Instantly, upon conversion from death in sin unto life in Christ, there is a dramatic shift in perspective. The ways of the world lose importance and the heart is revived with new desires for a new Master.
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. Ezekiel 36:26-27
The new heart of flesh is more aligned with God’s heart, and the burden for souls yearns strongly within, while the Spirit is so willing to inform everyone of the new birth.
The baby Christian quickly experiences the evil of the world to a new dimension as the evil one steals the new profound joy. Time progresses, and the believer matures with discernment and gains more time using the precious Sword of the Spirit. The healthy Christian’s burden for souls continues, and different ways to share Christ are attempted - while the precious hope remains the same. Hopefully, this continues to naturally reflect your heart’s desire after being Born Again and adopted by the Lord of lords.
In John 17, Jesus states that we are no longer of the world 3 times! This takes place in John 17:6, 14, and 20. As Jesus declared in His prayer to the heavenly Father, after being Born Again, we are forever changed. Our perspective drastically shifts, and the world’s ways become dim. Rather than being separated from God as we were in the past, we are not separated from the lost -to the point of living in 2 different worlds simultaneously, pilgrims in a foreign land.
The baby Christian quickly experiences the evil of the world to a new dimension as the evil one steals the new profound joy. Time progresses, and the believer matures with discernment and gains more time using the precious Sword of the Spirit. The healthy Christian’s burden for souls continues, and different ways to share Christ are attempted - while the precious hope remains the same. Hopefully, this continues to naturally reflect your heart’s desire after being Born Again and adopted by the Lord of lords.
In John 17, Jesus states that we are no longer of the world 3 times! This takes place in John 17:6, 14, and 20. As Jesus declared in His prayer to the heavenly Father, after being Born Again, we are forever changed. Our perspective drastically shifts, and the world’s ways become dim. Rather than being separated from God as we were in the past, we are not separated from the lost -to the point of living in 2 different worlds simultaneously, pilgrims in a foreign land.
As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. John 17:18
We’re sent to proclaim God’s love to this dark and dying world.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 1 Corinthians 2:12
Imagine a newly married couple and the love they share. Their lives have been drastically changed, and they’re constantly learning and understanding this new life together. Every time you converse with him/her, the love for their spouse is strongly evident based on your conversation.
Would a lost person be able to say this about your relationship with Jesus? To this day, is He still your everything?
The lost who around you are always watching. My prayer for you and me is that we have the boldness and faith to share what your gracious Father did for you this week. Endeavor to share your new world with them. He's changing our lives and desires to change theirs too.
Would a lost person be able to say this about your relationship with Jesus? To this day, is He still your everything?
The lost who around you are always watching. My prayer for you and me is that we have the boldness and faith to share what your gracious Father did for you this week. Endeavor to share your new world with them. He's changing our lives and desires to change theirs too.
...they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of His hands…Psalm 28:5a
The lost cannot see nor can they understand God’s ways. Certainly, He’s incomprehensible to everyone, but after the miracle of conversion, God’s working hand and small, still voice of guidance is presently experienced as often as we accept it.
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 2 Corinthians 3:5-6
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of god in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6-7
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16
It is our job to be the light and shine the light of God’s goodness into their lives. If we don’t share what God is doing personally in our lives, how will they know it is even possible?
Or desipest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?Romans 2:4
Shortly after my grandmother passed away, I discovered a gift of which I had never given her. My heart broke once again at the thought of missing the potential of causing yet 1 more smile from her by giving the gift. Every time I find myself in grief, God brings me such great comfort by reminding me of the love I showed her each time I shared the love of Christ with her before her sudden passing.
I challenge you to worship your Redeemer with your conversations: tithe with a blessing of God’s mighty hand in your life or a reason you thanked Him today- you might even be surprised by their response. And above all, He will be glorified.
I challenge you to worship your Redeemer with your conversations: tithe with a blessing of God’s mighty hand in your life or a reason you thanked Him today- you might even be surprised by their response. And above all, He will be glorified.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10
But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.Matthew 9:8
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24
Crystal grew up in the world but God used her back injury to draw her to Himself through the miracle of salvation. She was born again in 2016 and since then has possessed the yearning desire to learn more about His miraculous truths in His perfect Word. Oftentimes, she journals from her hammock near a stream and hopes to serve the Lord in a sailboat one day! In order to choose the title of her column, Crystal combined her heart’s desire with Proverbs 31:14, “She [the virtuous woman] is like the merchant’s ships; she bringeth her food from afar.”