by David Brenneman
"But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood," Galatians 1:15-16.
"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." Romans 8:29-30.
"Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift." Ephesians 4:1-7.
My Dear Reader...if indeed you claim the precious Name of Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior...you have been set apart for God for His purposes in the time in which you are living.
We not only are a new creation in Christ, we are His continued workmanship in Christ.
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Ephesians 2:10.
If we keep this in mind then we ought to be walking in a manner that glorifies God. As His sheep hear His voice, we are to obey His word and complete our calling in Christ before anything else.
Love God with our everything and love others as ourselves. Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6.
Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you. Matthew 6:33.
So why, my Dear Reader, are so many of us, I include myself, so often swayed to live lives tainted by willful sins? Why do we lay ahold not of the things of God but things that are of this world instead? Why do we partake of idolatry and in order to appease our conscience we simply refer to it as being fans of those things, those desires? Why do we partake of adulterous thoughts and feelings and again dismiss the guilt of it as just human nature rather than calling it what God does...sin. We are deceived by not only Satan's minions but our own sin nature.
We need to do more to stand firm in the Lord. We need to recognize the importance of taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus. We are in desperate need of recognition that we are in a spiritual war and that there are no conscientious objectors in this war. We are either living as unto the Lord or we aren't. We are either seeking His will for our lives or we seek our own. As Christ-followers the battle in our minds is only of who is leading, the Spirit or us.
Who's in the driver's seat in your life? Are you so convinced of the things in your life that you're up to the challenge to ask God that particular question?
What question?
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way." Psalms 139:23-24.
That question.
What if we would pray that Psalm in faith and what if we wouldn't dismiss or disagree with what the Spirit says is a problem in our lives that needs to go?
The war is getting more and more in our face as to who's in control of it...it being our lives.
Every careless word we speak or think will be revealed. Every action we took or thought to take will be revealed. Every...single...one.
On average most who are fans of movies, television, streaming videos, spend a ton of time and money who are claiming to be Christian's who either give God nothing or next to nothing in tithing. They will refuse to give up these things that aren't just movies, television, streaming videos, but sports and games as well but will also be known for spending little to no time with Jesus.
Would you be one of these? Does your apparel show others that your life is in Christ or that of someone or something of this world? How about that merch you buy?
Does your life show your calling in Christ Jesus or does it show you hiding it.
"And He was saying to them, “A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand? For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” Mark 4:21-23.
You who are saved have a calling in Christ Jesus to be fulfilled by no one else but you. Are you giving Christ Jesus your all? Are you taking up your own cross and are you really following Jesus?
Take time to evaluate your life.
Ask Jesus that question from earlier.
We need to run the race, finish the course. Give of our best unto our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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