Transformed by Christ: Living for Him Who Died for Us

Transformed by Christ: Living for Him Who Died for Us

by | Feb 9, 2023 | Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

“Transformed by Christ: Living for Him Who Died for Us” emphasizes the power of faith in the finished work of the cross to transform our lives. In 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, it is written that “one died for all, and therefore all died, and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” This passage reminds us that Christ died for all, but not all will believe.

However, those who do believe in the death, burial, and resurrection (the gospel) of Jesus Christ are “those who live” forever with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:14-18). This faith transforms the way we live our lives, as Colossians 3:1-2 states, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

We no longer live for ourselves and the pleasures of the world, but instead, live for the One Who died for us, was buried, and rose again on the third day. Our focus shifts from earthly desires to heavenly things and our lives are forever transformed by our faith alone in Jesus Christ and the finished work of the cross.

 

Devotional:

Take a moment to reflect on the power of believing (faith) in Jesus Christ to transform your life. Seek the things which are above, where Christ is, and set your mind on heavenly things. Rest in what Jesus did on the cross for you, to save you, empower you, to fill you with joy unspeakable in the midst of this dark and uncertain world. Pray for a deeper understanding of the transformative power of faith in Jesus.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for the transformative power of faith in Jesus Christ and what He did by dying on the cross for me, shedding His blood in my place to pay the price of my sins. Then being buried and raised from the dead three days later victorious over death, sin, and Satan. So I too will be victorious over the same NOW in this life will on earth sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit, that one day either by death or rapture I will be with the Lord in glory forever. Amen.

 

A New Creation in Christ: Overcoming Fear and Embracing Hope

A New Creation in Christ: Overcoming Fear and Embracing Hope

by | Feb 6, 2023 | Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

 

As believers in Jesus Christ, we have been given a new identity, we are a new creation. The old, sin-natured, fear-filled version of ourselves has been replaced by a new creation, a person filled with hope and joy. Colossians 1:21-22 confirms this, stating, “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.”

 

It’s important to remember that our new identity in Christ is not based on our own accomplishments or abilities, but on what Jesus has done for us. We can overcome fear and embrace hope because of the work of reconciliation that Jesus accomplished on the cross (the gospel).

 

When we believed by faith alone in the finished work of the cross, our old Adamic Nature is nailed to the cross, our sins are forgiven and by a judicial act of God, we were justified or just as if we never sinned. Everything about our old self; all our hangups, failures, and fears are erased, and we are given a fresh start. We are no longer defined by our past but by the sacrifice of Jesus, who paid the penalty for our sins.

 

My Takeaway

I get comments all the time every day along the lines of “but I don’t feel like a new creation! I don’t feel like my life has changed! I still have the same old problems, I still have the same old hangups that I’ve always had, and NOTHING FEELS NEW TO ME!

My response is always the same; we are a new creation, the old has passed away and all things have become new because God said so. It comes down to faith. We have to believe what God has promised us. God doesn’t promise that our problems or pain will just disappear, on the contrary, almost immediately we will face doubting because the pressure from this cursed world will be applied 10 fold. The difference is, is that we now have God with us. God the Holy Spirit now indwells us and empowers us to overcome ALL the world throws our way.

The same power that raised Christ from the dead never to die again lives in you in the indwelling Holy Spirit. The same power that defeated death, sin, and the law dwells in you. The same power that defeated Satan lives in you. God the Holy Spirit lives in us and empowers us to make it through tough times because of what Christ did at the cross. 

God said it, I believe God, therefore, I AM A NEW CREATION, MY OLD SELF MY PAST IS GONE. Feelings have nothing to do with faith. It is our faith (faith, trust, and believe all mean the same thing) in what God says that gives us comfort, strength, and courage. When we put all our faith in the truth of God’s word, in other words, God says it and we believe it. In moments of fear and uncertainty, it’s crucial to immediately default back to the truth of who we are in Christ. When we do this, we will experience peace and strength that surpasses all understanding.

 

The Power of the Gospel unto salvation has made us a New Creation in Christ

 

Devotional:

Take some time to reflect on how the truth of 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Colossians 1:21-22 impacts your life. Thank God for making you a new creation in Christ and for restoring your relationship with Him. Ask the Lord to help you embrace your new identity and live in the freedom and hope that it brings.

 

 

This will Encourage You! Commit it “All” to the Lord: And Leave it with Him

This will Encourage You! Commit it “All” to the Lord: And Leave it with Him

by | Feb 5, 2023 | Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

God wants us to commit all our problems, cares, worries, pain, heartache, and difficulties to Him!

 

No doubt Christians are facing tremendous challenges and difficulties that can leave us feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about the future. But we are encouraged to trust in the Lord and to commit our ways to Him. Psalms 37:5 says, “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” This verse holds a powerful promise for those who believe and trust in God.

 

Committing your way to the Lord means you take your problems, concerns, and needs to Him and leave them there. It’s like putting a letter in a mailbox and trusting the Postal Service to take care of it. You don’t go home and worry about whether the letter will reach its destination or not. You simply drop it off and let it go.

 

The same goes for our concerns and needs. When we bring them to the Lord, we trust that He will take care of them and bring them to pass in His own time. We don’t hang onto them and worry, but we commit them to the Lord and let them go.

 

In 1 Peter 5:7, it says, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” This verse is emphatic that we as believers are to commit our ways to the Lord and leave our worries with Him.

 

Devotional:

Beloved, let us trust in the Lord and commit our ways to Him. When we face challenges and difficulties, let us bring them to Him in prayer and leave them there. Let us trust that He will take care of us and bring everything to pass in His own time. May we have the peace of knowing that the Lord cares for us and is always with us. Amen.

 

 

This is Our Battle Ground: Taking Down Spiritual Strongholds

This is Our Battle Ground: Taking Down Spiritual Strongholds

by | Feb 4, 2023 | Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

As believers, our fight is a spiritual one, not a physical one. And we can defeat the Satanic strongholds with God’s word. In 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, we are reminded that our weapons of warfare are not of the flesh, but are mighty in God for pulling down strongholds. These demonic strongholds are powerful and deceptive, but they can be defeated by the truth of God’s word.

 

The key to breaking down these strongholds is knowing God’s word. The only way we can know God’s word is by studying the Bible. As we read and meditate on the truth found in scripture, we become equipped with the tools we need to defeat the lies and deceptions of the world.

 

Ephesians 6:17 reminds us to “take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” This is a call to action for us as believers to arm ourselves with the truth found in God’s word so that we can stand firm against the schemes of the enemy.

 

Takeaway

Our daily battle is fought in the spiritual realm. The only way we can defeat the formidable spiritual strongholds empowered by Satan is by knowing God’s word. So, let us make it a priority to study the Bible daily, so that we may be equipped with the truth that will set us free.

 

Devotional:

Spend time in prayer, asking God to reveal His truth to you as you study His word. As you read the Bible, meditate on the verses above. Use these verses as a reminder of the truth when you face the lies and deceptions of the world.

 

 

What Happens When We Die? Understanding Our Eternal Destination

What Happens When We Die? Understanding Our Eternal Destination

by | Feb 3, 2023 | Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

Ever wondered about the fate of a believer after passing away? Amidst various opinions and theories, II Corinthians 5:1–8 in the Bible delivers a clear and definitive answer.

 

‘For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.’

II Corinthians 5:1-8

 

In this passage, Paul explains that we have a permanent, heavenly home waiting for us that is not made with human hands. Our current physical body is just a temporary tent, and when we die, we will be instantly transferred into God’s presence in soul and spirit. Although the exact state of our being at that moment is not revealed in Scripture, we know that we will eventually receive a new, eternal body. This new body will be fashioned like Jesus’ glorious body (Philippians 3:20–21) and will be changed in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet (I Corinthians 15:51–53).

 

Paul encourages us in Philippians 3:20–21 and I Thessalonians 4:13–18, reminding us that our ultimate destination is heaven and that we will be reunited with our loved ones who have passed away in Christ. He also assures us in I Corinthians 15:51–53 that we will not all sleep, but that we will all be changed.

 

‘For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.’

Philippians 3:20-21

‘Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ‘

I Corinthians 15:51-53

 

 

The Take Away

As believers, we can take comfort in knowing that our physical death is not the end but rather a transition into the eternal presence of God. So let us walk this life in faith, trusting in His word, and looking forward to the day when we will be changed and live with Him forever.

 

Devotional: “Do Not Fear Death”

Dear friend, as believers, we have the assurance of eternal life with God. Death may seem frightening, but it is only a temporary separation from our physical bodies. Let us not fear death, but rather embrace it as a transition into the presence of our Lord. Take comfort in knowing that one day you will be reunited with your loved ones and will live in eternal glory with God. Keep your focus on Jesus and the hope that is waiting for you. Trust in His love and faithfulness, and know that He will never leave or forsake you.

 

How to get to heaven? Believe the gospel. 

 

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