Hooked on a Feeling? Part 2 - His

Michael continues: The man of the flesh from a perspective of worldly wisdom thinks that "tolerance" means "please don't punish me for sin." However, to him that knows to do good and doesn't do it, to him it is sin. Everything not done in faith is sin. Sin is missing the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  The child of God with a humble heart runs to God for forgiveness of sin. For if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The devil's purpose is diametrically opposed to God's loving purpose ... the thief cometh not but for to steal, to kill, and to destroy. In contrast, Jesus Christ came that we might have life and have it more abundantly.  The spiritual battle is a matter of life and death. The choice is clear ... Choose life.

Jesus told his disciples a parable about three servants to whom he gave talents. One talent is 75 pounds of silver worth $18,000. The master gave his servants more than enough ... more than abundant funds to invest. The master challenged to his servants to make faith-based decisions to grow the Master's resources instead of a fear-based decision to bury the treasure.  Likewise, we have been given great and precious resources of His gift of Holy Spirit. How do we invest these spiritual resources to the glory of our Lord? The answer is to surrender our hearts to him ... I have been crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life that I now live I live by the faith of the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

God has called His children to be holy. Holiness is to be set aside for the purpose intended by the designer. According to Ephesians 2:10, We are God's workmanship (Greek word “poema”) created in Christ Jesus unto good works which he has prepared in advance for us to walk in them. We are God's masterpiece, His poem, His great work. When we advance as His soldiers in the spiritual battle, as His ambassadors in the midst of crooked and perverse nation, as His stewards investing His resources into His eternal Kingdom, we are fulfilling the purpose for which He designed us. Our prayer is, "Oh Lord, make us the men and women that you designed us to be ...  Lord, come and help yourself to our lives."

Our feelings will deceive us. The reality is in aligning our hearts with our Heavenly Father's heart in prayer. He will open the eyes of our spiritual understanding so that we can see that reality is fellowship with the Father, His son Jesus Christ, and with one another in the household of Faith.

May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael