Devotion: In You or Through You?

God desires us to get to the point where He can use us.  Well how does that work?  Good question, first He does a work in you;

Philippians 2:13 KJV  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.


Now there is a continual work of God in you which is part of the sanctification process - that is the perfecting of the saints.  It is not a process of fixing you but of transforming you;
Romans 12:2 KJV  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.


When we get to the point where we know what is good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God, then He is able to work through us to benefit others.  The sad reality is most christians in America don't know the difference between what the world calls good and what God does?  Think I am wrong - lets take a test, one question; Are you a good person?

If you are an christian and said "Yes", I submit you don't know what God calls good?  Not to get to wordy but let me do a little follow up.  Most people are familiar with the Ten Commandments - God's Standard for living.  Let me ask;
1.  Have you ever told a lie?  It is a simple yes or no, if you are trying to make excuses already - don't bother.

2.  Have you ever took anything that didn't belong to you and monetary value is not significant.  In other words it could have been a pen or paper clip from work.

3.  Have you ever committed adultery?  Now before most of you breathe a sigh of relief, Jesus said if you look upon a women (or man) with lust in your heart you have committed adultery therein.

4.  Have you ever committed murder?  Alright, I'm ok with this one - Jesus said if you had unjust hate (anger) towards another you have committed murder?  God's Law is very strict.

If you were honest, you are a lying, thieving, adulteress murderer at heart?  OUCH!!!  On the day of judgement will you be found guilty or innocent?  If you said innocent because God is love - you don't really know Him.  He is a Just God and you have broken four of His Ten Commandments.  Because God is just he must find you guilty or He wouldn't be Just.  The GOOD NEWS is that Jesus left Heaven to be born of a virgin, suffered and was crucified and died to pay the debt of my guilt.  He rose again on the third  day and ascended to Heaven to be seated at the right hand of the Father so that all who call upon His name and put their trust in Him will be saved.


The problem is many of you (synonymous with us - me too) never get to the point that the work God is doing in us is so that He can work through us and we can effectively represent Him and His message to others so the can be reconciled to Him;

2 Corinthians 5:20 NKJV  Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.


Remember; you don't go to church (christian) to find Jesus.  You brought Him! because He is in you wanting to work through you.

Blessings
ernie