Beyond Ourselves
Soak Your Soul In This
“You are RESPLENDENT...” Psalm 76:4
Prepare to Meet Jesus
Do you “clean up” before something important? Maybe we have a job interview, are going to a wedding, or out with friends. Do we bathe and put on clean clothes? Sure! We prepare for who we’re going to meet. One of Jesus’s beloved followers, John, tells believers that we should purify ourselves. But hasn’t Jesus already made us pure? Yes. We’re saved by faith in Christ’s completed work on the cross. But John makes a point. As children of God, we should eagerly anticipate meeting Christ and therefore desire to put off sin. If we knew that we’d meet Jesus in a few hours, what would we do? Right a relationship? Make an apology? Release a resentment? Shuck a bad habit? The fact is, we will soon be meeting Jesus. 1 John 3:3 tells us, “everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He (Christ) is pure.” Now is a good time for us to ask forgiveness for our sins and for the Holy Spirit to fill us.
Lord Jesus, You are PURE and we desire to be pure. Forgive our sin. Fill us with Your pure, Holy Spirit.
“Everyone who has this hope fixed on Him (Jesus) purifies himself, just as He is PURE.” 1 John 3:3
When You’re At the End of You
“I can’t be the Christian I’m supposed to be. I can’t overcome this sin.” Have you ever said those words? If we sometimes feel incapable of being the Christian we want to be, we’re not alone. The Apostle Paul, who was instrumental in helping spread Christianity, once referred to himself as the chief of sinners. Here’s the good news. God knows that we can’t live the Christian life by self effort. That’s why He reminds us in Galatians 3:5 that He’s provided us with His Holy Spirit. We don’t please God by trying to improve our old self. We please God by learning to walk by faith in Him. We’re not short on godly provisions. Instead of saying we can’t live the Christian life or we can’t accomplish what God’s entrusted to us to do, we can ask Christ to fill us and accomplish His work through us.
Lord, thank You for PROVIDING us with Your Spirit by whom we can walk and fulfill the work You entrust to us.
“…does He who PROVIDES you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?” Galatians 3:5
When You’re Tired of All the Lies
Have you ever promised something and then didn’t fulfill your promise? If you have, you know what a horrible feeling it is. Maybe we promised, “I’ll never say that again.” Then we did. Or, maybe we said to God, “I promise. If you’ll get me out of this mess, I’ll do better next time.” Then we failed to do as we said. Or, maybe we don’t trust people because they’ve made promises they didn’t keep. When it comes to God, however, Romans 4:21 assures us that what God PROMISED, He was able also to perform.” What a blessing to know that God speaks the truth and keeps His promises. In the midst of the world’s lying and cover-ups, it’s a great time for us to read our Bibles and God’s promises; ones we can be assured are true. Which of His promises are your favorites? Please comment below. I’d love to hear from you.
Heavenly Father, in our world that is filled with lies and cover ups, we praise You that You are a faithful promise keeper.
“being fully assured that what God had PROMISED, He was able also to perform.”Romans 4:21
Nobody’s Perfect!
Have you ever defended your bad behavior by saying, “Nobody’s perfect.” Or, has someone ever said to you, “Nobody’s perfect!” in defense of something they’ve done wrong? It’s a common response because it’s true. Nobody is perfect except Jesus. However, and this is a big however, our imperfections aren’t excuses to stay as we are. Rather, they’re signals for where we need to look to Jesus for His example and empowerment to change. For instance, in Matthew 5:48, Jesus doesn’t say, “Heh guys, give yourself a break. Nobody’s perfect.” Instead, He says, “Your Heavenly Father is perfect. You’re to be perfect.”
Heavenly Father, You are PERFECT. Thank You for the gift of Your Spirit who transforms us when we walk according to His power in us.
“’Therefore, you are to be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is PERFECT.’”