As I…; You!

As I…; You!

 

• 2 Timothy 2:13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

 

No matter how badly or how often we fall in the weakness of our flesh, God is always faithful. All we are in Christ is a gift of His grace. God will be God regardless of what we do!  His perfection, love, righteousness, holiness, mercy, generosity, etc. are not soiled or diminished by our imperfections!

 

 

As I bend my knee and tremble before Your righteous perfection;

          You lovingly lift my spirit above the heights of Zion!

 

As I beg for meager scraps from Your bountiful table of grace;

          You provide a plentiful portion from the main course!

 

As I struggle to grasp the significance of eternal fellowship with You;

           You offer sufficient grace for the challenges I face today!

 

As I battle the weakness of my flesh and falter on the field of spiritual warfare;

          You test and further perfect me through each fiery trial!

 

As I wallow in self-pity, taking for granted how blessed my life is;

          You smile and speak comfort through Your Living Word!

 

As I seek happiness, meaning and fulfillment in temporal activities and pleasures;

          You provide eternal joy found only in a relationship with You!

 

As I work to satisfy my own sense of unworthiness in Your Holy Presence;

          You offer rest for my soul through Your work on the cross!

 

As I pursue the things that I want and the riches of this world;

          You supply all that I need at just the right time!

 

As I distort my priorities and place myself at the center of my universe;

          You gently yet firmly insist that it’s all about Christ!

 

As I elevate my view of me and dress in the soiled rags of self-righteousness;

          You wash me clean and cover me in the robe of Your righteousness!

 

As I humble myself before You and praise Your Holy Name;

          You provide refuge under Your wings!

 

As I obey and submit to Your Word and the conviction of Your Holy Spirit;

          You provide the increase by bringing forth fruit for Your Glory!

 

 

Our failures are countless; His faithfulness is timeless. Our needs are endless; His provision is limitless. His love is greater than the sum of all humanity’s obedience and failures combined!

 

• Psalm 103:10-14 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him. 14 For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.

 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I praise You and thank You for all that You are. You always do the exact right thing at the exact right time. Nothing is a surprise to You. What we view as evil or bad, you allow and ultimately use for Your glory. Thank You for loving me perfectly. Thanks You for Your grace and mercy. I love You. In the glorious name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.

What Grows in the Dark

What Grows in the Dark

 

• Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Whether you realize it or not, you spread seeds every day of your life. And obviously, what you will reap is based on what you have planted. Are you sowing to your flesh or to the Spirit? What grows in your ‘life’s garden’ affects everyone around you; there are eternal implications for how you live your life.

 

In Galatians Chapter 5, Paul gives us some specific details about ‘works of the flesh’ and ‘the fruit of the Spirit’.

 

Works of the Flesh

• Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
• Driven by Selfishness – Focused on satisfying one’s own desires and perceived needs.
• Characterized by Disobedience – An unruly spirit that ignores the testimony of creation, God’s Word and the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
• Ripens in Darkness – Like a fungus, thrives in the damp, dark recesses of fallen humanity.
• Ends in Corruption (Decay) – Results in spiritual death; eternal separation from God’s grace.

Fruit of the Spirit

• Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
• Evidence of Selflessness – Finds joy and satisfaction in helping others.
• Distinguished by Obedience – Led by the Holy Spirit in faithful submission to the truth in the Bible and in acknowledgment of the glory of God’s creation.
• Blossoms in the Light – Beautifully displays the love of Christ through acts of service and sharing the truth about sin and salvation.
• Leads to Eternal Life – Culminates in an eternal relationship with the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost in Heaven.

 

What grows in the dark is that which cannot stand ‘The Light’! But there is Hope!!

• John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
• The Apostle Paul was commissioned by Christ ‘to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’’ (Acts 26:18)

 

Consider your garden. Are you planting in the dark or in the light? Read God’s Word to get a clear understanding of your future harvest. It’s not too late. Run from the dark into the light! Run to Christ!

 

 

Prayer

 

 

Father, may the truth of Your Holy Word convict hearts and change lives. Thank You for not leaving us groping in the darkness and guessing as to the implications of how we live our lives. Through salvation in Christ, we can live a life honoring to You. I pray for Your Light to shine on those diligently seeking after you. I pray in the holy name which is above all other names, Jesus Christ. Amen.