Jesus Christ is my God!
Issued 24.06.2005
Unlived Life
You can live your life according to the mind of God or man. You cannot live the both at the same time. One or the other you remain unlived.
Two lives
A human life is so short that it would be worth stopping to think how you spend your time. Many don't think about it because it is natural for them that they live for themselves. However there exists another alternative. You can live your life for God.
We can only partly control the content of our life, because we cannot influence all the circumstances we face. However our desires and lusts direct our selections and lead us to the life we want. Seeking of glory, property and pleasures is life according to the human mind. Generally this kind of attitude towards life is considered natural and acceptable.
The world is full of evidence of how this life according to the human mind causes much evil. This devilish world is the sum of selfish dreams. Bad fruit of our sinful nature is seen and heard. Many consider these human mind-based thoughts as normal life, although its fruit proves to be satanic goings-on.
God became man in Jesus to show us how man can live his life for God and not for himself. Jesus died on the cross for us not only for gaining forgiveness to us, but also for gaining us power to live our life for God. Many want to own only a good conscience, but they don't want to change their life into the life according to the mind of God. Woe to them, they leave their life unlived!
Many have examined the unselfish, sacrificing and humble life of Jesus and have said to it, no thanks. They think they would leave their life unlived, if they lived in the way of Jesus. For those who have not tasted God's grace it is natural that they don't like the life of Jesus. Instead, it is terrible that many of them who have had a share of the grace of God have rejected the new life in Jesus.
A human life is so short that it would be worth stopping to think how you spend your time. Many don't think about it because it is natural for them that they live for themselves. However there exists another alternative. You can live your life for God.
We can only partly control the content of our life, because we cannot influence all the circumstances we face. However our desires and lusts direct our selections and lead us to the life we want. Seeking of glory, property and pleasures is life according to the human mind. Generally this kind of attitude towards life is considered natural and acceptable.
The world is full of evidence of how this life according to the human mind causes much evil. This devilish world is the sum of selfish dreams. Bad fruit of our sinful nature is seen and heard. Many consider these human mind-based thoughts as normal life, although its fruit proves to be satanic goings-on.
God became man in Jesus to show us how man can live his life for God and not for himself. Jesus died on the cross for us not only for gaining forgiveness to us, but also for gaining us power to live our life for God. Many want to own only a good conscience, but they don't want to change their life into the life according to the mind of God. Woe to them, they leave their life unlived!
Many have examined the unselfish, sacrificing and humble life of Jesus and have said to it, no thanks. They think they would leave their life unlived, if they lived in the way of Jesus. For those who have not tasted God's grace it is natural that they don't like the life of Jesus. Instead, it is terrible that many of them who have had a share of the grace of God have rejected the new life in Jesus.
In mind the things of God or men
When Jesus told to His disciples that "He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life" Mt.16:21 , Peter rebuked Him and said: "Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!" Mt.16:22
At that moment Jesus saw Satan in Peter, because He replied: "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Mt.16:23
The answer of Jesus is not only a word for Peter, but it is a prophecy about successors of Peter. It comes true in everybody, who believes in God according to the human mind. We notice that also today there is a crowd of people who rebukes Jesus in the name of God. And they themselves do not think to have in their mind the things of Satan, but of God.
This answer of Jesus applies to every believer, because we all have the same tendency to fall the way Peter did. Pope is a successor of the human minded Peter, but Peter turned away from his popehood and his heart was cut off of it. When he had denied Jesus and wept for his evilness, the truth of God slashed him away from the things about which Jesus had said, "you have in mind the things of men".
The following word of Peter proves that there was not a trace left of in which he earlier had rebuked Jesus. "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you." 1Pe.4:12-14
We get rid of the Christianity that is a stumbling-block to Jesus by allowing the Holy Spirit to circumcise our hearts.
When Jesus told to His disciples that "He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life" Mt.16:21 , Peter rebuked Him and said: "Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!" Mt.16:22
At that moment Jesus saw Satan in Peter, because He replied: "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Mt.16:23
The answer of Jesus is not only a word for Peter, but it is a prophecy about successors of Peter. It comes true in everybody, who believes in God according to the human mind. We notice that also today there is a crowd of people who rebukes Jesus in the name of God. And they themselves do not think to have in their mind the things of Satan, but of God.
This answer of Jesus applies to every believer, because we all have the same tendency to fall the way Peter did. Pope is a successor of the human minded Peter, but Peter turned away from his popehood and his heart was cut off of it. When he had denied Jesus and wept for his evilness, the truth of God slashed him away from the things about which Jesus had said, "you have in mind the things of men".
The following word of Peter proves that there was not a trace left of in which he earlier had rebuked Jesus. "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you." 1Pe.4:12-14
We get rid of the Christianity that is a stumbling-block to Jesus by allowing the Holy Spirit to circumcise our hearts.
Circumcision of heart
When people listen to God speaking it sounds so strange in their ears, because God's thoughts differ so much from their own thoughts. "To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are uncircumcised so that they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it." Jer.6:10 An ear, that has got used to listening to human thoughts, even refuses to listen to God speaking.
Some people think God's thoughts sound fine and they want to take them to their own use. Though they partly receive God's thoughts, they close their heart from God Himself. Because all the thoughts of God don't fit in with their own thoughts, they take only that part which is suitable for them. They are stiff-necked people, who believe they know things better than God. They interpret God's words according to the human mind. "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!" Ac.7:51
God promised to the Israeli that He Himself will circumcise hearts.
"The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live." De.30:6
The circumcision of the heart in the Holy Spirit makes one a Jew inwardly. "A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God." Ro.2:28-29
God carries out His promise about the heart operation in Jesus Christ. "You have been given fulness in Christ, who is the Head over every power and authority. In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ." Col.2:10-11
A circumcision of the heart can be done either by the Holy Spirit or by the letter of the Bible. However it should be done "by the Spirit, not by the written code".
When people listen to God speaking it sounds so strange in their ears, because God's thoughts differ so much from their own thoughts. "To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are uncircumcised so that they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it." Jer.6:10 An ear, that has got used to listening to human thoughts, even refuses to listen to God speaking.
Some people think God's thoughts sound fine and they want to take them to their own use. Though they partly receive God's thoughts, they close their heart from God Himself. Because all the thoughts of God don't fit in with their own thoughts, they take only that part which is suitable for them. They are stiff-necked people, who believe they know things better than God. They interpret God's words according to the human mind. "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!" Ac.7:51
God promised to the Israeli that He Himself will circumcise hearts.
"The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live." De.30:6
The circumcision of the heart in the Holy Spirit makes one a Jew inwardly. "A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God." Ro.2:28-29
God carries out His promise about the heart operation in Jesus Christ. "You have been given fulness in Christ, who is the Head over every power and authority. In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ." Col.2:10-11
A circumcision of the heart can be done either by the Holy Spirit or by the letter of the Bible. However it should be done "by the Spirit, not by the written code".
Hurting speech
When God comes near you with a sharp knife, you may think that He is going to injure you, although His purpose is to heal you. Many people complain about God's words which are hurting and insulting them. Only few people agree to the treatment of God! It is a question of confidence. We have confidence to give our body to a treatment of a doctor. Why then would we not give our heart to our Creator for healing?
"The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." Heb.4:12-13
Jesus was the first to experience the circumcision, which our hearts have to experience. It hurt Jesus and also you are not able to enter into new life without pain. No-one is an exception. This was made clear also to the mother of Jesus: "Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, His mother: 'This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too." Lu.2:34-35
Jesus is being opposed because He proves to us our evilness. It is answered back to Him because He says to us what we have done wrong. He is a rock, on which people fall and hurt themselves. For some He is a heavy stone that falls on them and crushes them. Jesus says about Himself: "Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to piece, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." Lu.20:18 Happy is the man who is not offended in Jesus!
When God comes near you with a sharp knife, you may think that He is going to injure you, although His purpose is to heal you. Many people complain about God's words which are hurting and insulting them. Only few people agree to the treatment of God! It is a question of confidence. We have confidence to give our body to a treatment of a doctor. Why then would we not give our heart to our Creator for healing?
"The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." Heb.4:12-13
Jesus was the first to experience the circumcision, which our hearts have to experience. It hurt Jesus and also you are not able to enter into new life without pain. No-one is an exception. This was made clear also to the mother of Jesus: "Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, His mother: 'This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too." Lu.2:34-35
Jesus is being opposed because He proves to us our evilness. It is answered back to Him because He says to us what we have done wrong. He is a rock, on which people fall and hurt themselves. For some He is a heavy stone that falls on them and crushes them. Jesus says about Himself: "Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to piece, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." Lu.20:18 Happy is the man who is not offended in Jesus!
Failed circumcision
Have you thought about what kind of people are those who are called dogs in the Bible? Jesus says that do not give that which is holy to the dogs and in Revelation it is said that the dogs are outside the city of God. Paul warns against the spiritual leaders whom he calls dogs.
"Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh." Php.3:2-3
The circumcision of the heart must be done "in the Spirit and not in the letter". The circumcision of Christ is "the putting off of the sinful nature". This means we put no confidence in ourselves, but in God. We don't boast about ourselves, but about Jesus Christ.
Why does Paul call them dogs and mutilated ones? They are faithful to their religious traditions in the same way a dog is faithful to its master. They are hungry like dogs when they seek glory for themselves with the help of a religion. God's word has hurt them, but not for their salvation. Therefore they are mutilated ones. When resisting God's will they were hurt inwardly. If they would humble themselves under the will of God, they would be healed by God. When they don't humble themselves they invent their own ways "to serve God". They believe they can compensate their disobedience with their self-imposed worship.
Sharp speaking is also heard when a conscience is bound to follow religious traditions. However do not submit yourself to be hurt by human authoritativeness. "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow." Col.2:16-19
They say to you that you cannot be saved, if you don't follow this or that religious habit. They try to cut off of you worldly habits and replace them with the habits of their religion. Dogs have faithful eyes, but do not allow them to bewitch you. They are not faithful to God, but to their church. They have not denied themselves, taken up their cross and followed Jesus, but they confess their own excellence and that of their church, and have yielded to their sinful nature and turned to follow Satan.
So beware of them who in the letter of the Bible serve God and boast about their orthodoxy. They don't worship God in the Holy Spirit, but in the holy letter. Notice that the opponents of Jesus were led by the Pharisees who were fundamentalists. They believed in the literal truth of the Bible. However among them there were vipers. Of course also the liberal Sadducees, who had given up almost everything, were judging Jesus together with the others, but the Pharisees, who were faithful to the Bible, organized the persecution. Maybe it is in the same way also today, when Jesus is persecuted in His own. The Pharisees and the Sadducees are only replaced by other names.
Have you thought about what kind of people are those who are called dogs in the Bible? Jesus says that do not give that which is holy to the dogs and in Revelation it is said that the dogs are outside the city of God. Paul warns against the spiritual leaders whom he calls dogs.
"Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh." Php.3:2-3
The circumcision of the heart must be done "in the Spirit and not in the letter". The circumcision of Christ is "the putting off of the sinful nature". This means we put no confidence in ourselves, but in God. We don't boast about ourselves, but about Jesus Christ.
Why does Paul call them dogs and mutilated ones? They are faithful to their religious traditions in the same way a dog is faithful to its master. They are hungry like dogs when they seek glory for themselves with the help of a religion. God's word has hurt them, but not for their salvation. Therefore they are mutilated ones. When resisting God's will they were hurt inwardly. If they would humble themselves under the will of God, they would be healed by God. When they don't humble themselves they invent their own ways "to serve God". They believe they can compensate their disobedience with their self-imposed worship.
Sharp speaking is also heard when a conscience is bound to follow religious traditions. However do not submit yourself to be hurt by human authoritativeness. "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow." Col.2:16-19
They say to you that you cannot be saved, if you don't follow this or that religious habit. They try to cut off of you worldly habits and replace them with the habits of their religion. Dogs have faithful eyes, but do not allow them to bewitch you. They are not faithful to God, but to their church. They have not denied themselves, taken up their cross and followed Jesus, but they confess their own excellence and that of their church, and have yielded to their sinful nature and turned to follow Satan.
So beware of them who in the letter of the Bible serve God and boast about their orthodoxy. They don't worship God in the Holy Spirit, but in the holy letter. Notice that the opponents of Jesus were led by the Pharisees who were fundamentalists. They believed in the literal truth of the Bible. However among them there were vipers. Of course also the liberal Sadducees, who had given up almost everything, were judging Jesus together with the others, but the Pharisees, who were faithful to the Bible, organized the persecution. Maybe it is in the same way also today, when Jesus is persecuted in His own. The Pharisees and the Sadducees are only replaced by other names.
Putting off the sinful nature
Who opens his heart for Jesus gets a new heart. Truly, God's gospel creates a new creation in our spirit. Starting from this moment there is a battle between the old and the new creation in the heart of a believer. This battle cannot be understood by an outsider who has not experienced it.
The words, that God uses when He circumcises our heart, vary depending on a person. Those words are like the three nails with which we can crucify our sinful nature. However Jesus defines the following common content for those words: "Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Mt.10:39
God slashes you with His word in the most sensitive place. His request touches what is dearest to you. What is that practical crisis that has come to your life for the sake of Jesus? In those troubles Jesus has said to you something, which has slashed your heart. Look at the sacrifice and sufferings of Jesus for you and agree to lose your life - for His sake. At that moment you will experience the baptism into Jesus.
Paul tells us about the circumcision of his own heart in this way: "For whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish." Php.3:8 Jewishness had been most precious to Paul. When he noticed how the religiousness of his sinful nature had deceived him and made him persecute God, it slashed his heart.
Why in the world are there so many newborn Christians, who don't follow Jesus in their practical life? Because their hearts are not circumcised, that is, they are not baptised into Jesus Christ. You understand that with baptism I don't here mean a ceremony of the baptism done with water. Many times this is true also in the texts of the Bible. It is spoken about baptism, but noting about water, and also the baptizing with water is not meant either. e.g: "For all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." Ga.3:27
Daily self denying means dissociating from the thoughts which are alien to God's life and rise to our consciousness from our sinful nature. I'll have to carry my sinful nature as long as I live in this body. Taking up his cross means yielding to the will of God. Jesus took His cross from His Father in Gethsemane and not from a Roman soldier later. Following Jesus means that we do God's will in our practical actions.
Our sinful nature is religious. It can interpret the Bible and pray. We must not make a mistake and honour it for that reason. We should discern what explanations come from our sinful nature which doesn't want to die. Sure, someone sentenced to death is good at interpreting the scriptures, because he wants to avoid his death penalty. So you don't intend to have mercy on your sinful nature, do you?
If Jesus is received through faith, also putting on Him happens through faith. Isn't it obvious that you were a little bit afraid of giving the throne of your heart to Jesus? However you believed and took the decisive step. In the same way you have to believe in your resurrection if you step into death together with Jesus. Sinful nature ought to remain unlived.
Who opens his heart for Jesus gets a new heart. Truly, God's gospel creates a new creation in our spirit. Starting from this moment there is a battle between the old and the new creation in the heart of a believer. This battle cannot be understood by an outsider who has not experienced it.
The words, that God uses when He circumcises our heart, vary depending on a person. Those words are like the three nails with which we can crucify our sinful nature. However Jesus defines the following common content for those words: "Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Mt.10:39
God slashes you with His word in the most sensitive place. His request touches what is dearest to you. What is that practical crisis that has come to your life for the sake of Jesus? In those troubles Jesus has said to you something, which has slashed your heart. Look at the sacrifice and sufferings of Jesus for you and agree to lose your life - for His sake. At that moment you will experience the baptism into Jesus.
Paul tells us about the circumcision of his own heart in this way: "For whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish." Php.3:8 Jewishness had been most precious to Paul. When he noticed how the religiousness of his sinful nature had deceived him and made him persecute God, it slashed his heart.
Why in the world are there so many newborn Christians, who don't follow Jesus in their practical life? Because their hearts are not circumcised, that is, they are not baptised into Jesus Christ. You understand that with baptism I don't here mean a ceremony of the baptism done with water. Many times this is true also in the texts of the Bible. It is spoken about baptism, but noting about water, and also the baptizing with water is not meant either. e.g: "For all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." Ga.3:27
Daily self denying means dissociating from the thoughts which are alien to God's life and rise to our consciousness from our sinful nature. I'll have to carry my sinful nature as long as I live in this body. Taking up his cross means yielding to the will of God. Jesus took His cross from His Father in Gethsemane and not from a Roman soldier later. Following Jesus means that we do God's will in our practical actions.
Our sinful nature is religious. It can interpret the Bible and pray. We must not make a mistake and honour it for that reason. We should discern what explanations come from our sinful nature which doesn't want to die. Sure, someone sentenced to death is good at interpreting the scriptures, because he wants to avoid his death penalty. So you don't intend to have mercy on your sinful nature, do you?
If Jesus is received through faith, also putting on Him happens through faith. Isn't it obvious that you were a little bit afraid of giving the throne of your heart to Jesus? However you believed and took the decisive step. In the same way you have to believe in your resurrection if you step into death together with Jesus. Sinful nature ought to remain unlived.
Life lived for God
Living for God doesn't mean doing something special for God like preaching or doing other similar things. It means normal daily life where everything is done according to the mind of God.
We are allowed to do everything for God, whatever we do. Jesus wants to live in us and work together with us in all our deeds. "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." Ga.2:20 Who lives in the faith of the Son of God trusts the care of the Father.
It is really sad, if a believer loses this God driven life. I suppose everybody would be interested in walking the path that God has prepared. The new creation in us does want to go along it. "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Eph.2:10
The things we seek, tell about what we live for. The person for whose sake we seek it tells about for whom we live. For the sake of the great sacrifice of God we are dead to ourselves. We are so satisfied with the grace of God that we seek nothing more for ourselves. Jesus is our Lord and for His sake we do our job as well as we can. For His sake we serve the welfare of our nearest ones. God takes good care of His own and gives us everything good we need.
God has planned our life from the viewpoint of eternity. Life in this body is only a short introduction to our real life at God's. This viewpoint also appears in our behaviour, if we are baptised into Jesus.
An outsider may consider life in the faith of Jesus inconsistent. A believer is a conscientious worker, but he doesn't talk big about his achievements, but proclaims the perishableness of his achievements. It must be like this to emphasize it being most important for whom we live, and not what we have achieved with our work. Jesus in us goes to work so that we would not depend on anybody's help and we would have something to share with those in need.
It is wrong to advertise the life of a believer by saying that it is an exciting adventure together with God. On the contrary the glamour of Jesus-life is just there that we can be satisfied with our circumstances among quite ordinary events. Our sinful nature demands from life thrilling events and luxury - however it is never satisfied. It is good to live with God! To share His grace is more than all exiting events and experiences. Although there would be nothing but a desert around us He is the garden with us.
Become estranged from religion, but do not become estranged from God's life! Don't be afraid of the sharpness of God's words, but let Him perform you the heart operation which will open into you a stream of life!
Living for God doesn't mean doing something special for God like preaching or doing other similar things. It means normal daily life where everything is done according to the mind of God.
We are allowed to do everything for God, whatever we do. Jesus wants to live in us and work together with us in all our deeds. "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." Ga.2:20 Who lives in the faith of the Son of God trusts the care of the Father.
It is really sad, if a believer loses this God driven life. I suppose everybody would be interested in walking the path that God has prepared. The new creation in us does want to go along it. "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Eph.2:10
The things we seek, tell about what we live for. The person for whose sake we seek it tells about for whom we live. For the sake of the great sacrifice of God we are dead to ourselves. We are so satisfied with the grace of God that we seek nothing more for ourselves. Jesus is our Lord and for His sake we do our job as well as we can. For His sake we serve the welfare of our nearest ones. God takes good care of His own and gives us everything good we need.
God has planned our life from the viewpoint of eternity. Life in this body is only a short introduction to our real life at God's. This viewpoint also appears in our behaviour, if we are baptised into Jesus.
An outsider may consider life in the faith of Jesus inconsistent. A believer is a conscientious worker, but he doesn't talk big about his achievements, but proclaims the perishableness of his achievements. It must be like this to emphasize it being most important for whom we live, and not what we have achieved with our work. Jesus in us goes to work so that we would not depend on anybody's help and we would have something to share with those in need.
It is wrong to advertise the life of a believer by saying that it is an exciting adventure together with God. On the contrary the glamour of Jesus-life is just there that we can be satisfied with our circumstances among quite ordinary events. Our sinful nature demands from life thrilling events and luxury - however it is never satisfied. It is good to live with God! To share His grace is more than all exiting events and experiences. Although there would be nothing but a desert around us He is the garden with us.
Become estranged from religion, but do not become estranged from God's life! Don't be afraid of the sharpness of God's words, but let Him perform you the heart operation which will open into you a stream of life!
The Bible version used in references is NIV