yet they still kept unbelief in their hearts that caused them to test God in the desert. God had miraculously led them out of bondage in Egypt, yet "they were not able to enter [his rest, the promised land], because of their unbeleif." Likewise the Lord, has done great things in my life, he has brought me out of the bonds of slavery to sin. Yet he has called me to something higher, a victorious life.
"See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." (Hebrews 3:13)
If I am to live a victorious life, I must rely on the Holy Spirit and be attentive and obedient to his voice. I can no longer hold him at a distance if I want him to change and impact me.
John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command."
"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrafice for our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us, we also ought to love one another." (1 John 4:10-11)"We love because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19)
In order to love God we must first realize the extent of his love for us.
Ephesians 1 and 2 gives an awesome picture of all that I have been blessed with through Christ, by the grace of God: I have been chosen to be holy and blameless, predestined to be adopted as a child of God, freely given his glorious grace, redempted through his blood, forgiven of sins, made aware of the mystery of his will, included in Christ, given the seal of the Holy Spirit, made alive with Christ, saved by grace, raised with Christ, and even created to do good works.
All of this was made possible because of the sacrafice that Christ has made for me. Because of the richness of God's love and mercy, he sent Jesus to provide the just atonement for sin, making it possible for a restored relationship with God, forgiving my sin, and redeeming me from its power. Because of Jesus' blood atoning for my sin, God now looks on me with favor. Jesus lived a sinless life, suffered and died in innocence to gain this for me. Because of the love of God, he went to the cross
These blessings bestowed on me say alot about God and very little about me other than that I was stuck in sin, but God called me out of it. He does not love me because of anything that I did, am, or have, but because of who he is. Clearly I have nothing before God as it says in Romans 3:10-12: "...There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. all have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." "All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in transgressions---it is by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:3-5)
This love is amazing and so undeserved. That he would chose to call me out of darkness and love me as his daughter, and give me a purpose to fulfill, using me to work through others. If I fully realize the extent of his love I will love him also and will obey his commands. What is his command? Jesus says in the next chapter (15:12), "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." Loving others is simply the natural outflow of my love for God. When I truly realize what I have been forgiven and how undeserved his grace and love is, I will naturally desire to pour it out on others. This verse is an if, then statement: if you love, then you will obey. It is not saying if I love then I have an obligation to obey, which I certainly do, but it is just simply saying that if I truly love God, the result will be that I love my brother as well.
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (1 John 3:16)
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"
The true measure of our love for God will be shown in how we love the least of these. Today, my goal is to spend some time in prayer, thanking God for his great and undeserved love and asking him to help me to grasp it more so that I can in pour out love to my brothers, and think of ways that I can live out love for my brothers in light of his love for me.
"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrafice for our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us, we also ought to love one another." (1 John 4:10-11)"We love because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19)
In order to love God we must first realize the extent of his love for us.
Ephesians 1 and 2 gives an awesome picture of all that I have been blessed with through Christ, by the grace of God: I have been chosen to be holy and blameless, predestined to be adopted as a child of God, freely given his glorious grace, redempted through his blood, forgiven of sins, made aware of the mystery of his will, included in Christ, given the seal of the Holy Spirit, made alive with Christ, saved by grace, raised with Christ, and even created to do good works.
All of this was made possible because of the sacrafice that Christ has made for me. Because of the richness of God's love and mercy, he sent Jesus to provide the just atonement for sin, making it possible for a restored relationship with God, forgiving my sin, and redeeming me from its power. Because of Jesus' blood atoning for my sin, God now looks on me with favor. Jesus lived a sinless life, suffered and died in innocence to gain this for me. Because of the love of God, he went to the cross
These blessings bestowed on me say alot about God and very little about me other than that I was stuck in sin, but God called me out of it. He does not love me because of anything that I did, am, or have, but because of who he is. Clearly I have nothing before God as it says in Romans 3:10-12: "...There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. all have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." "All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in transgressions---it is by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:3-5)
This love is amazing and so undeserved. That he would chose to call me out of darkness and love me as his daughter, and give me a purpose to fulfill, using me to work through others. If I fully realize the extent of his love I will love him also and will obey his commands. What is his command? Jesus says in the next chapter (15:12), "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." Loving others is simply the natural outflow of my love for God. When I truly realize what I have been forgiven and how undeserved his grace and love is, I will naturally desire to pour it out on others. This verse is an if, then statement: if you love, then you will obey. It is not saying if I love then I have an obligation to obey, which I certainly do, but it is just simply saying that if I truly love God, the result will be that I love my brother as well.
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (1 John 3:16)
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"
The true measure of our love for God will be shown in how we love the least of these. Today, my goal is to spend some time in prayer, thanking God for his great and undeserved love and asking him to help me to grasp it more so that I can in pour out love to my brothers, and think of ways that I can live out love for my brothers in light of his love for me.
Friday, August 14, 2015
1 Timothy 6:10 "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many greifs."
They wandered from the faith for money. Why? It promised more. It promised satisfaction. They loved it and desired it. They chased it. 'Money brings freedom,' they said. It will enable us to fulfill every desire. With greedy eyes their fists clung to it and they would not let go. They switched their gaze from God to self. From trust in God to trust in money. From seeking heavenly reward to seeking temporary gain. They wandered from the freedom of serving Christ to pursue, love, and serve money. They took on chains and pierced themselves with many greifs.
When the root of my desires is pursuing materials I see the fruits that result: selfishness, stinginess, worry, envy, and ungratefulness. The thing that promised security and freedom has not. Instead it has built many little prisons around me. This 'freedom' is a heavy yoke to bear and a hard master to serve. Money is a master that is always displeased, never satisfied with my service. The obligations I have to serving this master weigh heavy. This is not the kind of freedom that Christ has called me into.
It is not the money itself that is the problem, only the love of it. Clinging to it, depending on it, not willing to let it go. A few verses later, Paul shows us how those who have money can serve God with it, "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up for treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."
Life that is truly life. Materialism promises this but results in envy, selfishness, stinginess, worry, and ungratefulness. I must not serve money and cling to it, but hold it loosely, with an unclenched fist, realizing that to beleive the lie that money will provide contentmemt is a prison and will bear fruit to many other sins that will enslave me and keep me from living in the freedom that is in Christ.
They wandered from the faith for money. Why? It promised more. It promised satisfaction. They loved it and desired it. They chased it. 'Money brings freedom,' they said. It will enable us to fulfill every desire. With greedy eyes their fists clung to it and they would not let go. They switched their gaze from God to self. From trust in God to trust in money. From seeking heavenly reward to seeking temporary gain. They wandered from the freedom of serving Christ to pursue, love, and serve money. They took on chains and pierced themselves with many greifs.
When the root of my desires is pursuing materials I see the fruits that result: selfishness, stinginess, worry, envy, and ungratefulness. The thing that promised security and freedom has not. Instead it has built many little prisons around me. This 'freedom' is a heavy yoke to bear and a hard master to serve. Money is a master that is always displeased, never satisfied with my service. The obligations I have to serving this master weigh heavy. This is not the kind of freedom that Christ has called me into.
It is not the money itself that is the problem, only the love of it. Clinging to it, depending on it, not willing to let it go. A few verses later, Paul shows us how those who have money can serve God with it, "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up for treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."
Life that is truly life. Materialism promises this but results in envy, selfishness, stinginess, worry, and ungratefulness. I must not serve money and cling to it, but hold it loosely, with an unclenched fist, realizing that to beleive the lie that money will provide contentmemt is a prison and will bear fruit to many other sins that will enslave me and keep me from living in the freedom that is in Christ.
1 Timothy 6:9 "People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction."
"Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?'..." (Proverbs 30:8-9).
The pursuit of money does that to us. We desire it to trust in it, it gives security. At least it promises that it will. In trusting in money, I have no reason to trust in God to provide my needs. I can do whatever I want, I can have whatever I want. I. This is all about my desires. Money is the resource to fulfill every materialistic desire. That is why those who seek wealth are doomed to fall into many other harmful things as well.
The biggest lure for me personally for money is its promise of security and freedom. I think that if I have enough, I will be able to do whatever I want, i will be able to have whatever i want and I will never have to worry about finding the resources.
Wealth doesn't give security, only a desire for more. Ecclesiastes 5:10 says, "Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless." It is a trap, whoever falls for desiring wealth, puts himself in this never ending cycle of never having enough, always striving for more. Striving for wealth is not really striving for the wealth itself, but something else. It is really striving for something to replace the fulfillment and security that only God is able to provide. It seeks to replace God. And that is why there is always the desire for more, because it absolutely does not fill.
That is why Matthew 6:24 clearly says, "You cannot serve both God and money."
To serve, is to humble oneself before another, do as commanded, give yourself in submission at whatever the cost. Romans 6:16, "Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey..."
Submitting myself to the pursuit of money and it's promise of freedom and security is serving money, taking my trust off of God and the freedom that trust in his will brings.
I do not need to chase money to find security and freedom. The Lord is fully trustworthy to provide the things, not necessarily what I want, but what he wants me to have. He will provide the means that will give me the freedom to do, not necessarily whatever my flesh desires to do, but what he wants me to do.
For application I will make a list of some of the things that I don't have which I believe the lie that if I do have I will be happy, and bring these before the Lord.
"Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?'..." (Proverbs 30:8-9).
The pursuit of money does that to us. We desire it to trust in it, it gives security. At least it promises that it will. In trusting in money, I have no reason to trust in God to provide my needs. I can do whatever I want, I can have whatever I want. I. This is all about my desires. Money is the resource to fulfill every materialistic desire. That is why those who seek wealth are doomed to fall into many other harmful things as well.
The biggest lure for me personally for money is its promise of security and freedom. I think that if I have enough, I will be able to do whatever I want, i will be able to have whatever i want and I will never have to worry about finding the resources.
Wealth doesn't give security, only a desire for more. Ecclesiastes 5:10 says, "Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless." It is a trap, whoever falls for desiring wealth, puts himself in this never ending cycle of never having enough, always striving for more. Striving for wealth is not really striving for the wealth itself, but something else. It is really striving for something to replace the fulfillment and security that only God is able to provide. It seeks to replace God. And that is why there is always the desire for more, because it absolutely does not fill.
That is why Matthew 6:24 clearly says, "You cannot serve both God and money."
To serve, is to humble oneself before another, do as commanded, give yourself in submission at whatever the cost. Romans 6:16, "Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey..."
Submitting myself to the pursuit of money and it's promise of freedom and security is serving money, taking my trust off of God and the freedom that trust in his will brings.
I do not need to chase money to find security and freedom. The Lord is fully trustworthy to provide the things, not necessarily what I want, but what he wants me to have. He will provide the means that will give me the freedom to do, not necessarily whatever my flesh desires to do, but what he wants me to do.
For application I will make a list of some of the things that I don't have which I believe the lie that if I do have I will be happy, and bring these before the Lord.
1 Timothy 6:8 "But if we have food and clothing we shall be content."
The idea of contentment to me implies happiness, satisfaction, giving freely, grasping what is around you, living in the present. It gives me the sense of not striving for more but resting, dwelling.
Psalm 37:3 says, " Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture." Dwell and enjoy. Just sit still, soak it up, and enjoy it.
In discontentment, my mind is occupied either with the past or the future, never the present. It is always striving for more, always longing for something better leaving me exhausted and miserable. Discontentment always shows me the things that I don't have and convinces me that I will be happy only when I have them. It does not let the mind rest but hurries by, it is always on the move, seeking but never finding.
Paul was able to say, "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty of in want."
This is truly living with an open hand, being content with a lot of things and being content with little. Paul accepted it joyfully when the Lord gave him much and accepted it joyfully when the Lord gave him a little. It did not matter because his hope was in the Lord. Paul knew what it was like to have a little and be content, then when he had a lot he could still accept it with gratitude without wishing or striving for more.
Today I desire to rest in the Lord, to dwell and enjoy. I have been given much, let me be content with that. I want to live today with an open hand, giving thanks when the Lord gives and giving thanks when the Lord takes away.
The idea of contentment to me implies happiness, satisfaction, giving freely, grasping what is around you, living in the present. It gives me the sense of not striving for more but resting, dwelling.
Psalm 37:3 says, " Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture." Dwell and enjoy. Just sit still, soak it up, and enjoy it.
In discontentment, my mind is occupied either with the past or the future, never the present. It is always striving for more, always longing for something better leaving me exhausted and miserable. Discontentment always shows me the things that I don't have and convinces me that I will be happy only when I have them. It does not let the mind rest but hurries by, it is always on the move, seeking but never finding.
Paul was able to say, "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty of in want."
This is truly living with an open hand, being content with a lot of things and being content with little. Paul accepted it joyfully when the Lord gave him much and accepted it joyfully when the Lord gave him a little. It did not matter because his hope was in the Lord. Paul knew what it was like to have a little and be content, then when he had a lot he could still accept it with gratitude without wishing or striving for more.
Today I desire to rest in the Lord, to dwell and enjoy. I have been given much, let me be content with that. I want to live today with an open hand, giving thanks when the Lord gives and giving thanks when the Lord takes away.
1 Timothy 6:7 "For we brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it."
This verse just emphasizes how temporary it all is. When I leave this world, what will I have left?
The Lord has been showing me alot today just how much identity I have placed in things other than him. Whether it be possesions, relationships, image, abilities, experiences or approval, these are all things that I take pride in, things that I cling to so tightly, things that I would struggle with if they should be stripped away. All of these are things that God has given me, nothing that I conjured up on my own strength. I am called to use these gifts to build God's kingdom. Their value is temporary yes, I didn't bring them into this world and I will not take them out, but their effects are lasting. They, although temporary in and of themselves, are to be used to make treasures that last forever.
Yet, instead I use these gifts of the Lord for selfish gain. I wrap my identity in these things, 'This is who I am, this is what I have.' I consider that it was I who gave myself these and decide that because of them I have worth. And if they are stripped away, I feel that apart of me has been stripped away. And if I am discontent with what I have, I even loose my feeling of self worth. I think as though who I am is based on what I have.
When I place identity and self worth in who I am and what I have, I am not giving glory to God who has given me these things. I am not emptying myself of all that is me and filling myself of all that is his. I am taking my identity, that i am a child of God because of the blood of Christ, and living like it is not enough.
Who am I in Christ? First of all I have nothing before him and my righteousness without Christ is as filthy rags. I really have nothing to offer. But I have been chosen, accepted and adopted as a daughter of the Father, loved with out condition, died for, given an inheritance, justified before God, set free from the power of sin, made victorious, sacrificed for, bought with a price, redeemed, sought after, sanctified, not given up on, given grace upon grace. None of this is something I deserved, all of it is what Christ did.
I am not home yet. The things to gain in this world will not last. Will I cling to them and use them selfishly or will I hold them loosely, using them to gain eternally?
I have so much in Christ to cling to. My identity in Christ can never be stripped away. I have been given gifts, not to cling to for myself, but to use to make eternal treasures. I will make a list of things that I have been looking to to find self worth and will bring them before the Lord.
This verse just emphasizes how temporary it all is. When I leave this world, what will I have left?
The Lord has been showing me alot today just how much identity I have placed in things other than him. Whether it be possesions, relationships, image, abilities, experiences or approval, these are all things that I take pride in, things that I cling to so tightly, things that I would struggle with if they should be stripped away. All of these are things that God has given me, nothing that I conjured up on my own strength. I am called to use these gifts to build God's kingdom. Their value is temporary yes, I didn't bring them into this world and I will not take them out, but their effects are lasting. They, although temporary in and of themselves, are to be used to make treasures that last forever.
Yet, instead I use these gifts of the Lord for selfish gain. I wrap my identity in these things, 'This is who I am, this is what I have.' I consider that it was I who gave myself these and decide that because of them I have worth. And if they are stripped away, I feel that apart of me has been stripped away. And if I am discontent with what I have, I even loose my feeling of self worth. I think as though who I am is based on what I have.
When I place identity and self worth in who I am and what I have, I am not giving glory to God who has given me these things. I am not emptying myself of all that is me and filling myself of all that is his. I am taking my identity, that i am a child of God because of the blood of Christ, and living like it is not enough.
Who am I in Christ? First of all I have nothing before him and my righteousness without Christ is as filthy rags. I really have nothing to offer. But I have been chosen, accepted and adopted as a daughter of the Father, loved with out condition, died for, given an inheritance, justified before God, set free from the power of sin, made victorious, sacrificed for, bought with a price, redeemed, sought after, sanctified, not given up on, given grace upon grace. None of this is something I deserved, all of it is what Christ did.
I am not home yet. The things to gain in this world will not last. Will I cling to them and use them selfishly or will I hold them loosely, using them to gain eternally?
I have so much in Christ to cling to. My identity in Christ can never be stripped away. I have been given gifts, not to cling to for myself, but to use to make eternal treasures. I will make a list of things that I have been looking to to find self worth and will bring them before the Lord.
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