by David Brenneman
"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NASB.
Food for thought: Does the Spirit of God take a vacation from being within you?
If indeed you are saved, are born again in Christ Jesus, the Spirit of God comes to live within you.
Are we ever to live any part of our lives as if He's gone off somewhere?
Are we ever to mentally lock Him in a room while we do our own thing?
In His work in our lives, making us more like Jesus, do we essentially fight Him in what we will or won't allow Him to do?
Do we censor God? Do we try to call the shots? Do we push back on His workmanship to say what we will or won't accept Him doing in our lives?
Is it your all that you've placed on the altar?
Was reading also in Luke this morning and you could see how the Pharisees and the Sadducee's lived for the approval of men, who loved lording their position above others. Who didn't want anyone rocking the boat. Didn't want the power and authority they wielded to go away.
Watch shows on gangs today and it's not too dissimilar.
Jesus taught to take up your own cross and follow Him. What all else can you hold onto if you're carrying a cross? Truthfully? Absolutely nothing.
When you sit by yourself, when you are out and about in the world, do you remember to take the Spirit along with you? Do you not realize He's never left you?
Colossians 3:23-25 NASB "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For the one who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality."
Our work begins when we open our eyes each morning. Not when we arrive at a location to do something for an employer.
Colossians 3:2 NASB "Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth."
Go back through the Old Testament and search for yourself...how often and how many times...did people get in trouble for doing what was right in their own eyes?
What does it say in Proverbs? "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."
See that 3 letter word? All.
All of you is what God wants. Not this part of your life or that part of your life. All.
Read in the words of Moses what the children of Israel were told to do. What did Jesus tell others of what was important? Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit. Love your neighbor as yourself.
There's that word again. All.
Is your all given to Jesus?
Do you consider your ways as if He were standing right there with you?
Or are you too busy?
Are you over thinking life so much that you don't realize the freedom that exists in a right relationship with Jesus?
Think about your desires. Do they align with God's will for you? Are you wanting what God wants of you? Are you a diligent worker in His harvest?
Maybe the problems of our world are our own because we're not taking God seriously enough. Sin leads to death. Eternal separation from God. Sin is real with real consequences. Jesus paid the price to save humanity if humanity would only turn to Him for His free gift. Jesus IS coming again. Would you be caught in a selfish act or incident when that moment happens? If you believed enough to be saved, are you now living as if the rest of what He said is true?
All of you is what Jesus wants of you.
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