by David Brenneman
"Remember, God's overriding purpose in your life is to mold you into the likeness of Christ (Romans 8:29) so that you can have an intimate relationship with and glorify Him." - Dr. Charles Stanley Life Principles Daily Bible NASB.
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?" Romans 8:28-31.
What you worship outside of your Creator will become the chains that bind you.
These thoughts seem to be coming together this morning. The quote from Dr. Charles Stanley, where he was pointing to in Romans as well as something that I quickly wrote down yesterday during a breakfast conversation with men that I meet with.
Dr. Stanley's Life Principles also say "Anything you hold too tightly, you will lose." As well as "Whatever you aquire outside of God's will eventually turns to ashes.".
Our purpose under Heaven isn't to find ourselves. It isn't to make the best personal world to surround us. It's not to retire with great wealth and health. It's not to make our own personal paradise here while we are here.
We come to Christ to be changed.
He promised to fulfill this promise.
"For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them." Ephesians 2:10.
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2.
To mash together various words of the English language...we come to Christ for an unbelievable out of this world experience that is unmatched by any other relationship we will ever know.
You come to Christ not only to find and receive His free gift of salvation. But you find yourself face-to-face with your need and desire to please the One who gave everything to save you.
If you are still trying to live for yourself, it's GOING to conflict with His purpose in life for you. That very specific plan and purpose that's just for you to fulfill. You aren't just randomly added to the Church. You are added to the body of Christ as the Spirit sees fit. As the Spirit directs.
We aren't going to go through any interviews to find a job with Jesus.
We aren't preparing a resume for Him to go over.
We are His workmanship. THE Worker already knows every intimate detail about you.
Every single thought you have ever had.
Every sin you have ever battled with.
Every intention you have ever considered.
So the argument of "How could He ever use someone like me? If He's known half the things that I have done, the things that I have thought!"
My Dear Reader, when you came to Christ, His righteousness overshadowed all your sins, all your faults. When His Father looks at you, He sees His Son, Jesus Christ.
In this it opens up the fantastic opportunity to get to know your Savior and Lord.
We ask for forgiveness, He casts our sins as far away as the east is from the west. Remembering them no more. He chooses to do this because of His great love for you and I. Do I ever understand that fully? Absolutely not. I have eternity to try to get a handle on this.
Are you asking Him what it is He's got for you to be doing? Have you ever asked? Have you ever considered that?
Everyone in the body of Christ is holy. Every part of the body of Christ has purpose. There's no illnesses possible in the body of Christ.
Pray about your life in Christ, that you would be able to know His calling for you and for His help in fulfilling that calling.
What the world offers will turn to ashes. What we do hold onto more tightly than our relationship with Jesus will turn out to be the chains that bind us.
It's a day to day thing. Today my prayer is to be stronger in the Lord than I was yesterday.
Today my prayer is to walk closer to Jesus than I was yesterday.
If your passion in life is fixed on anything more than your relationship with Jesus it will turn to ashes. It will become chains.
Only you won't see them as chains until you finally try to move and find that you cannot.
When you pray for what Jesus is eager to do in your life and the lives of others you will find that you can't lose.
People everywhere wonder why the world is like it is. It's because Satan's "business model" is entirely driven by pride and self-centeredness. When you look at how people will be before Jesus returns...that's Satan's "business model" being lived out by humanity.
"For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these." 2 Timothy 3:2-5.
To those in Christ, the evidence of the Spirit are "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23 NASB1995
Take a serious look at your desires and your interests, your intentions. Who's worldview does it align with? Jesus's or Satan's?
"Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you." Matthew 6:33.
"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." James 4:8.
You will not lose out on life as the world tries to convince you of...you'll find your purpose, you'll find yourself indeed becoming more and more like Christ.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
No comments:
Post a Comment