by David Brenneman
"and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." 2 Corinthians 5:15-17.
"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
2 Corinthians 5:20-21.
"Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember," Mark 8:18.
Having a life in Christ...gives one the opportunity and the ability to see the world with new eyes for the first time. While in the darkness of our world we couldn't see anything. Coming to Jesus opens our eyes and our heart to begin to understand truth...then to strive to remember.
Seeing the world perpetually with spiritual eyes is a necessity for survival. We are in a world of deceit and deceptive practices.
From entertainment to religions our sin cursed world is literally Hell bent on keeping people from the truth of God in Christ Jesus.
It matters not our opinions on the subject you and I are smack dab in the middle of the Spiritual war of the ages. We cannot afford to look at the world in the ways we used to.
"Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh;" is what Paul said to the Corinthians as well as to all of us.
The rules of engagement require prayer before entering into the war zone. The probable surprise to all is the war zone is anywhere we are.
When we open our physical eyes for the beginning of a new day...we're in the thick of it already.
Consider our current train of thought along with "taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus" that Paul also made mention of.
It's impossible to use a vessel for righteousness and unrighteousness at the same time.
If our hearts are striving to live for Jesus we aren't going to be able to willfully be sinning against God.
Having eyes that see the spiritual nature of those around us will help us to know how to pray, how to engage such people, and how to interact in their world.
Recognize that the temptation is extremely great to compromise.
To be wise in our own estimation is the road to many a grief.
If you look at a situation and don't consult your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ and decide in that moment in your heart that you got this...you're in trouble.
Learning to pray for the small things as well as the big is important to all who walk in this world. Assuming something isn't a trap to ensnare means you already tripped the trap.
Redefining words and situations that indeed are sin and sinful so as to appease your conscience...means you're too comfortable with compromise.
Open your eyes to see the world around you as the Spirit sees it and says that it is.
Whatever the governments of this world are saying is happening to this world...take it with less than a grain of salt.
The truth is this world is on a guided path towards the return of Jesus Christ. Jesus says to be on the alert for we know not when He will return.
Would you let your guard down if someone of earthly importance was for sure going to visit you and you just didn't know when? If for that, why not for your Savior and Lord! Open your eyes to the spiritual truths around you.
See people as Jesus sees people. Color or race isn't an issue in Heaven. Only those saved in Christ are in Heaven.
Look at life the way you're supposed to be in Christ.
People are going to hurt us. People are going to deceive us. People are going to wrong us.
We can still stand strong in Christ.
We're living through a season right now of being hurt by those who used to be close to us. It's hard. It's difficult. But we don't have a Savior who is far off. He's well acquainted with grief. He knows our pain. We must keep moving with our eyes on Him.
The spiritual state of those who wronged us is that they are among the lost of this world. It matters not what they did or said. The truth is that without Jesus Christ as their Savior too their path in history leads to Hell. On the cross Jesus asked the Father to forgive. If in that place and time Jesus could forgive...we have no excuse not to.
Ask for your eyes to be opened and that you would be obedient to the word of God and His calling for you.
People probably won't understand.
Pray before proceeding.
Pray before jumping to conclusions.
Thank God for the good, the bad and the ugly of your day. After all He was with you through it and went through it with you.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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