I woke up peacefully this morning singing in my head, “Holy is the Lord / Holy is the Lord / Righteousness and Mercy / Judgment and Grace / Faithfulness and Sovereignty / Holy is the Lord.”
I was reminded by the Spirit that He wrote through both Moses and Peter to be holy because our God is holy. Holiness must be important if the Spirit wrote it on both sides of the Book.
Holiness, however, seems to be getting a bad rap lately. Some Christians say we should only focus on grace. As if we can do whatever we want to do because we’re covered by it. Remember this truth though, “There is freedom of choice, but not in consequence.” Sure we are free to do what we want, but we become whatever or whoever we choose to focus on.
If we choose to focus on sinning because it’s all about grace, we’ll sin, which in turn leads us to our drugs of choice and out of Jesus’ presence, where real life and the good stuff is found. Not being holy only hurts us!
If, on the other hand, we choose to focus on Jesus, who is holy, and on making holy choices through His Spirit we’ll experience victory over our drugs of choice and stay where the good stuff is found – His presence. We win!
What’s cool is that the Spirit also wrote that we can make holy choices because we are holy (Heb. 10:14)! Because that’s true stay focused on Jesus and His holiness. You’ll be glad you did.
Now back to the music, “Holy is the Lord…”
Set “FREE” Nowww
Monthly Archives: March 2013
Rock Solid
The Psalmist says, “Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout to the Rock of our salvation.” (Ps. 95:1) Rock speaks of stability. It says we’re basing our lives and the values we live by upon something that’s firm and can weather life’s storm.
In this case, it’s our salvation. Jesus is that Rock. He is our salvation. We can count on Him being the same today, tomorrow and into eternity.
Where you put your trust is crucial. Is it in something firm or in something that can shift and evolve over time? I just read about a new form of politics. It’s called “the personal is political.” It’s a set of beliefs that can change depending upon the circumstances. It allows the person’s heart to rule over their mind.
This kind of politician used to be called a “flip-flopper,” which was a bad thing. Bad is now good as “flip-flopper” has been reworded to “personal politics.” This person can say one thing one day, but evolve into something totally different the next. How can you trust someone who has no convictions based in something solid?
The main thing wrong with personal politics is that the person’s heart and mind are supposedly a rock solid basis for making decisions. What if they both are wrong, which so often is the case? We know this to be true because they are what drive us to take our drugs of choice! You can feel one way today and completely different about it tomorrow depending upon your circumstances. Why then should we trust what we think or feel as the starting point for decisions?
No, we need a source outside ourselves, outside our heart and mind, to show us what is true. Jesus is that source. He is our Rock. He is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” You can trust Him, not your feelings or thinking, when He tells you what to do. Living out what He says will set you free from your drugs of choice (John 8:31-32). Your freedom is personal to Him, but not politically expedient. He will be the same today, tomorrow and forever. His Word will never change. It’s rock solid.
S“E”t Free Nowww
Victory Through Preparation
Jesus told us temptations, opportunities to take our drugs of choice, would come. He told us to watch for them. He told us to pray that we wouldn’t enter them.
Preparation is part of the freedom process. He will give us the strength to stay out of them, but we must be on the look out for places, times and days where we are most vulnerable. We must be living in the moment with Him so we are not blindsided by the tempting situation when it comes. We must be in communication with Him so when the drug of choice is offered, we are in such deep conversation with and focused on Jesus that we walk right by the distraction.
Victory comes through being prepared. Keep walking and talking with Jesus moment by moment and you’ll not only be prepared for victory, you’ll experience it!
Set Free Now“W”w
Why Do What You Do
The reason we live each day using the tools of a biblical worldview is to allow the Spirit to exchange our character with Jesus’, which enables us to stay close to Jesus, the one One who can meet our needs.
Keep that in mind when you answer the following question I was recently asked. “In Bible Impact the Spirit is only working on one area of my life at a time. Does that mean I can intentionally mess around with the other areas of my life?” How would you answer this person?
After picking your jaw up off the ground hopefully you’d answer, “No!” Right answer. But here is the bigger question, “Why is it the right answer?” This is where the purpose for living with a biblical worldview comes into play. I don’t do something for or to get something from Jesus, but to be with Him. I get all I need to be satisfied and to lead a fulfilled life by being in His presence. Why would I ever want to purposely leave?
We think about sin, our drugs of choice, wrongly. We think by doing them we are actually having fun, are having our needs met, and/or are being satisfied. This is the furthest from the truth. And we know it’s true from experience! So why would I purposely choose to leave His presence simply because at this moment He’s only asking for one particular area of my life?
The goal is to become like Him so we can hold onto the One who can truly satisfy. Each moment use your tools to stay close to Jesus no matter what decision you have to make.
“Set Free Nowww”
Who Are You?
This video is an excellent way to end your week no matter how it went. It’s 3:48 long so wait until you have time to sit, watch and reflect. Don’t let the style throw you off. Hang in there to the end. It will make you thank, praise and worship your Jesus.
The answer to the question should be obvious by now. Go to the About section to find the answer in case you need a reminder.
“S”et Free Nowww