By David Brenneman
"So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth." Ephesians 4:17-24.
"But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." James 1:22-27.
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." 2 Corinthians 5:17.
My Dear Reader...while we yet live in this world, yet further still in this sin cursed body, live it to the full in Christ rather than to yourselves.
That's what we read in these passages. That's what we are to be in Christ. Examples unto the world of a life surrendered to Jesus and showing that we are not our own but were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
Yet the lines are so so blurred between many of those claiming to be Christian's and those who are not. Where's the distinction between the two that the Light of Jesus Christ is supposed to produce? Why do so many professing Christians push the envelope of sin rather that abhor sin as much as our Father in Heaven does?
Rhetorical questions these are. For seeking your response in writing I am not. You need to determine who is really going to take first place in your heart and mind. You WILL give an account of your life before Jesus with whom everyone has to do. Your choices to put anything before your full devotion to your walk with Jesus will be clearly seen in that day.
Dr. Charles Stanley's Trusting God with Today was pointing out that these useless things we latch onto will not help us at all in that day before Jesus.
We cannot serve God AND anyone or anything. There is no Jesus AND anything that's going to benefit anyone in human history.
Take time to sit and look at where your time goes in a day, a week even. Where does your enjoyment of life come from? Is it found in your everything or everyone else but when you're with Jesus? Do you intentionally meet with Jesus on purpose to share your heart and life? Is what's important to Jesus important to you? A disciple of Christ follows what their Master, Christ, is doing. A few people are written in the Gospels of wanting to do other things, before they follow Christ. Look at what Jesus told them.
What you pour the most of you into is what's getting your heart. Can be anything and everything from family to sports to hobbies. How often are you personally meeting with Jesus Christ your Savior? Not a drive-by meeting. A real time spent with Him. A true follow through with your commitment to follow Jesus after you gave your life to Him.
Who's really calling the shots in your life? Do you ever look forward to your time alone with Jesus? More than you do with ________?
What you reveal will tell you where your heart really is. You will see your own proof as to where you stand in growing in Christ. My Dear Reader do something about it now while you still have that opportunity!
Cultivate your time wisely.
Let go of useless arguments and passions about things of this world that are doing nothing to cultivate a Christ-like heart in your life.
Who's life is it anyway? If you truly are a Christ-follower then it should reflect that without question in your life.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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