Three Things To Make It A Good Day

I am going to hit you with some quick facts today. I think we struggle because we do not understand our new reality, what Jesus has done for us and what our new relationship is with this world. This is important regardless of your age and what you are facing because knowing these things gives you strength.

First, we live in a world of the living dead, a living death we were rescued from:

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. (Colossians 2:13)

We were dead to God until he brought us to life in, with, and through Jesus. Is it any wonder that the world cannot know God when people make the decision to remain dead? He has made you a new creation, alive in Jesus, able to enjoy life in abundance because you are actually alive to God. Nothing of your old life or of this world holds any power over you any more. You do not belong to the land of the living dead but to the Kingdom of life.

Second, we were lost in useless religion, trying to live by a law that could never rescue us and which only had the purpose of reminding us of our living death status. But Jesus rescued us from that as well:

He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. (vv. 13-14)

I think this is one of the hardest things for us to grasp. Jesus said he did not come to destroy the law but to fulfil it. He did fulfil it and then nailed it to the cross with himself. God has taken that law and he is writing it on our hearts, making it part of our character. Not done with human effort but by the power of the Spirit in us. Understand, your heart condition with God is so much more important to him than some law. Anyone can try to follow a law but it doesn't make their heart right. It's the relationship that matters and when the relationship is right everything else falls into place. Understand that the law, which opposed us, was nailed to the cross so that we would have the freedom of a personal relationship with Jesus.

The only spiritual authority over us is God. Demons, witches, ghosts or any other power have no sway, no power, no authority over us. We fear nothing and we obey nothing. We do not turn to horoscopes or crystal balls to know our future because we personally know the one who holds our future:

And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. (v. 15)

Despite what you may see in movies or television shows, demons cannot touch you. You do not need a crucifix or holy water, simply speaking in the authority of Jesus is enough to put any demon to flight. You need no lucky charms, good luck or anything else when you have Jesus. Get to understand the authority that has been given to you and how completely Jesus dealt with all powers and authorities on the cross.

Three quick things to help arm you for your day. Three quick things to help you live triumphantly today. Three quick things to encourage you to live for the glory of God with no complaining and worrying. You are alive in Christ in a world of the living dead. You are not enslaved to a set of rules and laws but are govern by what God has written on your heart through the relationship you have with him. Nothing can touch you or cause you harm; nothing has any authority over you because you have the authority of Jesus Christ to put them to flight. Have a powerful day in Jesus!

Radical Christianity - Is There Any Other Kind?

There seems to be a real disconnect in this age of mass marketing Christianity as to what it means to "follow" Jesus Christ. Following Jesus is not a convenient thing. At times it is not even a pleasant thing but it is always a joyful thing that is marked by daily surrender. Unfortunately people do not understand this because much of our spiritual understanding is now mixed with the spiritual understanding of the world. We are so full of humanism now that we find ourselves agreeing when people quote "We are the masters of our own destiny".  The only sense that this can be true for anyone is that Jesus has given us a choice of our destiny but we are masters of nothing.

The prophet Jeremiah very simply confessed to God:

"I know , O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps." (Jeremiah 10:23)

If believers could understand this to be truth there would be a lot less anxiety, fear and worry in existence. Jesus spoke the only reality that we should understand as followers, the only option there is for us:

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24)

"In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:33)

"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?" (Luke 9:24-25)

I hear people talk about radical living and radical Christianity. Is there any other kind? If these quotes aren't clear enough then try this:

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. >>>>> FOR YOU DIED <<<<< and your life is not hidden in Christ." (Colossians 3:1-3)

The emphasis there is mine. But get what follows next:

"When Christ, >>>>> WHO IS YOUR LIFE <<<<< appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:4)

You can't be a follower of Jesus if he is only part of your life. Jesus has to be your life. He has to be the reason for you breathing, thinking, talking and doing. He has to be the very essence of life to you. We have to be able to say with Paul:

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

"I no longer live." Say that a few times and let the reality of it sink to the depth of you consciousness. There is no part time Christian or partial Christian or "I go to church" Christian. It is either all or nothing. And it isn't a sentiment. It is a radical change, a new birth, a death to self. That means everything we do must have purpose in Jesus, directed by Jesus. We do not get to control our life. We don't get to decide. It is as Jeremiah said: "A man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps."

What does this mean for you? A lot. But the exact details are only discovered as we live a daily surrendered life. We do a lot of things in our life every day that are still focused on us. It is habit. We have to ask the Spirit's help in breaking those habits. Our life is not our own, it belongs to Jesus and we must be living for his purpose. Examine your day and see what you do for your own gratification, what has nothing to do with Jesus whatsoever, how you are wasting this life you are suppose to be living in and through Jesus. Remember, you have been crucified with Jesus and the only life you have is the one Christ lives in you. To this world, the only Christian life there is is a radical one. Remember, you no longer live, it is Christ who lives in you.