How are our lives different because of Christ? We believe in His sacrifice, in His goodness and grace. What does it require of us, anything short of our very lives? Do the deeds of our heart outwardly show this level of devotion and thankfulness? If we are no longer slaves to sin, but were purchased at such a high price to be slaves to righteousness then shouldn’t it move us to give up ourselves.
Jesus said that to gain our lives, our freedom in Christ, we must loose it. Freely give up our “rights” of serving our own emotions and fleshly desire. Give it away, give it all away!!! If we try to hold on to our lives, we WILL loose it. Let go of justice, let go of hate, let go of anger, let go of hurt, let go of the idea that we can not overcome or forgive certain sin, let go of the belief that matters are in our own hands. They are not, believe...have faith and believe. Believe that He parts seas, that He calms storms, that He heals the sick, He raises the dead to life, makes the blind to see and the unclean clean. He heals the broken heart, returns the prodigal, brings the proud to their knees, brings hope to the hopeless. Believe, truly believe.
We say we believe, but the truth is not in our words but in our deeds. For out of the heart comes the actions of men. If we are full of the Spirit, then it will bear fruit in the form of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control. If our actions are full of anger, bitterness, jealousy, hate, judgment, etc. Then our actions testify against us as to what is in our hearts.
In our self assessment, what is our spiritual food? Are we getting any? How much time do we devote to God, getting to know Him better, serving Him....living with heavenly purpose. Is He our Sunday activity or is He truly our “all in all.” Our actions speak the truth. The hours of the day are for Him or they are not.
Don’t tell me you’ve done your time. Really? Is that what you’re going to tell Jesus when you give an account for your life to the one who gave His very life for you? Is this the view you have of the sacrifice He made, that it only deserves a portion of your life? How lukewarm will we be before He spits us out of his mouth, before we stand before the throne and He says, “depart from me, for I never knew you.”
“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ Matthew 7:21-23
Are we doing His will? Is our life bearing the fruit of the Spirit? What comes out of our hearts and is manifested through our actions and emotions? Only those who do the will of the father...will enter. Is it enough to claim Jesus as savior with our words, but deny Him with our hearts? You decide and live accordingly.
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