Weekly Devotional 1-4-16
The Persons We Should Be This Year of 2016.
Try as he might, a born again Christian has a hard time explaining to a non-Christian the life that he lives. He is called a fanatic, of having a holier than thou attitude and worse, a hypocrite. They say that his life is put on, that in secret he is not as he appears in public. They just can’t understand that God has truly done a work in him who has been born again spiritually and that the Holy Spirit continues that work. The apostle Paul, drawing on the writings of Isaiah (Isaiah 64:4) wrote, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1st Corinthians 2:9) and continued with “14But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned”(1st Corinthians 2:14). Therefore, without spiritual illumination it is impossible for a non-Christian to understand or identify with a spiritually born again person.
On the other hand, the born again Christian can identify with the non-Christian because at one time we also were in spiritual darkness and lived according to what that darkness produces. Because the born again Christian is able to identify with the non-Christian he (we) should be patient with whomever God has brought or brings our way. Many times this is hard, but as it was with us, God will accomplish His purpose in and for that person. During this new-year (2016) we should, we must, resolve to be true, loving and patient toward those who as of yet do not know the Lord. Those who are in spiritual darkness. To accomplish these things it is imperative that we walk in the power and direction of the Holy Spirit, and allow Him to produce His fruit in us; to whit, “22The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV).
We must understand however, the Holy Spirit will produce these things in us, but we must not hamper his work. We must be surrendered to Him. Paul continued in his letter to the Galatians writing, “24Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (vs. 24-25); this should be our desire this year.
Paul writes that we are to crucify, we are to put to death, the desires of our old natures so that the Holy Spirit can produce His (God’s) fruit in us. This will not be and is not easy, but it is possible. Jesus gave us the path of accomplishment in His address to His disciples, He said; “5I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:5-8 NKJV).
Let us resolve this year to abide in Jesus Christ, God the Son and He will produce in us the fruit of the Spirit. We will be true, we will be loving, and we will be patient toward those who as of yet do not know the Lord, who are in spiritual darkness.
stevelampman@comcast.net stevelampman@comcast.net
Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man
Evangelical Free Church www.efreebible.org