I've been recently forcibly faced with the truth of 'daily dying.'
What is faith? Faith is the belief in some thing, person, or idea in which no physical proof is present. Interestingly enough Christians would argue that our faith in God (3 in 1) is a belief in something (the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ) in which proof is present. The law is written on our hearts, the glory of God's creation is all around us, the holy word of God is at our fingertips, and the Spirit of Him is in our hearts.
Yet there is a reason that faith is difficult for believers to hold fast to at all times. Why is it that the very thing we believe in is also the very thing we ashamed of. If we are honest with ourselves we would all admit that there are some times in which a sense reluctance, uncomfortableness, embarrassment, and timidness overtake our faith when around non-Christians. If we are also honest with ourselves we don't keep Christ the center of our lives as we should. The reason for all of this is sin. [Genesis 3]
As sinful people we are all self-centered and love to love ourselves. We are all created to bring glory to God. Loving Him is a great way to accomplish this. We, on the other hand, choose to love ourselves daily. [James 3:14, James 5:5 Romans 2:8, II Timothy 3:2]
By the grace of God [Romans 5:12-21]!!!
[Romans 12:1-2]
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
To show love to our creator and savior we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. We are not living under the punishment of the law because of the blood of Jesus Christ, however as an act of love to God we are to live in obedience to his commands. Do not be conformed to this world! [Galatians 6:14b]
BUT; be transformed by the renewal of your mind.
The renewal of ones mind. What does that mean.
To renew: to revive, to recover, to restore to a former state, to become/make new , as if new again.
Christ died to RESTORE the broken relationship with people. Only if we accept Christ with a saving faith do we attain the restoration of our relationship with God.
This renewal of our mind is to make new again the saving faith we have with our Savior. Simply believing in Christ with out an outward change means nothing.
Life in the Spirit: [James 2:14-26, Colossans 3:1-17, Ephesians 4:22-24, Galatians 5:16-26 Romans 8:4-11]
The only way we can make new again our minds is to remember the cross daily! I would go so far as to say moment by moment in life. "Living the Cross-centered Life" (http://www.monergism.com/living_cross_centered_life_mahaney.php) is a great book to help in this area. I have read the book and it has helped to change my view on how often the cross should be thought of.
I constantly fail in this area of life. Because I do not completely see the Beauty of the cross and the Wickedness of my heart I do not see my need for a savior as often as I should.
This is why I constantly need to die to myself and carry my cross daily. It is by the grace of God and the Love of Christ that Jesus chose to take the cup of wrath for us.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
To show love to our creator and savior we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. We are not living under the punishment of the law because of the blood of Jesus Christ, however as an act of love to God we are to live in obedience to his commands. Do not be conformed to this world! [Galatians 6:14b]
BUT; be transformed by the renewal of your mind.
The renewal of ones mind. What does that mean.
To renew: to revive, to recover, to restore to a former state, to become/make new , as if new again.
Christ died to RESTORE the broken relationship with people. Only if we accept Christ with a saving faith do we attain the restoration of our relationship with God.
This renewal of our mind is to make new again the saving faith we have with our Savior. Simply believing in Christ with out an outward change means nothing.
Life in the Spirit: [James 2:14-26, Colossans 3:1-17, Ephesians 4:22-24, Galatians 5:16-26 Romans 8:4-11]
The only way we can make new again our minds is to remember the cross daily! I would go so far as to say moment by moment in life. "Living the Cross-centered Life" (http://www.monergism.com/living_cross_centered_life_mahaney.php) is a great book to help in this area. I have read the book and it has helped to change my view on how often the cross should be thought of.
I constantly fail in this area of life. Because I do not completely see the Beauty of the cross and the Wickedness of my heart I do not see my need for a savior as often as I should.
This is why I constantly need to die to myself and carry my cross daily. It is by the grace of God and the Love of Christ that Jesus chose to take the cup of wrath for us.
No comments:
Post a Comment