Life In The Lord

Our walk with God is one of growth and change, adding and increasing in the things of God, decreasing and dropping the things of the flesh, our old nature, that to which we died through baptism into Christ's death and resurrection.

Romans 6
v.2 ...We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
v.3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
v.4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
v.5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.
v.6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--
v.7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
v.8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
v.9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.
v.10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

As we walk in the new life of the Spirit, we find wells and springs of living water bubbling up and available for us to share and pour out into other people's lives in encouragement and support and prayer. We see abundance of life, fruit, healing, all evidenced where the Spirit is welcomed and accepted.

Ezekiel 47
v.9 Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows.
v.11 But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt.
v.12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.

As we seek to make Christ Lord in our lives, words of life are present to speak to others, words spoken with humility and love, whether accepted or not. When accepted, we can see burdens fall off, spirits lift, hope bloom, strength return.

1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect

Be sure to Include yourself. Let the words of life, the Word of God, minister in your own life. Speak His truth over yourself.

Matthew 22
v.37 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
v.38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
v.39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.

Let the hope, the comfort, the strength and joy that your spirit, soul, and body needs be provided by the Spirit and spoken in faith by your voice.

2 Corinthians 4:13 It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak,

Psalm 116
v.8 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
v.9 I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
v.10 I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:

Affliction is the other side of the coin. This is not primarily physical circumstances as it is spiritual discipline. To walk closely with God in the world is to endure persecution from His enemies. To press in closer to God is to submit to His training and discipline just as an athlete enters training. To engraft His word into our hearts and minds is to cling to the Spirit at the cost of our personal desires.

Psalm 119
v.67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey Your word
v.71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn Your decrees
v.75 I know, O Lord, that Your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

Daniel understood the discipline involved in walking with God and remaining faithful to what He has taught.

Daniel 1
v.8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine
v.12 "Please test your servants for ten days"
v.15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food
v.17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds

Now, eating their veggies didn't put them at the head of their class. But their faithful obedience to God's Word allowed God to use them in other, greater ways later on. Denying ourselves what we want when God directs us another way opens the door to His blessings in ways we cannot imagine.

Lord of our lives, only You can see what we will face and only You have prepared the resources to meet the fiery trials that come our way. Draw us by Your spirit to a closer walk with You that we will be sheltered by Your wings, defended by Your love, and strengthened by Your Word in all that we encounter today.

3K25G21O