by David Brenneman
"He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:28-32.
"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality." Colossians 3:23-25.
Life Principle #25 God Blesses us so that we might bless others.
Many people seem to think the only reason for salvation is so that a person will go to heaven when he dies. Eternal life is part of God’s plan of forgiveness, but that’s not the sole reason for our salvation. God saved us so that we each might reflect His nature—that we might be His people on this earth, doing the kinds of works that Jesus Himself would do if He were walking in our shoes, through our world, during our lifetimes. He desires to manifest His character through our personalities and giftedness.
- Dr. Charles Stanley Life Principles Devotional.
When someone comes to Christ priorities are supposed to begin to change, both for that individual as well as how they view those they encounter.
Just as in the switching of jobs, so it is in similar fashion with this. We no longer do what we once did. We also no longer do it for the one we did it for.
In Christ we are yes saved and marked as children of God, children of Light. We are sealed in the Spirit of God. We cannot be unsaved.
We also have training to complete.
We learn that this on-going training is intended to reflect this new life in Christ. We learn that Jesus has a plan and purpose for our lives going forward.
What many think at times is that they're just free to now go live however they desire to live.
When people come to Christ, there's a change of pilots to that plane of life. A change of driver's to that car. A change of Captain's to the ship or boat. The point being we aren't in charge anymore of what is to become of the rest of our lives.
Having been through a few companies who were bought out, in due time, changes have to happen. Personal are removed who are redundant, people are moved around. Policies change. The direction of the new company is changing.
We come to Christ not to be left alone to our own devices. To go continue doing our own thing.
We should want what God wants for us. We should be learning to desire what He desires. We should be letting go of what He says isn't good or necessary for us. We should be learning to hunger and thirst for righteousness. A life that isn't at all considering these things should really check to be sure they are saved. Jesus absolutely does not leave people in the state in which they are found.
Dare to ask Jesus to show you what needs to change in your life.
I struggled for the longest time in knowing what's next for me. I have been doing this blog and He’s blessed it with over 1.3 million views. Over 126 countries. But what I was desiring was what about my personal life. I truthfully never learned how to study and asking others for help on the subject didn't help me. Right before the beginning of 2025 I was shown what I was to do. What originated with a few devotionals and 2 Study Bibles expanded to 4 Study Bibles and 5 daily devotionals. I prayed to learn how to study so that's what my evening's look like now. By the time I get through most of the study Bibles the extraneous thoughts fade away.
Wanting what Jesus wants of us when we come to Christ for salvation is probably easier said than done in reality. When Jesus starts directing, through the Spirit, changes in our lives we begin to question ourselves and our path in life.
We aren't ours anymore, we were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ. We have a new Master to please, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We aren't here to please ourselves. That was our old way of life.
So getting saved was the beginning, all that comes afterwards is our becoming more like Christ and being His hands and feet in our corner of the world.
Take a good look at your life. Are you fighting what Jesus wants to do in and through you or are you indeed saying "your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven"?
Are you really investing in your walk with Jesus? Are you saying more than mere repetitive words in your prayers to Him? Are you intentionally spending time in God's Word? Are you showing evidence that Jesus is alive in your life?
Ask the question of Jesus: You have saved me. What's next for me?
Life in Christ isn't just a ticket to get into Heaven. There is no ticket to get into Heaven. There's those who are sealed in the Spirit of God who are granted entrance to Heaven. A ticket for entering someplace is something you carry on your person that is disposable later on afterwards. The mark of the Spirit of God is forever.
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Galatians 2:20.
All New American Standard Bible Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. A corporation not for profit.
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