"You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!" (James 2:19 NKJV)
I had a friend ask me last night, "If I am not a Christian, does Jesus live in me?" She does not consider herself to be one.
I said,"No Jesus is not in you, if you have not given yourself to Him!"
In further conversation it seems she had, at some point, made a declaration of faith, but now admits she hasn't prayed in a long while!
My response to her was, "If Jesus lives in you, would you be acting, thinking and doing the things you do?"
I went to church most of my life. Made professions of faith; backslid and then turned back to God, when things got rough.
I would again, try to live right, go to church, would get involved, would try to make a difference in my community; would even read my Bible, for a while! Then I would make a mistake; I'd fail; I'd commit a sin! Most of the times it would be a sin of the heart; (like unforgiveness, bitterness, or judging) sometimes a sin of the flesh! But I would hide it, stuffing it down inside me (like God couldn't see it!) instead of repenting of it! I'd just cover it up, and go on, listening to the enemy, who was all the while whispering, "you're all right!" "God understands!" "Your okay", "That is under the blood because you said some words!"!!! But, I could feel the difference! I could tell my heart was colder; when I'd commit a sin, I wasn't as bothered by it! By then, it would actually hurt to read my Bible, so I'd only read the stuff that made me feel better! Then I would stop reading altogether, until my life got so bad again, that I'd cry out to Him to save me once more!
So, when my friend asked me if Jesus was in her, it got me to thinking, "what is different in my life now"? I know there has been a major change in my life, and I believe most can see it!
I attribute the miracle that God has worked in me, to the teaching of obedience and continual repentance of sin!
Before it was okay to sin, "cause no one is perfect", and that's right, no one is! "All fall short"! And of course the perversion of "grace": "We have grace so it's okay, your sins, past, present, and future are under the blood" Yes, but only through repentance!
There was no importance placed, before, on holiness!
"because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (I Peter 1:16 NKJV)
No teaching of confession of sins!
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
(I John 1:9 NKJV)
No emphasis placed on forgiving!
"“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14, 15 NKJV)
These scriptures are all in The Bible (and even more!) and obedience expected! And purposing in my heart to be obedient, is why I'm different today!
I finally took seriously the scripture:
"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. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”" (Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV)
If you deal with the stuff your have stuffed down in your heart, clean it all out, (not just cover it up); if you truly repent, and forgive those who have hurt you and repent of all the judgments you have made of them; if you let God shine His light on all the sin you carry around in you, and then be obedient - to follow His commandments; He is quick to forgive and deliver you from the curse of The Law! Then He pours out His love for you, fills you up, so that it spills onto everyone!
If you fall in love with Him; make Him the principle purpose of your life, die to self; walk in repentance; then you WILL know if you have Jesus in you!
No question!
So worth it!
Wish I had "got it" sooner!
Never going back!!!!
Even so - MARANATHA!
From 4/25/14, 7/9/15, 10/3/16
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