PASSIONAustralia.blog

Romans 7:6 NLT – But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

This verse reminds us of two great truths.

1. As Christians we are released from the law because in Christ we are dead to it.
2. Now we are free to serve God by living by the Spirit and following His promptings.

Some people try to earn their way to God by keeping a set of rules. Things like trying to obey the Ten Commandments, attending church each week, or trying to do good deeds in their own strength. However, all they earn for their “good deeds” is frustration and discouragement because they can never do any of those things perfectly.

The Bible tells us that Christ’s sacrifice has opened the way to God. We become his children simply by putting our faith and trust in Him and what He has done for us. We no longer have to try to reach God by keeping rules through our own efforts.

When we let the Holy Spirit turn our eyes away from our own efforts and toward Jesus, we are free to serve him out of love and gratitude. This is “living in the Spirit” in our every day lives.

Let us purpose in our hearts today to not live by a set of rules, but let the Spirit guide and lead us in to the things He wants us to do today.

Prayer

Dear God, please help me not to live in the power of the flesh, but in the power of the Holy Spirit. I don’t want to do things in my own strength and wisdom, but in the strength and wisdom from the Spirit. Help me to serve Jesus in love and gratitude today. In Jesus name, Amen.

In Acts chapter 17 the Apostle Paul preaches to the people in Athens. He was trying to explain the “unknown God” to the educated people there.

In verses 23 and 24 he talks about the world and how it came into being. It says…

[24] “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, [25] and human hands can’t serve his needs-for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.

In this passage we see five keys things about God and His creation.

1. God made the world and everything in it.
2. He is the Lord of heaven and earth.
3. We can’t serve Him personally as He has no needs.
4. He gave life to everything.
5. He satisfies every need.

These are five key things about how we got here and why we are alive. Paul then goes on to tell us why God did what He did. Verse 27 says…

[27] “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him-though he is not far from any one of us.

Paul told the people of Athens that God created the world and His purpose was for us to come to know Him. God’s goal has always been a personal relationship with us all.

This is why He created the world. Why He created humans. Why He sent prophets in the Old Testament. Why Jesus came to live amongst us. And why the Holy Spirit is active in the world today.

God loves you and I and He wants to be a part of our lives. He is always reaching out to us. Will you reach out to Him today?

The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness (Exodus 34:6).

In Roman and Greek mythology the gods were easily angered. It is the same with most ancient religions. Often the people lived in fear and had to offer daily sacrifices to appease their gods.

But our God, the God of the Bible and the Creator of the Universe, is slow to anger and abounding in love. He is also compassionate, faithful and gracious. We are told this time and time again in the Bible.

We are also told that we become His adopted children when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. This means He is for us, He is on our side and we don’t have to live in fear any more. We are completely accepted.

Prayer

Thank You God that as Your adpoted children we do not have to live in fear. Help us to remember that You are compassionate, gracious, slow to anger and always abounding in love towards us. Amen

1 Peter 5:10 NLT – In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

When we are suffering, we often feel as though our pain will never end. In this verse the Apostle Peter gave these faithful Christians a more eternal perspective. When we compare our current suffering with eternity, our suffering lasts “a little while.” Some of Peter’s original readers would be strengthened and delivered in their own lifetimes. Others would be released from their suffering when they died. All of God’s faithful followers are assured of an eternal life with Christ, where there will be no suffering. Revelation 21:4 echoes this when it says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

Prayer

Dear God, I thank You that suffering does not last forever. I thank You for the promise that those who suffer will be strengthen and delivered. I also thank You that there will be a time when there will be no more death, sorrow, crying or pain. Amen