Friday, February 28, 2014

Not The End Of The Story!


Nowadays, we hear so much in the news about keeping our bodies physically healthy.   There are so many products on the market that are being sold so that we can maintain our physical health.  We are also told that we need to have a balanced diet as well as a regular exercise program to stay healthy.  While this is all good advice, this is not the end of the story.

I think you would agree with me, that as Christians, we all want and need to be spiritually healthy.  Spiritual health brings a life filled with a deep abiding peace and joy no matter what our circumstances and allows us to live on obedience instead of our emotions.  Being physically healthy but not spiritually healthy will not bring a life that is filled with that deep abiding peace and joy.

But how do we become spiritually healthy?   Spiritual health begins with understanding who God is and who we are as His children.  That understanding can be found in God’s Word, The Bible.  As we read the Bible on a regular basis, we will discover some basic facts that will contribute to making us spiritually healthy if we embrace them and believe them with all our hearts.

Understand not only in your mind but in your heart that:

·         God Loves You!  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”  John 3:16-17

·        Spiritual health begins with repentance.  “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

·        Your sins have been forgiven so you do not need to suffer from guilt.  “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

·        God is able and willing to meet ALL your needs.  “And my God shall meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:19

·        You CAN do all things through Christ who gives you strength.  “I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength.”  Philippians 4:13

·        You have no reason to fear death.  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 6:23  “For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of love, power and a sound mind.”  II Timothy 1:7

·        Jesus has gone before you to prepare a place for you in heaven.  “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”  John 14:2

·        With Christ as your Savior, you do no need to suffer from condemnation.  “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  Romans 8:1

·        You are God’s child.  “The Spirit Himself testifies that we are God’s children.”  Romans 8:16

·        You have received God’s mark to testify that you belong to Him.  “When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.”  Ephesians 1:13

·        You are not on your own, the Holy Spirit will comfort, teach, guide, and give you power to live the Christian life and be a witness for Christ.  “But the comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things….”   John 14:26   “When He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth.”  John 16:13   “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  Acts 1:8

·        God will never leave you nor forsake you.   “Never will I leave you nor forsake you.  Hebrews 13:5

As we come to the end of the story by becoming spiritually healthy through embracing these Biblical truths, we will desire to worship God for who He is and what He has done for us, His children.   And thus we will understand that we are not worshiping God because He needs our worship, but that we are worshiping Him so that we are constantly reminded of who He is and what His divine attributes are.  As we become spiritually healthy, we will worship God because He is worthy of our worship. 

Just as the road to physical health is never ending, so our road to spiritual health is never ending.  Just as we need people in our lives to encourage us along the way to physical health, we need people in our lives to encourage us along the way to spiritual health.  As brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to encourage each other along the way, so that we can all be spiritually healthy and live that life of deep abiding peace and joy that God wants for us. 

It is my prayer today that you have been encouraged in your walk with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  If you would like to share a prayer request or would just like to chat, please feel free to call, text or send me an email. 

God Bless You Today and Every Day

As You Live For Christ!
 

Keep Going for Jesus!