Reviewing God’s truths for me.
I am a new creation in Christ. God is my heavenly Father and has abundantly proven His love for me by the willing sacrifice of Jesus Christ for my sins. (So there is no need for me to start a question with, “If God is love, then why….?”) He has placed me into His family and I have the right and privilege of coming to His throne at any time.
Through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, my sinful self was laid in the grave and the new creation has risen with Him to the heavenly places. I can now die to the sinful temptations that come my way and resist their feeling of power – for they are only feelings with no real power.
Jesus came to save me from sin. Not to make me well, or financially wealthy, or get me a mate, or make me a nice-mannered churchgoer:
- He saves me from the reign of sin – now He is Lord.
- From the power of sin – no longer a slave to give in to it.
- From the punishment of sin – His blood covers all.
- From the corruption of sin – now I’m being conformed to His image.
- From the guilt of sin – now my conscience is clear because He says He will remember my sins no more.
- From the sting of sin – His resurrection robs the grave of fear.
Nevertheless, I know what my hot buttons are that can draw me to sin in weak moments, so I will watch for them. I do this by naming and acknowledging my sins and weaknesses, not by pretending, with a prideful ego, that they don’t exist. God has given us tools and armor that we may appear before His presence with exceeding joy and not in shame:
- His blood – so I confess my sins and my faults and walk with Him daily.
- His Word – so I take care to eat my daily bread. He has things to teach me that a preacher might not talk about.
- Prayer – my lifeline and a gauge of whether I have a growing relationship with Him.
- The Cross – the only remedy against the flesh and its tendency to depend on self.
- Fellowship – it’s inappropriate to live by myself, for God wants to love and encourage others through me.
- Abide – live for Him, not myself or this world.
- Obey – be attentive to the still, small voice and be ready to follow it.
- Kingdom of God – seek it first: the reign of Jesus as King over all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.
- The gospel – to partner with God in His mission on earth, and to encourage myself lest I be swayed by the enemy.
With these spiritual tools I may appear before Him spotless and without blame, and produce much fruit.
Suffering is everywhere and is the lot of the Christian. I will accept it from God’s hand, knowing that we must, through many tribulations, enter the kingdom with honor. I have the liberty to hide in Him through its worst phases — He does not promise that I will escape suffering. I trust in His help and hope in His keeping power in hard times.
I surrender myself to Jesus Christ as Lord. What is mine I have given to Him. My time and talents, money and family, dreams and aspirations are all to be used to glorify Christ. What are the world’s treasures compared to the lasting wonders of Christ’s eternal kingdom?
Jesus is the life. I do not seek life in things, people, places, activities, philosophies and ideas, or hobbies; though I may enjoy these things for a season, they are not the reason I live.
If I feel barren or lost or am letting petty slights overwhelm me or am rude and callous to others; if I am stressed out and can’t sleep or don’t have the strength to go on, I have wandered from the true life. But I may return to Him at any time and ask for help in time of need. Persistence in faith in His grace and in prayer will get it all cast on Him and restore fellowship and peace.
