True Freedom

"Well then, since God's grace has set us free from the law,

does that mean we can go on sinning?

Of course not!

Don't you realize that you become the slave

of whatever you choose to obey?

You can be a slave to sin,

which leads to death,

or you can choose to obey God,

which leads to righteous living."

Romans 6:15-16 NLT

I am so thankful to live in a country where I am free to worship God, free to speak my mind, and free to come and go as I please.  As much as I appreciate this freedom, it is easy to take it for granted.  

Martin Luther King Jr. fought hard for the freedom of Blacks to taste the same freedoms enjoyed by Whites. But he knew freedom would not come automatically, but would be the fruit of much labor.   He said, "Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.  And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom.  A man can't ride you unless your back is bent." *

Freedom should not be expected.  Once freedom is secured, it is to be cherished, treasured and guarded at all costs.  Freedom isn't free!  In the words of Ronald Reagan, "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.  We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream.  It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same." **

Freedom is the result of struggle against those whose only desire in life is to control others and gain power for themselves. I would like to think that, as a people, we would not easily give up our freedom by handing control over to an abusive, corrupt, power-hungry entity, but in a way, this is already happening.   

Sin

Sin can be defined as rebellion against God.  Whenever I do things my way instead of God's way, I am rebelling and thus sinning.  Sinning comes natural to my fleshly being.  It is who I am.  

I like how the Apostle Paul described it in Romans 7.  "And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  I want to do what is right, but I can't.  I want to do what is good, but I don't.  I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.  But if I do what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it." (v 18-20 NLT)

My sinful nature, in and of itself, makes me feel like a failure.  As Paul goes on to say, "I have discovered this principle of life--that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.  I love God's law with all my heart.  But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind.  This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.  Oh, what a miserable person I am!  Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?  Thank God!  The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.  So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin." (v21-25 NLT)

Sin is a problem that I can't control on my own.  I am powerless against the influence of sin that is within me.  Sin takes away my freedom.

Slave

Jesus said in John 8:34 that, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin."  By definition, a slave belongs to someone else and is forced to obey his master.  No one becomes a slave willingly, but is bound to his master against his will.  

Similarly, my sinful nature makes me a slave to sin.  I must do what comes naturally, I have no other choice.

It is easy to argue that this is not true.  I may think that if I try really, really hard, I can obey God and do things His way.  It can't be that hard, right?

I remember when I was younger I decided that I would give up sugar altogether.  I found that as soon as I made this resolution, I craved sugar like never before.  I dreamed about delectable pastries, chewy candies and mouth-watering cookies.   I had to fight against those desires with all my might.  My sugar boycott lasted all of one summer.  

As a sinner, I can utilize my full capacity of self-control, discipline and restraint, but these will always fall short against the power of sin that is within me.  

Thankfully, the story doesn't end here:  I am not without hope. 

True Freedom

In America we enjoy freedom.  But that freedom can be a trap.  One of the things that happens in a free society is that the number of choices increases as entrepreneurs find new and innovative ways to make money.  With these choices comes more temptation to give myself over to things that please me and may not be bad on their own, but take my attention away from God.

This is the trap I find myself in, not unlike what the Israelites were warned about in Deuteronomy 8.  God told them that they would enter the Promised land, build fine homes, settle down and acquire great wealth, like nothing they could have ever imagined.  Then, God said, "your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery." (v14)

Living in a land of plenty is risky for those who desire true freedom.  But God offers a way to shed the shackles that bind us to sin; the desire for more when needs are already met.  The thirst for comfort that comes with a great cost.  The hunger to follow my natural inclinations.  Sin is an abusive, corrupt, power-hungry entity that wants nothing more than to control me.  

The great cost of freedom was paid for by Jesus on the cross.  When He willingly took on my sin, paying the penalty of death that God requires, He forever broke the bondage of sin in my life.

I now have a choice.  I am no longer bound to doing what comes naturally.  I don't have to follow my sinful nature.  Instead, I can choose to follow God, seeking to please Him.  

Jesus continued in John 8:35 to proclaim my freedom.  He said, "Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

Thanks to Jesus, I am free from the bondage of sin in my life.  I now have the power to choose to obey God, and my life will never be the same!  

Living in a free country gives me a false sense of security.  Freedom is never free, and Jesus paid the fee God charges for that freedom.  Sin enslaves me, but Jesus bought my true freedom!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will choose to please God by obeying Him instead of the sin that is within me.

How do I live as if I were still a slave to sin?

When do I willingly place the shackles of sin on my wrists?

*  http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/freedom.html#ixzz1p5KR3GPg

**  http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/freedom.html#ixzz1p5JEGhi9

The Battle

"Be strong in the Lord

and in his mighty power.

Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm

against all strategies of the devil.

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies,

but against evil rulers

and authorities of the unseen world,

against mighty powers in this dark world,

and against evil spirits in the heavenly place."

Ephesians 6:10-12 NLT

Life is a battle.  There are so many difficulties found each and every day.  Some struggles take place at home.  Some problems rear their ugly heads at work.  Other trouble occurs just in trying to get from point A to point B.  And still other frustrations arise when dealing with the people around us.  Yes, life certainly is a battle. . . and I'm on the front line.


The thing is, my fight is not against my family members, my co-workers, fellow drivers or citizens of this world.  The battle is against the unseen forces that manipulate, coerce and tempt.  The battle is against Satan and his minions.  


It is easy for me to see the people who are right in front of me as my enemy.  I stand my ground and get into battle position, preparing myself for the fight ahead.  But I am mistaken.  The fight is not against that sweet little boy whose outrageous behavior threatens to send me over the top, or the frustrated driver who is late for work, or the angry woman whose marriage is falling apart.  This war is waged against a hidden enemy who lies behind the scenes.


How do I fight against this formidable unseen adversary?  

Strength

Most athletes, especially those who compete in sports where physical contact occurs, know they need some kind of strength training.  This could involve weight lifting, functional training or Plyometrics for explosive power.  

As followers of Christ who are engaged in daily battle, we also need strength.  But whereas an athlete needs physical strength to battle in the physical realm, we need the strength of the Lord to battle in the spiritual realm.

I think of David as one who was, "strong in the Lord and in his mighty power."  As a young boy, he stood against a formidable giant of a foe named Goliath.  Even though the man stood at over 9 feet tall while he was only a gangly boy not yet finished growing and had never wielded a sword a day in his life, he boldly faced this trash-talking, burly, seasoned warrior. 

Why was he so confident?  

David knew God was bigger than this mighty soldier.  He knew that God was in control.  And even more importantly, David was strong in the Lord.  His faith in God was so solid that he believed without a doubt that the Lord would win the battle for him.  Then, "All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands." (1 Samuel 17:47)

This kind of strength does not come from reading, studying and meditating on God's Word.  This kind of power comes from training.  David had seen how many times God had worked through him as he shepherded his father's sheep.  He boldly pursued lions and bears that had snatched up one of the flock, successfully retrieving his keep and killing the invader.  He said, "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." (1 Samuel 17:37)

How can I train in the strength of the Lord?  I should start with the little things and work my way up as I gain confidence in God's power.  Perhaps I could ask God to give me a kind word to say to a surly cashier.  Or a prayer to utter for the harried driver who cut me off.  Or a gracious smile to the neighbor who snubbed me once again.  

God's strength is constant.  His mighty power is available to me if only I would practice using it.  Then I would grow strong in the Lord like David.

Armor

I good soldier does not go into battle without his armor.  Police officers wear bullet-proof vests when they're on duty.  Even fire-fighters utilize specialized protective clothing.  Anyone who is facing a foe is wise to protect himself.

In the same way, God has given me armor to protect myself from the assaults of Satan which enables me to stand my ground.   An effective soldier does not give up ground to his enemy and neither should I retreat, effectively handing over territory to Satan.  The armor gives me confidence to stay put.  

I can hold Satan at bay by speaking the truth, claiming the righteousness that comes from the blood of Jesus and preaching the Gospel to myself and others.  His fiery arrows can be stopped with my faith in Jesus as my Savior, and remembering from where my salvation comes will protect my mind from Satan's relentless attacks. (Ephesians 6:14-17)

Keeping in mind that Jesus has saved me from the pit of despair will protect me from those thoughts of self-defeat that creep in so slyly.  

Trusting that there is now no condemnation (even self-condemnation) for those who are in Christ Jesus deflects the deadly darts the Evil One sends my way.  

Rejecting the falsehood told by the Father of Lies and instead clinging to the truth found in scripture protects me from a common attack.

God has supplied me with the armor I need to protect myself from the assaults that come from the darkness.

Weapons

Defense is important, but anyone who has played sports knows that the game can't be won unless points are scored.  In order to rack up some goals, I must go on offense.

God has given me some offensive weapons in the battle against the unseen enemy.  Armor is important for protection, but if I want to do damage to my enemy, I must have a weapon.  And that spiritual weapon is God's Word.

This is yet another reason to spend time daily reading, studying and learning God's Word.  Then, when times of attack comes, God will send scripture to mind that will do damage to the Evil One.  

Another of our weapons is prayer.  "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for the saints."  (Ephesians 6:18)

Martin Luther was a man who was intimately familiar with the spiritual battle he faced during the Reformation.  He said, "Prayer is a strong wall and fortress of the church; it is a goodly Christian weapon."*

Prayer sometimes seems like a cop out.  It many times feels like my prayers don't amount to much.  But I must remember that, "The prayer of a righteous man (or woman) is powerful and effective." (James 5:16)

There is much power found in my prayers; the very power of God!  This thought alone should keep me on my knees.

God's power is available to conquer strongholds, take back territory Satan has captured and drive them enemy back all with a simple prayer to a mighty God.

I know I am in a battle.  I feel the wounds of the war.  But it is important that I remember I fight not against people, but against the hidden evil that is behind all conflict.  In order to live victoriously, I must practice standing strong in the Lord like David, remember to wear the armor God has supplied, and utilize the weapons in my cache.

And above all, I must remember the words told to God's people as they faced a formidable enemy, "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.  For the battle is not yours, but God's." (2 Chronicles 20:15)  And He is up for the fight.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will leave the battle in God's hands instead of trying to defend myself.

How do I try to fight against those who are right in front of me instead of remembering that they are not my enemy?

When do I let my hurt feelings or pride drive me to defend myself instead of standing strong in the Lord?

* http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/martin_luther_3.html#ixzz1ozyi8eBl 

  

Complete Devotion

"Peter said to him, 'We have left everything to follow you!' "

Mark 10:28

I sometimes feel like Peter, thinking about all the things I've sacrificed in order to follow Jesus.  I had to let go of certain relationships, hobbies, leisure activities, ways of thinking, and beliefs because they got in the way of my following Jesus.  If I focus on what I've given up, I start to feel sorry for myself and even a little self-righteous.  "Hey!  I'm not like that rich man because I've given up everything to follow you!" 

In reality, that is impossible.  As a mere human, it is impossible for me in my own strength to follow Jesus purely out of devotion to Him and not because of what I will get out of following Him.  Eternal life.  Freedom from sin.  Ministry.

Oswald Chambers challenges me with this thought.  He said, "If we only give up something to God because we want more back, there is nothing of the Holy Spirit in our abandonment; it is miserable commercial self-interest.  That we gain heaven, that we are delivered from sin, that we are made useful to God--these things never enter as considerations into real abandonment, which is a personal sovereign preference for Jesus Christ Himself."

How much am I willing to leave behind out of devotion to Jesus?  How much do I instead give up because I know it will build my character or grow my faith?

Devotion to Jesus Christ means complete abandonment to Him without a thought of what's in it for me.

Confidence in God

When I first met my husband, I didn't know much about him.  I knew that he claimed to follow Jesus.  I knew that he loved weight lifting as much as I did.  And I knew he was a soldier.  I didn't know much.

As I spent time with him, I got to know more about him.  I learned his idiosyncrasies, his ways of speaking, and his likes and dislikes.  I learned what drove him and what discouraged him.  I found out what made him angry and what melted his heart.

It is the same with God.  When I first came to know Jesus as my Savior I knew a few basic things about Him.  He loved me enough to die for me.  He would never leave me.  His Spirit lives within me to guide me and comfort me.

But it wasn't until I started spending time with him that I really got to know Him.  Pastor and writer Henry Blackaby said, "You will never be satisfied just to know about God.  Really knowing God only comes through experience as he reveals himself to you."

God calls me to Himself so that I can know Him.  In getting to know Him, I learn that everything comes from Him: He is responsible for my coming to Christ and trusting Him as my Savior.  He promises help, guidance, protection, vengeance, and answer to prayers over 7000 times(1) in His Word.  He gives me everything I need to live a godly life. (2 Peter 1:3-4)

It's all there for the taking.  All that's missing is my willingness to give up my rights to myself, my  sense of entitlement to be my own boss and my desire to be self-sufficient.

As I get to know God on a personal level, I see that I can trust Him with every part of my life.  My confidence in Him grows when I learn more about His character and attributes.

Abandon Control

I recently went to an Orthopedic Specialist for some help with a bum knee.  As he examined the trouble spot, he told me to relax my leg.  He wanted me to give him control over my leg so he could move it the way he wanted to as part of his examination.  

I found it hard to give him complete control on the "bad" side.  I was guarding it out of fear of pain or further injury.  Even though I was in the hands of a qualified professional, I did not trust him completely with my damaged leg.

This is like me with God.  He instructs me to give Him full control, but I find myself guarding my areas of past pain, fears or pride.  There are some things I just don't want to give over to Him. 

The thing is, healing will not come until I open myself up to God and let Him have dominion over those areas of my life.  He will take all my hurts, fears and pride and transform them into a beautiful life I can feel secure in committing to Him.  

Once I know how much God loves me and cares for me, I can learn to trust Him with all things.   

Follow His Lead

I am naturally impatient, selfish, self-centered, self-conscious, sarcastic, and prideful to name a few personal characteristics.  In other words, I am pretty ugly.

Thankfully, as a follower of Christ, I can share in God's nature.  He is loving, joyous, peaceful, patient, kind, faithful, gentle, good and disciplined, to name a few attributes.  As I learn more about Him and put my trust in Him, I feel confident to let go of my natural ways and let His character shine through.

Unfortunately, this is not a one-time act, but an ongoing practice of letting go of my nature and putting on the nature of God.

The Apostle Paul described it this way in Galatians 5:24-25.  "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.  Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives."

It is only in following the leading of the Spirit of God that I have any hope of resembling Him in His nature.  As His adopted child, I can share in His divine nature instead of looking like a child of the world.

I want to be wholeheartedly devoted to Christ without regard for what's in it for me.  Before I can do this, however,  I will need to build confidence in God by getting to know Him, abandon all control to Him, and follow His lead in every moment of my life.  Then I won't be so focused on defending my life choices to those around me.  Instead, I'll be fully committed to His will for my life out of utter dedication to Him and His character traits will shine through to those around me.  

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will stop worrying about my own best interests and instead think about what would please my Savior.

How do I betray my self-interest in the decisions I make throughout the day?

When do I insist on having control in order to protect old wounds or areas of pride? 

(1) Everet R. Storm, Time, Dec. 4 1956

Clear Conscience

"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,

keeping a clear conscience,

so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."

1 Peter 3:15-16

Everywhere she goes, she is on the outside.  Her family has moved countless times, always with the hope that this place will be different. She wants nothing more than to be a part of a loving, supportive community.  She has much love to give.   But her heart breaks as she sees the same pattern occurring again as it always has before.  She is shunned.  She is ostracized.  She is on the outside.

This is the experience of a friend of mine.  It hurts my heart to see her suffer as she puts up a good effort to carry on, living life as God has called her to live.  But inside she is hurting.  

I, too, have been hurt by others with rumors shared, slander spread and judgments made.  As much as this kind of treatment hurts, there is something I can do to not only get through it, but to glorify God in doing so.

Devotion to Christ

Robert Louis Stevenson said, "Perpetual devotion to what man calls his business is only to be sustained by perpetual neglect of many other things."

The 21st Century life is a busy life, filled with fruitful activities, educational pursuits and interesting hobbies.  But every single thing I add to my schedule is as a result of a conscious choice.  When the business of life overwhelms me, it is because I have over-committed myself, leaving very little room for my relationship with my Savior. 

When I think of the word "devotion," I picture a loyal dog peering up into the face of his beloved master.  In his eyes, I can see he desires nothing more than to please his master.

This is how I want to be with Christ; wanting nothing more than to please Him.  Many times, however, other stuff gets in the way; things I choose to add to my life that distracts my attention from my Master.  Good things.  Beneficial things.  Enriching things.  But distracting things, just the same.

The Apostle Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 6:12 that, "You say, 'I am allowed to do anything'--but not everything is good for you. And even though 'I am allowed to do anything,' I must not become a slave to anything." (NLT)

How many times am I a slave to my job or my or my family's activities or schedules?

Devotion to Christ is a choice I make as I place Him in the top position in my life, giving Him my full, undivided attention.

 Preparation

Fire prevention experts advise people to create a plan for their families in case of fire.  Practicing that plan is important because it is easy for panic to paralyze anyone's common sense, rendering them helpless and at risk of injury or death in times of crisis.  But if a family has rehearsed what to do in case of a fire, the training kicks in at the time it is needed and lives are saved.

It is the same with sharing the hope I have.  People ask questions when they see behavior that doesn't match up to what they're used to seeing, and these questions are windows of opportunity.   "Why did you give your car away?"  "Why do all the kids flock to your house?"  or "How come you don't defend yourself and your reputation?"

If I haven't rehearsed what I will say, I may panic and not know how to respond.  This has happened to me plenty of times.  It is important that I think different scenarios through and seek God's guidance in how to respond.  It is also important that I study the Bible for myself and understand what it is that I believe.  If I can't explain my faith, I surely won't be able to witness to others when the time comes.  

Setting my heart on Jesus is vital, but preparation is also important in knowing what I believe and how I can respond to questions asked by non-believers.  

Gentleness and Respect

I have a small sign in my kitchen that says, "Seek to Understand."  I placed it there in an effort to remind myself and my family members that everyone desires to be understood and it shows respect for others when I try to appreciate their point of view.  When I don't make an attempt to empathize with another, I am showing that I really don't care about them.  

Our family has fallen into a bad habit of seeking to be heard instead of striving to listen.  It is easy for me to think of myself and my opinions, thoughts or feelings.  I assume everyone else wants to hear what I have to say as much as I want to say it!  

But James 1:19 challenges this assumption.  "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." Furthermore, if I look into the book of Proverbs, I will find that God considers me a fool. "A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions."

I can spend all the time in the world preparing my answers, but if I don't respect others, my testimony won't get anywhere.  As Ben Franklin said, "No one cares what you know until they know that you care." 

Treating others with gentleness and respect is a sure way to gain their trust. 

Living a life where others hurt me is difficult.  But when I devote myself to Christ, prepare myself in my beliefs and respond with gentleness and respect, I can rest easy knowing that God's got my back.  He'll protect me and even show others where they've been wrong, giving them a sense of shame regarding the wrong they've done to me.  

Then I can say as David proclaimed in Psalm 18:2, "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.  He is my shelf and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep my eyes on Jesus.

How do I let other things distract me from the One who died for me so that I can live?

When do I respond in harshness and disrespect?

Before Time Began

"For God saved us and called us to live a holy life.

He did this, not because we deserved it,

but because that was his plan 

from before the beginning of time--

to show us his grace through Christ Jesus."

2 Timothy 1:9

People who have been through harrowing near-death experiences often undergo a transformation of perspective.  They realize life is short and that the things they were focusing on were shallow and meaningless.  Family takes on a higher priority, friendships are cherished as never before, and God plays a more significant role in their lives.

I don't have to wait until I nearly die to go through this same kind of transformation.  As a follower of Christ, I am called to live a certain way.  Just as the Israelites were always set apart and peculiar to those living round them, the modern day people of God are also called to be different. . . to stick out like a sore thumb. . . to be salt and light.

Saved for Godliness

God is holy.  He is set apart, morally pure and holiness is an integral part of every aspect of his character.  His justice is holy, His love is holy, His grace is holy.  God is above all things and sanctified from all of His creation.

I was not saved from the consequences of my sin through faith in Jesus Christ so that I can live my life the way I always have lived.  There is a purpose for my life that goes well beyond my life!  God's plan is not for my comfort, for my blessing or for my well-being.  God's plan is for His name to be glorified throughout the earth.  

God called me unto Himself so that I can live a holy life and thus reflect His nature in a dark and sinful world.  Peter teaches about my calling as recorded in 1 Peter 1:14-15. "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.  But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do."  

It is not enough for me to accept Jesus as my Savior and enjoy the assurance of entrance into heaven, but never change the way I live.  As part of God's adopted family, I am to be like the Israelites when God told them to, "consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy." (Leviticus 11:44)

I am saved and adopted into God's family so that I can live a holy life; different from the lives of those around me who are not saved, wholesome and decent, and this holiness should permeate every aspect of my character.  My love should look different from the love of the unsaved because it is God's love.  My gentleness comes from God and sets me apart from the harshness that is prevalent in the world.  My gracious attitude gives others a break when the world has no mercy.  

God is glorified when I live the holy life He called me to live.

Plan of Grace

Now that I claim Jesus as my Savior, my life is not my own.  I was bought at a price.  Therefore, He calls me to live a holy life, but this is not accomplished through my own effort.  I am unable to live a holy life in my own strength.

Rather, it is God's grace that is freely given that empowers me to resist temptation and submit to God.  Where God's law shows me how far I fall short of His standard, it is powerless to save me.  It is incapable of giving me the ability to follow it, thus pleasing God.  

Instead, it is His grace which enables me to change my ways and become more like Christ.  As James teaches, "He gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires." (James 4:6 NLT)  Like the desire to be my own master.  Or the longing to meet my innermost needs.  Or the urge to do things my way instead of God's way.  

Missionary leader and devotional writer Andrew Murray described grace this way.  He said, "God has no more precious gift to a church or an age than a man who lives as an embodiment of his will, and inspires those around him with the faith of what grace can do."

Grace is a gift freely given by God that makes possible the living of a holy life.

Before Time Began

Writer Kate Atkinson describes the beginning in this way.  "Before the beginning is the void and the void belongs in neither time nor space and is therefore beyond our imagination.  Nothing will come of nothing unless it's the beginning of the world.  This is how it begins, with the word and the word is life.  The void is transformed by a gigantic firecracker allowing time to dawn and imagination to begin."

Before God created time, the earth was formless and empty.(Genesis 1:2)   I cannot fathom anything eternal in nature. . . it is beyond my ability to understand.  I cannot comprehend a place without time. . . it is out of my grasp.  

This, however, does not mean that God was not able to think and plan before time began.  He existed forever.  There is no beginning to God.  As He was formulating His plan for creation, He included a plan for saving us from our sins. 

As incomprehensible as is the thought of the plan of salvation existing before time began,  it is supported in the Apostle Paul's teachings to the church at Ephesus.  "Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.  God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.  This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure." (Ephesians 1:4-5 NLT)

God's plan for my life began before time began.  

The way I live my life reflects my understanding of how I fit into the scheme of things.  Once I understand that I was saved for godliness, that God's plan of grace empowers me to live a holy life, and that this plan existed before time began, I am inspired to live as God has called me to live.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I my life today will be more holy than it was yesterday.

How do I set low standards for myself in the area of holiness?

How do these low standards reflect poorly on God and the grace He has given me?

The Answer

"My old self has been crucified with Christ.

It is no longer I who live, 

but Christ lives in me.

So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God,

who loved me and gave himself for me.

I do not treat the grace of God

as meaningless.

For if keeping the law could make us right with God,

then there was no need for Christ to die."

Galatians 2:20-22 NLT

Rules.  I am bound by dozens of regulations each day.  Laws about when and where I can park, how fast I can drive, how slow is too slow, how loud I can play music in my home, when I can mow my lawn, what kind of fence I can build and where I can place it, how I walk my dogs and that I must clean up after them, how to care for my pets, how to care for my children. . . the list goes on and on.  It can be overwhelming.

If I think about the number and complexity of God's laws, it can crush me.  There are ceremonial laws that point to the need for redemption from sin.  These laws specified every detail of sacrifices that were necessary to atone for the sin of God's people. Then there were laws regarding the priesthood, temple, music, feasts, circumcision, ritual washings and so on.  

There were also moral laws that are based on the character of God.  They are summarized in the Ten Commandments and include spiritual laws, laws regarding justice, righteousness, truth, faithfulness, and purity. 

Finally, God instituted judicial laws which applies the various commandments to different situations.  It is the application of the moral law.

What does God expect from me regarding these laws?  Do they save me?  Can I get to heaven by following these laws?

Just

God is a just God.  When He laid down the law, He expected that I would follow them.  His very first law was a simple commandment to stay away from a certain fruit from a specific tree that grew in the center of the Garden of Eden.  When Adam and Eve violated that law, God's sense of justice demanded punitive action and they were kicked out of the garden.

He expects perfect adherence to all of His law, otherwise He wouldn't have given the law.  Following His law is how  His people reflect His character.  He said, "You must be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy."  (Leviticus 19:2 NLT)

A good judge does not overlook violations of the law.  His job is to uphold the law and dish out disciplinary action.  If he lets a killer go free because of his merciful heart, there would be public outcry and the judge would be removed from the bench.  

In the same way, God cannot deny His just side.  He is merciful and gracious to the core, but He cannot ignore His own sense of justice, hence the need for blood sacrifice. God reveals this in Leviticus 17:11 when He says, "I have given (blood) to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life."  God's justice demands disciplinary action for my disobedience.

God is a just God who expects perfect obedience to His law.  Disobedience requires disciplinary action in the form of sacrifice.

Holy

As a child, I remember wanting to please my parents by acting according to their expectations. I never wanted to disappoint them and often thought of them before I acted in a foolish way.  I knew they would be dissatisfied with my actions. 

In the same way, I want to please God.  I desire to do things His way.  The problem is, no matter how hard I try and how dedicated I am to following His law, I always fall short.

The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 3:23 that ". . .everyone has sinned.  We all fall short of God's glorious standard."  

David understood my depravity when he wrote, " The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.  All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one." (Psalm 14:2-3) 

I may think I am pretty good according to my own standards or compared to others, but I am judged by God's standard, not my own.  The prophet Isaiah said, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."  (Isaiah 55:9)

If I have any hope of a connection to God either here or in eternity, I must meet His standard. I must be holy because He is holy.  The prophet Habukkuk reminds me that, "(God's) eyes are too pure to look on evil; (He) cannot tolerate wrong." (1:13)  

Like it or not, my failings are evil in God's eyes and my sin results in a broken relationship with my Creator.  I am His enemy because of my shortcomings.

Love

When my daughters were young, there were times when my heart would swell with such love for them that I thought it would burst!  I would do anything for them.

As much as I love those four young ladies, God loves me abundantly more.  He created me so that I could have a relationship with Him.  Back when things were as He first created them to be, He walked in the garden with His children.  

He desires nothing more than for me to commune with Him throughout my day, intimately sharing my thoughts, struggles and dreams.  He wants to be a part of my life. The problem is that His sense of justice and holiness prevent my access to Him.

As a solution to this problem of my sin, He gave His only Son as the final and perfect atoning sacrifice required by His just nature, covering all my shortcomings with His blood so that I appear perfect in the eyes of God, thus satisfying His holiness.  

"God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ dies for us." (Romans 5:8)  There is no greater act of love than Jesus' giving of His life so that I can enjoy a relationship with Him.  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

My relationship with God is restored through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ and my entrance into heaven assured.

If I was able to follow God's law, thus satisfying His just and holy nature, there would be no need for God to have sent Jesus as my Savior.  The fact that He sent Jesus is all the evidence I need that I am unable to reach God's standard on my own.  I need a Savior.  

As Paul said in Romans 7:21-25, "When I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.  I love God's law with all my heart.  But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind.  This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.  Oh, what a miserable person I am!  Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?  Thank God!  The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord." (NLT)

Thank you, Lord, for making a way for me to grow closer to You here on earth, and to live with you for all of eternity.  

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will remember that I am saved by grace and not by works.

How do I hold others to a standard that I cannot even meet?

When do I forget the sacrifice God made and try to earn God's love with my actions?