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GOD’S WORD DAILY

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 127                                                             FEBRUARY 25 , 2002

     

JESUS CHRIST:
     The Foundation of Our Faith

     SIMPLICITY IN CHRIST!

 

     Our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is simple! It is not based
     the works of the flesh, but on what Jesus Christ accomplished FOR us,
     on our behalf. It is based in God's unconditional love and grace.

     Religion, on the other hand, makes our walk with God complicated,
     full of rules and regulations, designed to force the flesh to become
     worthy of God. However, we did not earn what we were given in Christ. It
     was a free gift.

 

     2 Corinthians 11:3, 4

          But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent
          beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your
          minds should be corrupted from the simplicity
          that is in Christ.

 

     Satan deceived Eve subtly. He changed the Word of God into a lie,
     twisting the truth. We need to be alert to the Word of God. We need
     to make it our own, in our own study of the Scriptures, so we can
     recognize truth vs. error. We do not want our minds corrupted,
     shriveled, destroyed or ruined from the simplicity we have in Christ.

     For example, legalistic rules and regulations can start out as an
     exhortation to live for Christ, and slowly change into man
     made laws. Our eyes off God and the Lord, focus shifts from the
     things above, to the flesh. In a very subtle manner, the godly desire to
     live for God may shift to perfect the flesh, and can become
     idolatry and too complicated to keep up.

     When we have our eyes on the flesh we will see imperfection
     and sin and nothing good. It will be a constant
     struggle. We will be continually frustrated, and eventually,
     ruined. Spiritually, we will shrivel, because we cannot change
     ourselves on our own strength. We can never perfect the flesh. That is why we
     needed a Savior to begin with!

     When I focus on the flesh, I will not be able to focus on God
     at the same time. I will be too distracted.

     Without depending on the Lord, we can never have
     lasting change anyway. Focus on who you are in Christ
     and you will change into the same image, from glory to
     glory, as God leads you to grow and put on the mind of Christ.

 

          4 For if he that cometh preacheth another
          Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if
          ye receive another spirit, which ye have
          not received, or another gospel, which ye
          have not accepted, ye might well bear
          with him. {with him: or, with me}

 

     The simplicity in Christ is by the grace of God. We do not have to
     perform perfectly to have God's love and salvation. He loves us
     unconditionally. Be alert to preaching that contradicts the simplicity
     we have in Christ. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
     We cannot focus on God and on the imperfection of our flesh at the same time.

 

     2 Corinthians 1:12

           For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our
          conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity,
          not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God,
          we have had our conversation in the world, and
          more abundantly to you-ward.

 

     Rejoice in the simplicity you have in Christ! We are who we are by the grace of God!
     It is by Him we live and move and have our being! We do not earn it by works.

     Therefore, let's be secure in God's love. When we receive
     God's love for our own, we will not fear what others think about us. We will neither
     condemn ourselves for mistakes nor belittle ourselves. Instead,
]      let's respond to God's unconditional love! If you fear what others think about
     you, or doubt your worth to God, I exhort you to confess several times a day in the
     mirror, "GOD LOVES ME AS I AM! I ACCEPT GOD'S LOVE!"

     I exhort you to give God all you are, and all you are not. You are OK!
     You are on your way to fulfilling His unique purpose for your life. As
     you seek Him and focus on the things of God, you will grow and change.
     You do not have to try to perfect your flesh all on your own! God will
     help you change. He will reveal to you in His timing what you need to
     grow unto next. Give yourself wholly to Him.

     Beware lest you be spoiled from the simplicity you have in Christ! Amen.

     -Carol Kenreigh

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