I am truly grateful for the support I received on my last post, Adjusting to Jesus. I am glad the working out of my own thoughts could help plant a seed in yours. Continuing on the nudging from my Savior, I wouldn’t consider this a part two but I believe the faith journey is a continuation so digest it as you will.
Sold Out for Jesus is a phrase tossed around in Christian circles but one I have found particularly called to demonstrate in my daily life, no matter how challenging it may be. Fixing my heart, mind and eyes on heavenly principles and practices is a noble concept that is preached throughout the bible; I like to believe it is one in which anyone who has had a God encounter strives to implement. I want to dissect how to do this in a world that seems to not just shy away from God but to reject Him completely.
Many may see the Bible as a book of constrictive and outdated rules but understanding the mercy, faithfulness and grace granted to us daily clearly accounts for the distance between the mark and where we will fall. Galatians 3:5 says “I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ. In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith” The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God”. Scriptures also proclaim that Christ Jesus is made perfect in my weakness, acknowledging once again I could never fulfill the law.
Jesus Christ fills everywhere with Himself, there is nothing in the world that was made without God. God is a God of balance. He is pure and merciful but the scriptures also describe Him as a devouring fire (Hebrews 12:29). Balance is needed so we can live as God has called us to, even in modern times, while maintaining love and compassion for others. We can’t live like the Pharisees who shunned fellowship; we must love the people but hate the sin. The balancing factor to being sold out for Jesus is to live by the Holy Spirit. The following verses have been my blueprint since I decided to give not only myself, but my dreams and the relinquishment of “control” over my life unto Him.
16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
Galatians 5:16-26 NLT
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
I encourage and challenge you, my reader, to let this be your new governing principle. The growth I have experienced since my God encounter in April, but especially since being serious about my faith in the last few months, has accounted for more mental development and transformation than in the past three years combined. I am at peace and full of joy, sadness and suffering only lasts if you let them live in you. The Spirit of God brings His fruit and makes it impossible to fail.
If you find yourself, wavering in the faith or not completely baptized (submerged) in the life Jesus Christ gave you I want to leave you with one final scripture. Hearing a message related to it on Moody radio gave me the push I needed to free-fall into Him, as nothing scares me more than being rejected by Him when He returns and He is returning soon.
Revelation 3:15-16
15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!