BY HIS DOING

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

 

Did you know today that…

…He (GOD) has made you his friends again. He did this by the death Christ suffered while he was in his body. He did it so that he could present you to himself as people who are holy, blameless, and without anything that would make you guilty (Colossians 1:22 ERV)?

 

GOD has made and calls you HIS friend. 

And He did this by offering HIS BEST, HIS SON for you and me.

 

And by DOING so HE opened a continuous conduit to HIS PRESENCE, HIS GUIDANCE, HIS OPPORTUNITIES, HIS BLESSING, HIS FRIENDSHIP, AND HIS LOVE.

 

By DOING so He freed us from all guilt, pressure, and shame.

No condemnation now hangs over the head of those who are “in” Jesus Christ. For the new spiritual principle of life “in” Christ lifts me out of the old vicious circle of sin and death.

Romans 8:1 (PHILLIPS)

 

That is remarkable!

 

I love the way this translation describes that life of guilt; a vicious circle.  A circle of “am I saved or not”, “Have what I have done this time siphoned GOD from me for good?” “Have I destroyed the friendship” type questions.

 

Yet that passage from Colossians and that familiar refrain from Romans answers those types of questions for good.

 

Because of CHRIST there is NO condemnation.

Because of CHRIST we are FRIENDS of GOD.

Because of CHRIST GOD's presence can be pursued and embraced!

Because of CHRIST, death can't sting.

Because of CHRIST GOD’s love flows freely, continuously. and eternally for those who believe! (Lamentations 3:22 ESV)

  

I don’t know about you but I am one who from time to time will find myself “ruminating” on those already answered questions rather than EMBRACING GOD’s friendship.  And the truth is we ALL should be grateful for each day to walk in that friendship, freedom, and grace with Him!

And we should gladly use those truths to energize us to minister to those around us, to encourage the troubled and intercede for the broken.

By HIS doing we should GET TO DOING! 

For… 

“When we truly understand what it means to love as Jesus Christ loves us, the confusion clears and our priorities align. Our walk as disciples of Christ becomes more joyful. Our lives take on new meaning. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father becomes more profound. Obedience becomes a joy rather than a burden.”  ― Dieter

 

So, thank HIM for loving and FREEING you today!  

Thank Him for ending the vicious circle of questions in your heart and mind.

Embrace that love and friendship to energize you to SERVE knowing that…

"...you are freed up to serve, love, and give thanks without guilt, worry or fear." ― Francis Chan

 

Be blessed today!

I love you all.

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE