When we were born again it was our spirit that was reborn, not our flesh (soul and body). “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see he kingdom of God. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:3, 5-6; KJV). We need to renew our minds (Rom 12:2) and bring our bodies under (1 Cor 9:27). This is all put another way in Eph 4:22-24 (also see Col 3:9-10). Paul writes about putting off the old man or old nature and lifestyle and putting on the new man or allowing the Holy Spirit and the word to transform us to be more and more like Christ.

We cannot do this in our own strength, we need to come before God in humility and ask his help in emptying ourselves of self and to be transformed into his likeness. Sure, this involves things like controlling lust and anger and watching what we say but we also need to examine ourselves and ask God to show us the things in our core that limit his hand in our lives: pride, ego, stubbornness, rebelliousness, lack of submission, self-seeking, seeking recognition, to mention a few.

I heard a preacher once say that the thing that most struck him about Christians was how little they changed; how superficial their relationship with God was. I don’t think he was being cynical but honest. Wow, this isn’t where I want to be; how about you? God will change us if we let him; but be warned, it can be a painful process. However, the rewards of intimacy with God and growing in him are awesome. Let’s get serious with God. He’s waiting on his church. 

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I love the Psalms; reading one a day is a good plan. David really shows his love, fear of and heart for God in his poetry. In writing Psalm 139 verses 23 and 24 King David humbled himself before his God and cried out that his heavenly Father would search his heart for any wickedness and show him how to walk in Godliness.

As with David, we cannot do this and walk the walk on our own; o how we need God in our lives. In Romans chapter 2 and verse 15 we are told that our born-again spirits, (hearts or consciences) will show us if we are right or wrong if we allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate and strengthen our spirits with the word of God (John 14:26; Rom 8:16).  

Get in the word, ask God to bring you revelation by the Holy Spirit as you read and meditate his word. Allow the spotlight of God’s word to show you where you need to change so you can draw ever closer to God. Remember it is not in our own strength but it is God who shows us the way and empowers us to change and be more like him: “being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:6; KJV).

Lord, flood us with your presence, your Holy Spirit today and have your way in our lives.

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“Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him” (Deut 13:4; KJV). Our lives should line up with the word of God. We need to look into the word today and see if our lives, our thoughts, words and actions are on track. So often we look but only want to pull out our favorite words.

The word is truth (John 17:17), inspired by God (2 Tim 3:16) and his counsel for every aspect of our life (Pr 4:20-23). We can look into the word and it will encourage us as we see areas where we are lined up with it.  However, the word will also bring instruction and reproof if we are open to receive it (Pr 2:10-11). To grow in God, we need to allow his word to not only strengthen us and encourage us but also to challenge and change us. If we refuse, we will stagnate and be frustrated, going nowhere.

How often we have favorite words but the very next verse we gloss over because it is an ouch; a word that challenges our stubbornly held opinions where we do not want to change. It is only when we are open to God’s whole counsel that we can move on to be used by God and experience that true life of abundance (John 10:10).

Moving on in true revelation of God’s word is wonderful, going to new heights and places we have never been before. Let’s give God permission to open our eyes and ears to his word today and do a new thing in our lives. O my, how I want that, do you?

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Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.

We all sin but we are no longer sinners (1 John 1:8). Through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross the price was paid for our sin’s past, present and future (1 Cor 15:3). As born-again Christians God no longer sees us as sinners, he sees us in Christ, forgiven and the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:21). Righteousness basically means right standing with God. Satan may try to condemn us but we have an Advocate (Rom 8:34), Christ Jesus, who pleads our case before God (1 John 2:1).

As God’s children and members of his kingdom (Col 1:13) we are still tempted to sin and we do sin (1 John 1:8), but the word says that if we repent and ask for forgiveness God is quick to forgive us (1 John 1:9).  Now that’s good news. So, how many times will he forgive us in any given day? Well, we are instructed to forgive our brother 7 time seventy times (Matt 18:22) and God is far more loving and merciful than we are. But brother Norman you don’t know what I have done. God forgave David when he repented after committing adultery and murder (2 Sam 11). Don’t be condemned, look to God our loving and merciful father, humble yourself and ask forgiveness with a truly repentant heart.

 Now, as Christians we should not go on willfully and deliberately sinning, if we do then there is something very wrong as if we are born again, our spirit (conscience) should convict us of sin and in fellowship with God (Rom 2:15). Check yourself; are you truly born again? Have you given your life to the Master? Talk to a mature Christian friend and settle the matter today.

As Christians we should be quick to repent whenever we sin (1John 1:9); sin does not cause us to lose our salvation but it does cloud our fellowship with God, just as in any human relationship (1 John 1:7). Run to your loving father, repent and enjoy unbroken fellowship with him. There is nothing better.

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One of the fruits of the Spirit in our lives is gentleness (Gal 5:23) which can better be translated as meekness. When we think of meekness we often think of weakness or someone who is a mouse.  But this could not be further from the truth.  Meekness is a powerful fruit of the Spirit creating a submissive spirit in us toward our God and giving us a quiet strength and confidence that is from God alone. The meek Christian is not a mouse but an individual who has the confidence of knowing who he is in Christ and a temperament that is controlled and at peace.

We are told to pursue meekness (1 Tim 6:11), to walk in meekness (Eph 4:2), so that people see it in us. We should demonstrate meekness in our dealings with others (Titus 3:2), even if they respond with unkindness and especially as we talk to them of the things of God and bring correction (2 Tim 2:25). “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Gal 6:1). The apostle Paul reminded us that meekness is a characteristic of Jesus: (2 Cor 10:1).

Let us take stock of our lives, are we known for our meekness as we have defined it above?

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Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.