Category Archives: Living Right

Our Life Or His??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #440

28 Wednesday Feb 2018

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, Approved Unto God, Choose You This Day!, Holy Spirit, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Living Right, Salvation, The Lord Is My Shepherd, The Only Way, The Word, Thy Will Be Done, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #440        Our Life Or His???

 

As we talked last time about “blooming” for The Lord where He has planted us, I’d like us to dig a little deeper into how we are to bloom. We are called to be a reflection of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, not self!

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ

liveth

in me:

and the life which I now live

in the flesh

I live by the faith

of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself

for me.”   Galatians 2:20 

If we will learn to keep this powerful principle before us, we could see so many things change around us—mostly ‘me’! I/we are called to let Christ be seen in us! So let’s take a few minutes this morning to remind ourselves of what He has called us to be—and do. For if we don’t “be” His, we can never “do” His work (pardon the grammar, but you get the point: doing comes out of the being, never vice-versa!)

“My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man

pluck them out of my hand.”   John 10:27-28

When we are HIS sheep we will hear His voice—the Holy Spirit—and we are to follow HIM, not self—HE is Lord!

“I am the good shepherd,

and know my sheep,

and am known of mine.” John 10:14

Jesus is “the good shepherd” and when we are His, He knows us and we will know Him. And as we dig into His Word we will see Him more quickly, respond more promptly, and walk more faithfully before God and man. Paul gives us a great reminder of the import of God’s Word, and the priority it ought to be in our lives—it’s our life compass!

“Study

to shew thyself approved

unto God,

a workman

that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15

And I always like to point out that just as we are called to “rightly” divide/understand God’s truth, the implication is, that as there is a “right” way to divide/understand God’s Word, there is also a “wrong” way! And there seems to be a lot of folks “wrongly” dividing—twisting what The Word says. Yet when we will diligently pursue the understanding of His Word, God will help us to not only understand it, but also to apply it consistently and to “order our steps” His way!

“All scripture

is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable

for doctrine,

for reproof,

for correction,

for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God

may be perfect,

throughly furnished

unto all good works.”    2 Timothy 3:16-17

As we pursue living the crucified life, we will come to see what God has for us in His Word. And as we bring this post to a close, let’s consider some things that the Psalmist says to us about pursuing God’s ways, and having His presence and glory evident in our lives.

“The steps of a good man

are ordered by the LORD:

and he delighteth in his way.

24 Though he fall,

he shall not be utterly cast down:

for the LORD upholdeth him

with his hand.” Psalm 37:23-24

“Trust in the LORD, and do good;

so shalt thou dwell in the land,

and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also in the LORD;

and he shall give thee the desires

of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the LORD;

trust also in him;

and he shall bring it to pass.

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness

as the light,

and thy judgment as the noonday.”   Psalm 37:3-6

He is the shepherd—the supply—and the sufficiency—today, tomorrow and each day we are given, so may HE ever:

“Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” Psalm 119:133

Amen and Amen!!!

Clean And Pure! Really??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #437

16 Friday Feb 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Anger, Choices And Consequences, Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Holiness, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Living Right, Made like Jesus!, Salvation, The Only Way, The Word, Trials, Troubles, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #437   Clean And Pure! Really???

 

We talked last time about Jesus—the real “Valentine”—The One who loves us and gave Himself for our salvation. But how are we to live this life of faith—the life of a child of God. Well there’s only One way to have a clean and pure walk with God, and that’ to walk with HIM, by the power of His Spirit.

“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying,

Not by might,

nor by power,

but by my spirit,

saith the LORD of hosts.”    Zechariah 4:6

Only by God’s power can we succeed in any part of life, and He has given His Holy Spirit to dwell within each one whom He saves.

“That we should be to the praise of his glory,

who first trusted in Christ.

13 In whom ye also trusted,

after that ye heard the word of truth,

the gospel of your salvation:

in whom also after that ye believed,

ye were sealed with that holy Spirit

of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance

until the redemption

of the purchased possession,

unto the praise

of his glory.”    Ephesians 1:12-14

Praise God it is HIS power not our own! As I’m was sitting here writing this—an interruption came! An interruption that has attempted to steal my joy and the power of HIS Spirit in me; an attempt to get my heart and mind off of my Lord and onto the works of my flesh—anger and frustration that take our minds off of HIM and onto ‘me’! But thanks to God’s gentle reminder, I am His and “this too shall pass”, and it’s: “Not by might,

nor by power,

but by my spirit,

saith the LORD of hosts”!

Talk about an ‘object lesson’ right in the middle of this post—God is so good—and He brought this very verse that I was about to write, right into my heart and mind for real!

“Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain,

The spirit that dwelleth in us

lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace.

Wherefore he saith,

God resisteth the proud,

but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.

Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands,

ye sinners;

and purify your hearts,

ye double minded.” James 4:5-8

Lord, I thank you that YOU remind me when my heart and mind start being distracted and get dirty by the interruptions of the world. Help me to “Cleanse” my hands and to “purify” my heart when the enemy tries to distract me from my calling!!! I’m so grateful that you are ever with us, working to make us more like our Master, our Lord and Savior, Jesus!!! May Jesus be praised in us always—and that can only happen when we yield to Your Spirit who is working within us 24/7! Amen and Amen. May you let God reveal your distractions to you today too!

“And we know that

all things

work together for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate

to be conformed to the image of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren….

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

shall tribulation,

or distress,

or persecution,

or famine,

or nakedness,

or peril,

or sword?

36 As it is written,

For thy sake

we are killed

all the day long;

we are accounted as sheep

for the slaughter.

37 Nay,

in all these things

we are more than conquerors

through him that loved us.”   Romans 8:28-29 & 35-37

Amen and Amen!!!

Pressing On God’s Way??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #424

03 Wednesday Jan 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Dare To Be Different!, Holy Spirit, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Let You Light So Shine, Living Right, The Only Way, The Word, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #424 Pressing On God’s Way???

 

I have been mostly ‘off’ of Facebook for a while, except for posting my Bible Ballistics Blog, yet I have noticed a lot of posts advising people to “detox” in the New Year—get rid of people who are ‘negative’, lie, cheat, etc.! As I noticed these ideas, I couldn’t help but think, “I’m so glad that God doesn’t “detox” Himself of us when we mess up.”

Now I don’t believe we are to allow people to corrupt our hearts and minds with bad behaviors, but I do think we need to get back to thinking biblically and behaving towards others remembering that God has extended grace, mercy and forgiveness to us. I seriously think we need to stop being ‘taught’ and ‘trained’ in our faith, and behavior by the national media, social media, television and the movies. We need to do that which pleases God NOT man. While we are called to be aware of those around us, and to call them to a higher plain, we are to do it with truth and grace.

“That we henceforth be no more children,

tossed to and fro,

and carried about with every wind

of doctrine,

by the sleight of men,

and cunning craftiness,

whereby they lie in wait

to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love,

may grow up into him

in all things,

which is the head,

even Christ:” Ephesians 4:14-15

We are called to speak the truth in love—never discarding people because we don’t like their behavior; but by our life, love and example calling them to a higher plane that only Jesus lift us to! And when we hold ourselves to that ‘higher’ call, others will often do one of two things; they will desire to know the One whom we follow, or they will hate what we say and walk away in disgust. But we are to maintain our integrity, even as Job declared his confidence in God before his friends who were ready and willing to condemn him unjustly. We march to a different drummer!

“Though he slay me,

yet will I trust in him:

but I will maintain mine own ways

before him.” Job 13:15

Job understood that it is God who set the standard; it is God who will judge what we do with it; and Job was committed to live a life of integrity before God, regardless of what others thought of him. We who claim to follow Jesus can do no less! Yet we are to be cautious of our intimate companions—for they can affect our heart and our mind.

“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1 Corinthians 15:33

And another passage from Paul reminds us that we are to press on in The Spirit not the flesh—and believe me (as you’ve seen for yourself), social media is inundated with the flesh!!!

“Be not deceived;

God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth,

that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh

shall of the flesh

reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit

shall of the Spirit

reap life everlasting.

9 And let us not be weary in well doing:

for in due season we shall reap,

if we faint not.

10 As we have therefore opportunity,

let us do good unto all men,

especially unto them

who are of the household of faith.”   Galatians 6:7-10

While we are called to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (See Matt. 10:16), it is to be from a heart filled with the “love of God” which has been “shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost” and that ought never to be diluted with the hatred of the world! (See Ro. 5:1-10)

So I challenge each of us today, to determine in our hearts and minds to be a true reflection of Jesus to the dark and wicked world around us—uncorrupted by the “wiles of the devil”! We can choose to be “bitter” in the flesh, or we can choose to be “better” by the power of God’s Spirit and His Word working within us and manifested before others!

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking,

be put away from you, with all malice:

32 And be ye kind one to another,

tenderhearted,

forgiving one another,

even as God

for Christ’s sake

hath forgiven you.”    Ephesians 4:31-32

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14

Press on dear ones—Press on for Jesus!!! Amen and Amen!

That’s NOT Compromise Is It? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No. 16

29 Sunday Oct 2017

Posted by in Changed Lives, Compromise, Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Living Right, Salvation, The Word, The Word Or The World?, TODAY

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No.16 That’s NOT Compromise Is It?

 

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live

in the flesh

I live by

the faith

of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”    Galatians 2:20

Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ”, and many find that an extreme idea. What is Paul calling us to do? He, along with our Savior, has called us to live a life that is “crucified with Christ”—a life that is lived in the power of the cross! The cross, an instrument of death; a method of execution that our Savior endured for you and me! Yet we so easily disregard this call to the crucified life, believing that God is more concerned about our “happiness” than our “holiness”! God is concerned with working in our lives that we will be “conformed to the image of His Son”! And my friends, that isn’t a painless journey!

Even Jesus addressed this idea of the “crucified” life.

“Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes,

and be slain,

and be raised the third day.

23 And he said to them all,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross

daily,

and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

but whosoever will lose his life

for my sake,

the same shall shall save it.

25 For what is a man advantaged,

if he gain the whole world,

and lose himself, or be cast away?”    Luke 9:22-25

Jesus clearly tells us that anyone who will “come after me” must “take up his cross daily” to follow Jesus! And taking up “your” cross means dying to self, because “Christ liveth in me”! And if Jesus lives “in me”, then I can trust Him to enable me to live out my faith in HIM, because I now can “live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”! Jesus gave it all on the cross for you and me, He brought in the “New Covenant”, which is the imparting of the indwelling Holy Spirit to every believer. And if I will yield to HIS work and directing in my heart, I can walk in obedience and victory by HIS power!

So what does this have to do with “compromise”? Well, compromise has many meanings, but the one that we will consider today is:

Compromise: to make a dishonorable or shameful concession.

When we settle for anything less than that which The Holy Spirit is leading us to know, be or do, it is a concession to something less than God’s best for us. Paul reminded us of the high calling of the cross.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

God calls us to be a “living sacrifice” unto HIM!!! That is the crucified life, which we can only live successfully through the “mercies of God”—His power working in us by HIS Holy Spirit, our “reasonable service”! He also calls us to “be not conformed to this world”! Conformed means shaped like, in other words, we not to allow the world to make us into its image—because we are being “conformed” to the image of Jesus! You can’t do both!!! Anything less than the “transformed” life IS compromise, for transformed means “made new”—it’s from the Greek word that we know as “metamorphosis”, a caterpillar being “transformed” into a butterfly! Are we renewing our minds with God’s Word? Are we yielding to His Spirit and dying to our fleshly desires? Not easy, but by God’s mercies and His Holy Spirit we can live a crucified life victoriously!

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust

of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth

against the Spirit,

and the Spirit

against the flesh:

and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would……

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”    Galatians 5:16-17 & 25

We are to walk in the Spirit not the flesh, because the flesh will compromise every time! But when we die to ourselves and live unto Jesus, we can have HIS power for every day living, we can live daily in “newness of life”!

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4 Therefore we are buried with him

by baptism

into death:

that like as Christ was raised up

from the dead

by the glory of the Father,

even so we also should walk

in newness of life.

5 For if we have been planted together

in the likeness of his death,

we shall be also

in the likeness

of his resurrection:” Romans 6:3-5.   (This whole chapter would be beneficial to read!)

We can walk in resurrection power, when we yield to The Holy Spirit of God/Jesus. We can walk in that newness of “life”—the “life” of Jesus in us.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

So our question for today is, “Are we living the crucified life—the new life in Jesus Christ?” Or are we so caught up in the compromise of the world that we’ve missed the crucified life? Are you following Jesus or your flesh; Jesus or the world; Jesus of popular opinion? Only you can answer these questions, but I’d like to leave you with a few scriptures to think on this week, a few verses to help you assess your living by The Word Of God.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”    Romans 8:28-31

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds😉 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”   2 Corinthians 10:3-5

“Finally, brethren,

whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue,

and if there be any praise,

think on these things.”    Philippians 4:8

If you will “think on these things” you will find that you will grow and learn to recognize “compromise” which you may not be seeing now. God calls us to live the crucified life because it is a wonderful life to live in union with His Holy Spirit, who dwells within every genuine believer. Are you following Jesus? Are you following the world? Are you allowing the world to shape your life into its mold? Satan is busy in these last days, but we can have victory IN JESUS!

“Ye are of God, little children,

and have overcome them:

because greater is he that is in you,

than he that is in the world.

5 They are of the world:

therefore speak they of the world,

and the world heareth them.

6 We are of God:

he that knoweth God

heareth us;

he that is not of God

heareth not us.

Hereby know we the spirit of truth,

and the spirit of error.

7 Beloved, let us love one another:

for love is of God;

and every one that loveth

is born of God,

and knoweth God.” 1 John 4:4-7

Blessings on your week as your pursue the crucified life instead of compromise! For “greater is he”!!!

Daring To Be Different??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No. 14

16 Monday Oct 2017

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Dare To Be Different!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Let You Light So Shine, Living Right, Made like Jesus!, Salvation, SIN, The Only Way, The Word, The Word Or The World?, Thy Will Be Done, TODAY, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No.14 Daring To Be Different???

 

My husband and I took a trip to be with my brother in his church yesterday, and we were listening to some music as we drove. One of the songs that played as we traveled really spoke to my heart and resonated with the truths of the word in my heart, and I’d like to share a few thoughts about it today. The song was “I’ll Dare To Be Different”, by the McKameys, and it struck a chord in my heart!

There is a time in my remembrance, when people who claimed the name of Jesus, people who were born again, were most often found to be different from the world. Sometimes they were different in their appearance, but you almost always saw a difference in their behavior before the world—in their character, in their speech, in their treatment of others and often in their habits and companions. But today, we have accepted a “Gospel” of ‘inclusion’—anyone can just use the name of Jesus to get a ticket to heaven, but there is no cost or demand of that person to repent of obvious sin or to “be conformed to the image of His Son” (See Romans 8:28-29)!

When God calls someone to Himself, He calls us to come “Just As I Am”, but He loves us too much to leave us there—in fact Jesus came to save us “from” our sin—never “in” our sin!

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

We are called to follow Jesus, and that will always demand a change, because before we come to Jesus, we were going our own way—and that is never God’s way! In fact that is why repentance is essential—repentance is turning around, going a different way.

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6

That’s what sin is, missing God’s mark, going our own way, falling short of reflecting God’s glory—but sin has a high price! Apart from the blood of Jesus—the only thing that cleanses us from sin—we can’t be saved from death.

“But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ

his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”   1 John 1:7-10

This is why Jesus said we can be salt and light—because we can’t “be” light unless the “light of the world” dwells in us! It is that “blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin”, which enables us to live a holy life before the world as well as before God. But if we never face our sin, why would we ever need a Savior? Only when we recognize our sin and turn to Jesus will we be able to live a life that is transformed by that very “blood of Jesus Christ” to reflect His love and glory to a lost and dying world. Yet it is only in dying to “self” and living a life sacrificed to the will of our Lord that we can make a “Jesus” difference in this world. Compromise is cheap and easy, but standing fast in the “evil day” is a work that demands our all by the power of God.

It is Jesus Christ Himself — “the truth”– who saves, delivers, and changes the hearts and lives of lost sinners into ‘saints’! Yet transformation isn’t just putting a new coat of paint on an old barn—it’s a change of nature and character that only the sacrifice of Jesus—His blood– on the cross could accomplish and deliver! And it shows!!!

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

Oh, that we could truly return to a place of true worship of God—and I’m not talking about music, but a life lived in devotion and obedience to the will of God each and every day. A life that “is” a song of the love of Jesus before the world in all we do—not just on one day a week! It ‘is’ a life lived as “a living sacrifice” unto the One who gave His life for me! What less could we give for the One who gave it all that we could have life and miss death and hell for all eternity—for all who will believe and follow HIM!

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

And if “all have sinned”, then all need a Savior, we all need someone to pay the debt that we can’t pay—and only Jesus has done that!

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Only Jesus can deliver us from this penalty of sin, and just as the simple John 3:16 says, God loves us so much that He was willing to send Jesus to come and die for us, that we might have “eternal life”—starting now!

“For God so loved the world,

that he gave

his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.”  John 3:16

Without Jesus, we can’t be truly different. Lots of people can be “different” for a time, or for a reason, or to impress others; but what’s inside will eventually come out! What’s inside of you/me? If it’s not Jesus, then Jesus won’t be seen in you/me! For without HIS Spirit within, we aren’t HIS! And without being “HIS”, we can’t do HIS work, for HIS kingdom! And HIS is the only Kingdom that is an eternal one! It’s all about HIM, not me, but He will work in us!

“I am the true vine,

and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me

that beareth not fruit

he taketh away:

and every branch that beareth fruit,

he purgeth it,

that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean

through the word

which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me,

and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit

of itself,

except it abide in the vine;

no more can ye,

except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth

much fruit:

for without me ye can do nothing.”   John 15:1-5

So we arrive at the conclusion that being different isn’t an issue of ‘me’, but of ‘thee’! ‘Not my will, but thine be done’, is the mindset that we must embrace! It is the call that Paul gave to the Galatians, and it’s still the call that we must answer today!

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live

in the flesh

I live by the faith

of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”    Galatians 2:20

But what’s to be different about us? Is measured in terms of men or of God? Of course it’s God’s standard that we are to seek to meet—the standard of a heart right before God, not a dressed up ‘pig’, trying to win a county fair. We can wash, clean up, fluff up and parade the pig before the judges at the fair—we can even win first prize! But when we get that pig home, she’s going to head right for the mud! Why? Because she’s still a pig! And when we try cleaning up our own “act”—that is all that happens—an “act”! Jesus doesn’t just dress up “pigs”, He transforms lives—He makes us new in HIM! He puts His Spirit within all those whom HE saves—no Spirit=no Jesus!

“So then they that are in the flesh

cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh,

but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God

dwell in you.

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.

10 And if Christ be in you,

the body is dead because of sin;

but the Spirit is life

because of righteousness.” Romans 8:8-10

Jesus brings that which was dead in sin, into new life.

“And you hath he quickened,

who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past

ye walked according to the course

of this world,

according to the prince

of the power of the air,

the spirit that now worketh

in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all

had our conversation

in times past

in the lusts of our flesh,

fulfilling the desires

of the flesh

and of the mind;

and were by nature the children of wrath,

even as others.

4 But God,

who is rich in mercy,

for his great love

wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead

in sins,

hath quickened us

together with Christ,

(by grace ye are saved;)”.   Ephesians 2:1-5

Because God loves us so much—He reaches out to those (all of us) who are dead in sin!!! We are under the penalty of death, and only Jesus can and will save us and give to all who come to Him, eternal life—new life IN Jesus—Jesus IN us!

So my question is, “Who am I living for?” Am I still living in sin, doing my own thing? From where do I get my strength? Am I depending on the ways of the world or the power of Jesus? When I’m in need, where do I go? Do I run to a wine bottle, a bottle of pills, food, sex, shopping, gratifying the flesh in some other way, running to and with the world? What is your “comfort-food”, so to speak? Do you have to be like the world to find your satisfaction, peace and/or gratification? When people look at us, do they see Jesus or something—anything—else? Are popular culture and fads more important to you and me than “holiness” before our God? Or are you drawing closer and closer to the King? Do you bask in His presence, or does thinking on spiritual things and the Word of God make you uncomfortable? In fact what does make you “UN”comfortable, the things of the world or the things of God? Ouch? Do I measure what goes into my heart and mind by the Word of God or the Neilson ratings? Do I listen to things, or watch things that are offensive or even blasphemous to my God? Does the world reign in my home or the One whose shed blood “cleanseth us from all sin”? It is an evil world around us, and we must be diligent to know God’s Word so we can order our steps according to its principles.

New or old? What life are you living? May we simply ponder the words of Paul, who dared to be “different”, to be “a new creature” in Jesus. It cost Paul a lot to follow Jesus, what price are you willing to pay? Or have you already decided that you don’t want to “stand out” or “Dare To Be Different”? Choose wisely—we are accountable to God!

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God,

who hath reconciled us to himself

by Jesus Christ,

and hath given to us the ministry

of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ,

reconciling the world unto himself,

not imputing their trespasses unto them;

and hath committed unto us

the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,

as though God did beseech you by us:

we pray you in Christ’s stead,

be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made the righteousness of God

in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Amen and Amen!!!