Category: Uncategorized

As Christians, indwelled by the Holy Spirit, our demeanor is engaging to the observer.  Without even being aware of it, our smiles or kind words delivered somewhat casually can become  day changers, or even life changers, for the receivers of the acts of kindness.  

At times, our acts of kindness are delivered to the receiver purposely.  Often they are not.  They are simply representative of the gift of living water that is passing through us as obedient and submissive vessels. They are the reflection of Jesus Christ, the Lord of all peace, comfort and healing, that is shining through to those that need Him.  

Before accepting Jesus Christ as Our Savior, we are not able to see the way, the truth and the life that is in Him.  Our sin nature blinds us to who He is and the salvation plan that He offers.  It is only by the aid of the Holy Spirit preparing our hearts that we are able to receive and submit to Our Lord, Jesus Christ.  

When we take the step of salvation, the Holy Spirit dwells within us to continue to be our helper.  The Holy Spirit will take us through the process of becoming disciples of Jesus.  We will learn to accept Our Lord’s teachings and share them with others.  We will grow spiritually and develop an intimate relationship with Our Savior.  We will be prepared to meet Our Lord in heaven.  

When we get to heaven, we will finally fully understand the perfect nature and depth of character of Our Blessed Hope.  With our sin nature completely removed, all of His Glory will be revealed to us.   

All successful companies have sales personnel that stand up to established standards for representing the company’s goods and services.  The one standard that will be found in each of these companies is that the sales personnel must have a full understanding of their products and be able to present the products in an exemplary fashion.  

Other standards are likely to include codes for appearance and behavior and a requirement to always exhibit a passion for the company and the products in the marketplace.  And then, to insure that all the standards are met, each sales person will have a manager to train them, motivate them and monitor their performance.

As the representatives of the greatest product of all times, the Good News, our standards are basically the same.  We have several huge advantages in the marketplace.  1) There is no other product that delivers like ours.  2) Our manager is the infallible Holy Spirit that dwells within us. 3) Our reward program is the best.

We are mere vessels on this earth.  Whatever we receive from The Lord needs to be poured out into the world.  The healthy vessel has a constant stream flowing from it.  

To restrict or dam up the outflow from the vessel is to damage the vessel in some way.  The vessel that receives without allowing for an outpouring will fill to the point of being unable to receive more.  If the stream from the vessel stops completely, the vessel will become stagnant and will no longer be useful.

By faith, we receive Jesus Christ as Our Lord and Savior.  When we receive Him and He dwells within us, we become vessels from which living waters flow from our lives out to others.  If we stay in submission to Our Lord and do not let our old selves interfere, the flow will be continuous.

The flow can manifest itself in many ways.  It can be a trickle or it can be a flood.  It can range from the smallest, unseen act of kindness to a massive outpouring on a grand stage.  But it can also be greatly restricted or stopped completely, if we begin to rely on ourselves rather than relying fully on the power within us.

Absolute holiness is the final product.  We will become absolutely holy when we go to meet the Lord in heaven.  Until that glorious day, we can expect to experience periods of holiness when our behavior is a reflection of the Holy One that lives within us.  On the other hand, we can be certain that we will suffer through times in which we will be led by our flesh.  Our behavior will not be holy.  We will move toward the darkness – the standard of our flesh.  

Fret not, the atoning blood of Jesus Christ puts us in perfect union with Our Heavenly Father, the seat of all holiness.  We can live in triumph knowing that we are holy.  We can manifest holiness here on earth.  For indeed, He is holy.

Being rightly related to Jesus Christ is the only place of complete joy.  Ironically, our constant attempts at finding happiness in worldly things and activities create our greatest obstacles to finding peace in the Lord.

Our steadfast focus on gaining happiness from the things of the world blinds us from seeing, understanding and accepting what God has to offer.  God’s offer is simple.  We are instructed by His Word to give up our old lives in the world and surrender to His Son.  Then the joy that the Son has from the Father will be in us and our joy will be complete.  

We know from the Word of God that the ways of the world are the opposite of the ways of His kingdom.  The world is all about the bottom line results and what we did to accomplish them.

God’s kingdom is all about the process and how we allow our new lives to be perfected through our relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ.  We must be careful not to focus on accomplishing good things when they are keeping us from the God-directed plans for our lives.

Jesus was very clear in His teaching that you will have trials if you follow Him.  In 1 Peter 4:12, we read, “Dear Friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange is happening to you.”

Trials are part of the necessary process for growing our faith and our intimacy with Our Lord.  Without trials in our lives, without having to trust in our Heavenly Father for the strength and provision to get through them, we would soon believe all our good fortune to be of our own works.  The foundation of our faith is built, grown and matured through the trials that we endure.

“Pray without ceasing,” is the message in 1 Thessalonians 5:17.  This is not be feasible for most of us, at least not in the form of prayer as we generally think of it.

Perhaps we should think about prayer as a conversation with God.  With His Spirit dwelling within us at all times, why would we not be in conversation with Him throughout the day.  Would we ignore our best friend, if he or she happened to be with us throughout the day?  Of course not, our relationship would dictate constant interaction.  So be it with the Lord.