dailywordofdestiny

Life transformation; from what has been invisible and that is becoming visible.  I am being changed into Christ-likeness!  This is God’s will for my life and it is accomplished by the Spirit of God (Romans 12: 2, Ephesians 4: 22, 23). Through this process, eternal life from God himself is imparted into my heart (2 Peter 1: 3,4; 1 John 5: 6-11) and I am adopted as a child of God’s ( John 1: 12,13; Galatians 3: 26-29). Therefore, I am now created to be like God in righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4: 22-24).

This process is necessary because apart from Christ, all people, in their inherent natures, are sinners incapable of obeying and pleasing God (1 Corinthians 2: 14-16). I repented of my sins and turned to God (Matthew 3: 2).  I put my faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior and NOW through Christ, I am set free from sin’s bondage; no longer under the law, but under GRACE (Romans 6: 14-23)! Hallelujah! The SPIRIT of GOD lives in my heart and He gives me the spiritual desire and disposition to obey and follow His instruction through God’s Word.  I live a righteous life (1 John 2: 29), love others (Matthew 19: 19; 2 John 3-6); I do not love the worldview and I avoid a life of sin for those born of God CANNOT make sin a habitual practice in their lives (1 John 3: 7-10). This is truly God’s desire for each of us, but we all know it is hard at times to walk the narrow road He calls us to because “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing (Romans 7: 18-2).

However, my spiritual journey is accomplished only through God’s presence and unmerited love (1 John 2: 3-11; 15-17; 24-29) and through a sustained relationship with Christ and through dependence on Holy Spirit (Romans 8: 13, 14; Philippians 2: 13; ).  It is His grace that keeps me walking according to His purpose, helps me to pray, to grow in Christ and to witness His life through mine (invisible becomes visible). God’s grace must be diligently desired (Hebrews 4: 16) and I do this through studying and obeying His Word (John 15: 1-11), praying (Jude 20), worship (Colossians 3: 16) and being continually refilled with Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5: 18).

Just as I am born of the Spirit by receiving the life of God, I can also extinguish my spiritual life through ungodly choices and unrighteous living. Romans 8: 13 states, “If you live according to the sinful nature, you will die.”  Those who live in immorality and follow the world’s ways demonstrate they are still unregenerated children of Satan (1 John 3: 6-10).

I just finished the book of Hosea and it illustrates how sin separates us from God but it also reveals His promise of the restoration of His repentant people.   I see the body of Christ as ONE in Spirit so these passages in Hosea chapters 6 and 10 are still speaking to us today:  “Come let us return to the LORD… In just a short time He will restore us, so that we may live in His Presence.  Oh, that we might KNOW the LORD!  Let us press on to really know Him.  He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of the rains in early spring” (6: 1-3).  Oh Israel (church), stay away from idols!  I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you.  I am like a tree that is always green; all your fruit comes from me” (Hosea 11: 8, 9; Revelation 22: 1-5).

Eternal life is the gift God bestows on us when we accept Christ as Lord.  “Eternal” does not only express perpetuity but also the quality of a divine type of life;  a life that frees us from the power of sin and Satan and removes us from what is merely earthly in order to truly know our Father (John 8: 34-36).   I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. My sufficiency is from God. His grace is sufficient for me.   Praise the LORD!