Nature of God

In which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. Ephesians 2:2

Everyone is born with a sin nature. It is easy to sin. There are oodles of opportunities daily to sin. There are not good sins and bad sins as some like to classify them. All sin is sin whether is it hating your brother, lying,being a thief, committing adultery, gossiping, homosexuality, or yes murder to name but a few. When we accept Christ as our savior we are to become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).  The nature of God is to live within us as believers.

We do not have to be stuck in our past. God offers forgiveness and grace. You stumble and fall and God picks you right back up again. When we intentionally sin it keeps us from having close fellowship with the Lord. Fornicators, adulterers, homosexuals, thieves, liars, and murderers can all be forgiven, 1 Corinthians 6:11 says "and such were some of you". Jesus comes to heal and set free. It is only mere men who judge others. Jesus simply shows love.

PRAYER: Help me never be guilty of pointing the finger of judgment at someone when my own life is not perfect. I want to be a prayer, not a judger. Show me any areas in my own life that need to be redeemed. In Jesus' name. Amen.

LOVE DOES NOT JUDGE

Recently I saw the new Hollywood movie, Gimme Shelter, which has a decidedly pro life and Christian message which I found refreshing. In the movie a down and out pregnant unmarried teen was played by actress Vanessa Hudgens.

This movie made you want to stand up and cheer at the end because of the forgiveness displayed. The way this character looked with tattoos and body piercing she would have been wrongly judged and cast off by many. The compassion of a caring lady turned her life around.

There are "street people" everywhere. We do not know "their story" so it is not up to us to judge. Hebrews 13:2(NIV) says 'Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.' The beggar, the prostitute, the thief, the murderer, the alcoholic, the homeless, the dregs of society all are loved by God. We need to find a way to be kind to all people and show kindness. Not everyone can take a homeless pregnant teen in an change her life but all of us can do something.

PRAYER: Make me your humble servant Lord. I may not go to a faraway mission filed to meet needs but direct my path to people who are hurting here who need your love. Use me to help demonstrate it. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

ARE YOU HIS HANDS AND FEET?

What have you done for Jesus today? Think about that for a moment. When you accept Christ as your savior you are His hands and feet in the lost and hurting world around you. An ambassador of sorts. Have you only done things for your own pleasure or have you made a difference in someone's life? The Bible does not use the words hands and feet but it tells us to go and share his love and make disciples in Matthew 28:19. 'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit'. When a person loves Jesus they should want to share that love with those around them even with something as simple as a smile.

The theme of love has been discussed the past few devotions. Certainly being the "hands and feet" of Jesus to a hurting world is a love gift. Jesus certainly always put people before himself. We are to emulate that when we go about our day as well. It is not normal for a person to think of other people first. Self centeredness is the norm most the time. Going beyond the call of duty and truly being a disciple of Jesus is something the world is not used to encountering.

PRAYER: As I go about my day Lord help me be aware of those around me who need a touch of God's love in their life. Guide me when to speak and give me the words to say. Help me to be a good loving representative of you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

BAD JUNK

Do you often worry? Are you jealous? Do you feel anger or resentment? How about bitterness? Do you judge others? Do you often get your feelings hurt?  Maybe it is time to "put to death" the bad junk in your life and embrace the good side of life. The enemy, Satan, wants us to be all caught up with negative thinking and  negative emotions. How can  we possibly praise and glorfiy God when our hearts and minds are focused on bad junk? 

Put off and put on is what you have to do. Similar to dressing each day and undressing at end of day you put on and take off. As comedian Kevin Nealon so aptly put it in a comedy sketch "Harness the good, release the bad." Not bad advice from a secular comic. 

     Colossians 3:8-10(NIV) says  'But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.' Take off all that "bad junk" and replace it with godly things.

PRAYER: Today I choose to put on good things in my life and get rid and take off those things that keep me apart from you. Things like talking hateful, judging, condemnation and rudeness or gossip. Help me Lord as I seek to "dress" daily for you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

THE TRANSFORMER

There is a child's toy called "transformers" that can be switched around to make it look like a weapon of sorts. Movies have been made depicting these too.

As I type this devotion a few days early before the day it goes out I am at the airport and a sign right smack dab in front of me is an advertisement for a local Christ based college and it says "Transforming Lives". Indeed the presence of Christ does indeed help transform a person.

In the Bible the transformation is being referred to is how we change from the inside out when Christ comes into our lives. Romans 12:2(KJV) says 'And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.'
How about you? Are you more conformed to this world and it's culture and ways or are you transformed into the likeness and actions of Christ? Maybe it is hard for people to even know by your actions and speech that you identify with Christ. Perhaps it is time for your own spiritual transformation.

2 Corinthians 5:17(KJV) 'Behold if anyone is in Christ he has become a new creature: old things are passed away and behold all things become new.'

PRAYER: I want to be conformed to your image and be an example for you Lord. Forgive me when I have allowed the world to try to mold me into an image not fit for the kingdom of God. I want to live for you Lord. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Postscript note: As I get ready to post this devotion I was shocked to learn that yesterday in Lynchburg, VA at the largest Christian University, Liberty University, a student was shot and killed in an off campus female dorm by a security officer. Things like this do not happen at schools like this or they shouldn't. It goes to show you that evil is everywhere and problems exist even in the minds of those supposedly transformed. That is why it is ever so important to study the word of God and live for Him. In Memory of Joshua Hathaway of Lubbock, Texas.