by David Brenneman
"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." Romans 8:28-30.
"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.
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33.
Our priorities in life are often so mixed up. We may indeed have desires of our hearts to have or see fulfilled but as Christians, as children of God, part of the body of Christ, the Church, we have a life in Christ that's to be fulfilled first.
Our adversaries are all around us. While yes according to the Words of Jesus they have to get His permission to engage us in many ways, they're always gathering intelligence on every single Believer. What weaknesses to want to explore or expose.
The Spirit, the Helper, is ready and desiring to teach us all things towards our sanctification in Christ Jesus.
When we came to Christ it wasn't just to get a 'get out of Hell free' card.
It was to also get all that comes with it. A new life in Christ. A new spirit within us. To be an active participant in the body of Christ, the Church.
Those of our adversaries watching us will push the envelope whenever they can. Distractions abounding we really have to focus on our walk with Jesus.
We have no inate ability to just say "your will be done" in and of ourselves without the help of the Spirit of God.
Do you seek to become all that the Lord wants you to be in your life or are you treating the life in Christ as a AAA membership where you pull Him out of your wallet only when there's a need or to get use of a perk because of the membership?
There's a greater purpose to our lives than we can understand or imagine. It's not our getting out life what we want but getting out of life what He wants of us. We are at His disposal, not the other way around. We are to seek to be all we can be in Him rather than seeking our personal comfort and well-being.
Growing in Christ is to be our aspiration. Our primary goal. To live, to be, to become all that Jesus wants of us to be transformed into.
Our sanctification, our becoming more like Jesus isn't going to be a painless experience. We are sheep in training. Learning His voice. Learning obedience. Letting go of things that aren't beneficial and taking up things that are.
We have spiritual eyes that we are learning to see with. A spiritual armor to learn to be in.
We read the Bible but are we reading it? Have you asked of Him who saved you: What is your will for me today? Have you ever had an Isaiah moment where you tell the Lord: Here am I! Use me!.
Do you find yourself going through the day without ever thinking about what you're actually doing for Jesus? Or that He has something for you to do?
Are your thoughts always somewhere other than on your life in Christ?
What we want out of life is irrelevant compared to what our part of God's plan for us towards humanity should be.
It's why we ought to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus.
It's why we should let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth.
It's why we should love our neighbors as ourselves.
It's why we are to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.
It's why we are to be making it a habit and priority to seek to grow in Christ.
What kind of reception do you really want from Jesus when you stand before Him? A well done or a stern rebuke or reprimand.
Are you taking your life in Christ as seriously as Jesus did when He went to the cross for you?
We read in Romans at the beginning of this post that we are called according to His purpose. Have you prayed about what that is for you?
We read that we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. Do you seek to know what it is that you're to be doing for Him?
My life, your life, is not ours, we came to Christ we were no longer our own. We were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
Living for Jesus a life that is true. Striving to please Him in all that I do. Yielding allegiance glad-hearted and free. This is the pathway of blessing for me. O Jesus Lord and Savior, I give myself to thee, For thou in thine atonement didst give thyself for me. I own no other Master, my heart shall be thy Throne, My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ to thee alone.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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