Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.
I think the Bible pretty much lays it out from Genesis to Revelations that this entire reality we call life "is all about Him", not us, not our spouse, not our children, family or friends. "It is all about HIM !"
If we understand the Vertical Relationship with God, and the Love, Mercy, Forgiveness and Grace that He imparts upon us thru His Blessed Son - those other relationships will fall into place and become all the more precious to us.
We show Him our love thru our everyday actions, works and deeds. The Music you listen to, the Movies you watch, the Conversations you participate, the Foundation for the Opinions and beliefs you hold are all to be filtered thru The Holy Spirit... We make hundreds of choices every day, what influences those choices in your heart & mind - Christ's Spirit in you, or your own will, emotions and desires?
Look at the picture I posted of our Blessed Sheppard, while this is only an artist's rendering of His image, just the same, it is good for this illustration. Do you think of Him in your daily life in all the little things as well as the big things? Do you have a personal image or thought of Him when you start your day, each and every day? What truly influences your daily choices (left or right, up or down, right or wrong)?
Would your Country, Rock, Rap, or whatever your genre you want to insert here, would He listen, really can you imagine He would listen to it with you and enjoy it with you? Would He set thru that movie with you? Would He blush or turn away in that conversation you had today with your friends? Where does does Worship & Honoring Him Start in your life? What parts of your life are off limits to Him?
This isn't legalism folks, this searching your heart for Holiness and Righteousness... I was raised in an extended Family of Christians that still believed in calling sin - just that - Sin. Today, the culture has infected our congregations to the point that in many cases - the Church looks much like the world. Sin is not discussed, nor is Hell mentioned as the final judgment for Sin...
Sanctification - is the "setting ourselves apart" from the ways of the world. We can't be the salt of the world when our seasoning offers no flavor / difference - therefore; offering no moral compass or flavor to the world...
Legalism, is mentally and practically believing that our works and living by our standards will satisfy God's judgement, that we will earn His favor thru how we love our lives.n this is error, and will lead to the gates of Hell. The person calling themselves a Christian living by these self imposed Standards rather than yielding to the Son of the Living God, needs to meet Him and place all Trust, Faith and Belief on Christ - John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
When in reality, Christ's work paid it all, and our behavior, actions and deeds should be a result of the Holy Spirit changing us from the inside out. Creating in us, Godly hearts and unconditional love, in reality - converting us into little Christ Like beings... Yielding and Submitting to His Spirit, yes, conforming to His Holy and Righteous Spirit. Our Fruit / works will then bear the testament and contents of our heart...
The Son of the Living God - will change your heart, from the inside out - a lasting change... Anything else is just deception, and as a wise preacher man once told me, "once you have deceived yourself to believe you're alright on your own, and see no moral difference from the world, you are beyond hope". For you have believed the lie and in essence become the reprobate that scripture tells us that God has given over to their own hearts desires...
Galatians 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
So dear friend, Honor the Son of the Living God, and walk in His Spirit today! If you see a brother stumbling, don't be politically correct, walk over and put your arm around them and say "hey friend, how can I help"? Love that brother, forgive the Sin, and help carry the load restoring them back to full fellowship.
In Christ's Love,
RC
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