In modern society, we often think of our spiritual lives as being quite distinct from our normal, everyday lives. On a Sunday we go to church – that is when we are spiritual. Maybe once during the week we get together in a smaller group with other Christians. But the rest of the week – that is normal life, and we go about it as if we are of the world. Then we live according to worldly wisdom.<\/p>\n
Jesus himself said that we, the children of God, are not of this world anymore.<\/p>\n
\nJohn 17:16-18 (WEBBE): 16<\/sup>They are not of the world even as I am not of the world. 17<\/sup>Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth. 18<\/sup>As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world.<\/font>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Instead of being of the world, we are now God’s temple.<\/p>\n
\n1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (WEBBE): 16<\/sup>Don\u2019t you know that you are a temple of God, and that God\u2019s Spirit lives in you? 17<\/sup>If anyone destroys God\u2019s temple, God will destroy him; for God\u2019s temple is holy, which you are.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
So if the Holy Spirit lives in me, all of the time, that means that God is here inside me when I am baking a cake, or writing code, or cleaning the fish tank. Mmmm, it seems that actually everything is spiritual!<\/p>\n
Christmas is all about remembering what Jesus did for us. Coming to Earth as a human being was the first step in His plan for our redemption. But remember that your walk with God on Christmas day doesn’t end when you leave the morning service. God is still very much there during lunch with the family, and when doing the dishes afterwards!<\/p>\n
\n1 Corinthians 1:18 (WEBBE): 18<\/sup>For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The gospel sounds like foolishness to the world, because it goes against everything that is known according to worldly wisdom. <\/p>\n
\n2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (WEBBE): 17<\/sup>Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. 18<\/sup>But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19<\/sup>namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nEphesians 4:20-24 (WEBBE): 20<\/sup>But you didn\u2019t learn Christ that way, 21<\/sup>if indeed you heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus: 22<\/sup>that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit, 23<\/sup>and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24<\/sup>and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Our spirits were made new when we got saved, but renewing the mind is a process that we should undertake after that. Paul writes to the believers<\/em> in Ephesus that they should “put on the new man” and “be renewed in the spirit of your mind”. They were already saved when he wrote this to them! So our natural minds don’t agree with God’s Word, until we make the effort of renewing our minds.<\/p>\n
\nJohn 14:12 (WEBBE): 12<\/sup>Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father.<\/font>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
What Jesus did for us is not just for “one day”, it is not just so that when we die we don’t go to hell. Of course it includes that. But there is so much more – we are meant to live in a different way while we are still in the world (but not of the world). We are meant to make a difference, to do greater works than those of Jesus!<\/p>\n
\nMark 7:13 (WEBBE) 13<\/sup>making void the word of God by your tradition, which you have handed down. You do many things like this.\u201d<\/font>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Here is the scary part – it is in our ability to make that Word of God void in our own lives! If we turn away from the Word and act according to the traditions of men (and the “wisdom” of the world) instead, then we choose to not receive the fantastic promises that God has for us for today!<\/p>\n
\n1 John 4:1 (WEBBE) 1<\/sup>Beloved, don\u2019t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
There are some traditions of men that are obviously counter to God’s will for us, and are destructive, and those are easy to dismiss. But the subtle lies are the really dangerous ones, and they can cause a great deal of unbelief. <\/p>\n
\nJohn 14:26 (WEBBE): 26<\/sup>But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.<\/font>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Lately, when somebody tells me something with great certainty and authority and seeming wisdom, sometimes I find my mind agreeing but my spirit saying “wait a minute, what?”. When that happens I know that the Holy Spirit is warning me, and I step back and measure what the person is saying to the Bible. It is a quiet voice, one that took me a long while to start paying attention to. Hopefully my writing this can help you to get there a little faster. <\/p>\n
My challenge to you this week is, whenever you hear something that you think is wise, take a moment to see whether it lines up with God’s Word. If you don’t have any specific scriptures to refer to, then ask yourself whether it measures up to the standard of Love – because God IS Love! You will be surprised by the results!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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