Tag: faith

Before the Cart

I am grateful for the provision Jesus has made for citizenship in the kingdom of God.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
John 14:1

Me: Good morning, Father!

Abba: Good morning, Jon!

Me: In English, the first word in John 14:1 implies that the state of my heart is under my control. Is that the intent?

Abba: It is, but I want you to understand more carefully, because you take the “Let not” as the primary instruction in the passage.

Μὴ (Not, lest) ταρασσέσθω (let be troubled, disturb, agitate) ὑμῶν (of you) ἡ (the) καρδία.(heart).

The first word has more depth than simple negation. If you take “let not” as a command, you are not wrong, exactly, but not seeing My full revelation. I do want you to have peace. The heart is where peace resides. Consider carefully the “lest” aspect of Μὴ. The sense is more explanatory. Jesus is saying, “Lest you be disturbed or agitated, you believe, in the Father and in Me.” The thing that is commanded, because of My loving desire for you, is the “believing”. The “letting” is taken care of in the “believing”, more accurately, in the object of your belief.  I Am precisely NOT saying, “Get control of your heart’s condition by some nebulous means, and that will help your believing”. Nor, “Get peace in your heart and belief in Jesus will come.” That would be “putting the cart before the horse”, so to speak.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27

Verse twenty-seven repeats verse one, in reverse order. Lest (See what I did there?) you miss the point, Jesus is making it clear that peace is in Him. Further, that He is giving it to “believers”. The “let not” language is exactly as in verse one: “I am giving you the same peace that is in Me lest your heart be troubled or afraid”.

So, the question is whether the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7) is the dominant state of your heart. If it is not, what unbelief is blocking the promise?

Me: Thank You Father! I love You!

Abba: You are welcome! I love you!

Graphic depicting some aspects related to the mind, heart, and spirit.

Cart image from Michael Porter, Pexels.com

Postscript – Given Over

Photo by Gabriele Brancati on Pexels.com

Postscript added to last post, instead of writing a new one. Seemed like it was better there than here. Praising Jesus for His guidance! He is the reason the truth is steadfast! – Jon

Given Over

I am grateful for revelation of God’s righteousness from faith to faith; that it is based on faith and delivered through faith, and not reliant on my performance!

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Romans 1

Me: Jesus, I read this morning of Susanne DeWitt who was arrested at age four sent to the Dachau concentration camp. As You know, she was speaking before the Berkly California City Council in favor of a Holocaust Remembrance Day proclamation. I was quite taken back to see how this eighty-nine-year-old survivor was subjected to vile name-calling and shouted down by demonstrators because she is a Jew.

Jesus: Yes, there are not many of those interred in the Nazi concentration camps left living now. The camp was opened by Heinrich Himmler in 1933, but incarceration of Jews dramatically increased in 1938. You can see from her age that she was sent there around 1938. Her family was swept up during Kristallnacht (Nov. 9-10). Fortunately for her, she did not stay at Dachau too long, but was deported to Poland with her family. Poland would not accept them and that started a long string of events for Susanne that if you knew the half of it, you would clearly see My hand in it. Of course, her defamers in the City Council meeting cared nothing for any of that. The trials she endured, her precarious survival, did not matter to them. Giving voice to their hatred was the singular thing.

Me: Reading Romans 1, I reckon we are seeing symptoms of the “reprobate mind”, all over now. Verse 28 says You “gave them over” to it because they “did not like to retain God in their knowledge”. I want to put knowledge in an extra set of quotes, how can all the things that go along with the reprobate mind be called knowledge?

Jesus: Do you see verses 19 and 20? I have shown the truth. But it has been rejected, in favor of various forms of self-will, right down to vile affections (v 26).

Me: That should reveal the truth to anyone looking, that You have given us free will. The last verses sum up in an amazing way what is going on every day. The Amplified version really makes the last verse stand out:

Though they are fully aware of God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them themselves but approve and applaud others who practice them.

Romans 1:32 Amp.

Jesus: I do hear the self-congratulatory applause. Please see verse 22.

Me: Thank You for letting me vent. I love You! I pray You will help me to respond to these situations with Your heart. I recognize that none of us stand except by your grace.

Jesus: You are welcome. I love you!

Post Script:

When I first started to write this post, I was making some assumptions that didn’t quite settle right in my spirit. When Jesus told me if knew the half of it, I would clearly see His hand in it, I was unwilling to publish until I tried to resolve that unrest. I believe Jesus led me to search for Susanne’s name in the Holocaust Museum archives. I mean, what were the chances? I skimmed the text of her oral history (The Bay Area Holocaust Oral History Project conducted the interview with Susanne DeWitt on May 26, 1990, linked above at her name) and corrected some wrong assumptions I had made. I love the way the Spirit is faithful to guide us into all the truth! (John 16) What a magnificent promise! He doesn’t always deliver things whole and finished, but He does certainly guide. On the afternoon of Resurrection Day, I watched the entirety of the interview with Susanne. It takes about 2:21 to watch. Though one can read the 88-page transcript faster than that, only reading misses the vocal inflections that are crucial to full communication.

I saw no evidence that Susanne had met Jesus personally, as yet. I pray she will. Still, the thing Jesus told me about seeing His hand in her circumstances could not be more striking. She and her family separately dodged many situations that brought millions of other Jews to their deaths. I don’t know the “why” behind these unusual circumstances, but I trust Jesus when He said His hand was in it. I can see how those who survived might struggle to deal with their own survival. I am reminded of the passages in scripture when the people picked up rocks to stone Jesus, and he walked away in the midst of His accusers. He was not done with His work, and stoning was not His foretold death. I cannot explain His grace, but it is marvelous to behold!

One of the things Susanne said in the interview is that she was attracted to the field of genetics to show that racism is baseless. What she sensed intuitively; we know from the Scriptures. We are all descended from Adam.

Exchange

I am Grateful for your provision and faultless faithfulness!

In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:

Isaiah 26:1-4

Me: Good afternoon, Father!

Abba: Good afternoon, Jon!

Me: Father, you suggested the verse, “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You”, as I was asking what you wanted me to meditate upon today. I love the promise of “perfect peace” in Isaiah 24, if we keep focusing on You. No, more than focusing. It says trusting, too. And not just temporarily, either! When I looked at the context of that promise, I saw that it was to Judah and was a picture of salvation to come. It even mentions that salvation is appointed by You and that it stands as a bulwark, as protection against the enemy. Isaiah said, “Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter”. But that made me think of what Jesus said to the rich young ruler:

And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

Luke 18:18-19, Mark 10:17-18

Say again how is it that Judah, and those who are being saved become known as a “righteous nation” and as keepers of the truth? When Jesus walked physically in Judea, He declared, “I Am the Truth”. Yet the so-called spiritual leadership of the nation goaded the people to cry aloud, “Crucify him!” before the Roman Judgement Seat, where they accused Him of heresy and sedition. (John 18:28 – 19:16)

Abba: Jesus did not grant the religious order or the Roman government power over the message He came to deliver (John 19:11).  As you see, the leaders were corrupt, serving their own interests, and the people were cowed into taking direction from them. The religious leaders had the power to put anyone out of the synagogue, which was the center of the community. The Romans exercised the power of capital punishment in such a way as to induce the most fear. Look at what this passage in Romans says of Abraham’s faith:

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Romans 4:3-5

This passage speaks of the belief My friend Abraham had in Me and of grace that Jesus has bestowed by His sacrifice of bearing your unrighteousness, again, to those who believe.

Exchange (by faith): His righteousness for your ungodliness.

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Galatians 2:16

Twice in the above verse, Paul speaks of the faith of Jesus and once of faith in Jesus. Faith is a gift (Ephesians 2:8, James 1:17), if you but agree to receive it.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

James 1:5-8

James speaks of problem of being double minded, as it relates to faith for receiving wisdom if one asks. This issue of double mindedness, though, applies to faith for anything you are doing according to My direction. I just said that you have to agree to receive the gift of faith. That plays out in steadfast trust in what I Am saying to you. It is the enemy of your souls who will plant doubt about what I Am saying. Go back and look at his exchange with Eve (Genesis 3:1-6). What did he do? He got her to doubt that she had understood what I said, even that I had her best interests at heart and was being deceptive. Talk about narcissistic projection! Mind games are his specialty.

18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18 (Romans 1:16)

Me: Thank You Father! I love You! Thank You for the awesome gifts You give! Thank You for linking all these scriptures together by Your Spirit. It seems the Gospel in a nutshell!

Abba: You are welcome! I love you!

Goings-on to the West (my image)

The Truth

I am grateful that You have sent the Holy Spirit guide us into all truth! (John 16:13)

Psalms 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

Psalms 119:99 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they [commandments] are ever with me.

Psalms 119:148 Mine eyes prevent [anticipate] the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.

Psalms 143:5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

Selected Psalms and Proverbs

Me: Good morning, Jesus!

Jesus: Good morning, Jon!

Me: Jesus, lately some have been allowed to raise the issue of attempts, by various forces and agencies (such as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Disinformation Governance Board), to control what is to be sanctioned as “truth”. I recognize the Disinformation Governance Board was officially disbanded in late August last year owing to the recognition that it was a huge political liability for the administration. Still, we have polling results that say more Americans were in favor of such controls in 2021 than they were in 2018. I don’t know it that would still hold today. It seems to me that truth is under Your purview for good reason.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:6

Jesus: That passage highlights that My words about coming to God are true, exclusive (the truth, but by Me), and reliable. If you back up to the beginning of the Gospel of John and the beginning of Genesis, I would like to make a further point about My word.

John 1:1-13, Genesis 1, Colossians 1:15-20, Romans 11:29

The entire creation with all its energy, intricacies, and connections came into being and is maintained in existence by the words of My mouth.

This desire in the heart of man to reserve judgment as to the truth has beguiled mankind from the beginning (Genesis 3), and its deception and consequence will persist unto the end (2 Peter 2). However, I uphold my word, and those who would know the truth may absolutely rely on My promises to help you set your heart on things above (Colossians 3:1).

As Jesus spoke these things, many believed in Him. So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:30-32

Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 5:17-20 and Matthew 24:35 tell you that nothing spoken by Me will pass away, for I Am watching over My word to preform it (Jeremiah 1:12).

Me: Thank You Jesus! I love You!

Jesus: You are welcome! I love you!

My graphic depicting some aspects related to the mind, heart, and spirit.

Postscript:
Referring to the graphic above, the function of meditation on the word of God (what is true) is the channel by which the mind is renewed under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This work has decidedly positive effects on the whole of the soul, improved emotional state, mastery of the will, a clear conscience, strengthened faith, and banished unbelief. A corrupt self-awareness comes into line with the true identity of the believer in Jesus.

Godly meditation is really nothing more than allowing the word of God to form an image in your mind, allowing you to “see” what God is saying to you by His word. It is by this process that we can be truly transformed.

Renewing Our Minds

I am grateful that our minds can be renewed.

2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will

Romans 12:2, NIV

Psalms 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psalms 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalms 57:7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.

Psalms 63:6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.    

Psalms 77:12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

Psalms 104:34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.

Me: Good morning, Father!

Abba: Good morning, Jon!

Me: How marvelous and powerful are these verses! They speak of delight, acceptance, strength, redemption, steadfastness, song, praise, memory, speech, sweetness, and gladness!

Abba: All those passages speak of benefits of engaging with what I have said (I Am saying). Among those references from the Psalms, only Psalms 57:7 does not explicitly mention meditation. Look at the context in which David said it.

Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah.

God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth. They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.

My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.

Psalms 57

David uttered these words as he was hiding in a cave from King Saul, who wanted him dead. He was reminding himself of My mercy and faithfulness and thereby fortifying his heart against fear and despair. David consistently sang directly to Me from the heart. He found that this process diminished the fears plaguing the rational mind and strengthened his faith in Me. I will do the same for all who will turn their hearts to Me.

Consider your own time, you have not personally gotten down to hiding in caves yet, but there are plenty of voices vilifying any who would dare to say there is objective truth of any kind. Much more are those maligned who assert that My word is truth and that it ought to guide one’s actions from the heart. The one who wants to renew his mind from the lies the enemy of your souls is sowing into the world will assess what he hears in light of My word. My truth will set you free.

Me: Thank you, Father! I love You! I have long found You faithful. I have seen even long held destructive beliefs have eventually crumbled under the truth of Your word and the enlightenment afforded by Your Holy Spirit. David may have been hiding from Saul’s jealous wrath in a cave, but he was consistently putting his trust in You. I Pray You will continue to help me lay aside every wrong idea that I may have adopted. Some You have already dealt with, grew out of attempting to explain why certain things didn’t align with my expectations of how things “should” be. Never mind, that almost without exception, those things that were troubling me were consequences of my own unbelieving heart and sinful actions. When Your truth prompted me to finally lay those expectations aside and put my trust in what You have said, my life was able to soar above things that had mired me down for years. I know that Your way is beyond compare.

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalms 139:23-24

Abba: You are welcome! I love you! I will continue speaking freeing truth to you as long as you keep seeking Me.

Graphic mine. Depicting some aspects related to the mind, heart, and spirit.

Combatting Darkness

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Joshua 1:8

Me: Good evening, Holy Spirit!

Holy Spirit: Good evening, Jon!

Me: I know we are not now under law, but under grace (Romans 6:14). But Jesus also said that none of the law would pass away while heaven and earth remain (Matthew 5:18). How does this injunction from Joshua 1:8 apply to believers?

Holy Spirit: The Word stands forever. Focusing on it, meditating on it, speaking it, observing (obeying) it, is key to transforming your mind:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Timothy 12-17

You see, aligning your heart and mind with My word, which reveals my perfect will, is not just about improving your own spiritual state, but is critical to equip you to be effective in the work I have called you to do. As the world system and its inhabitants accelerate into the dark abyss of corruption, it is upon those who will apply themselves to My Word to shed light where I have placed them.

Me: Thank You, Holy Spirit! I love You!

Holy Spirit: You are welcome! I love you!

Graphic depicting some aspects related to the mind, heart, and spirit.

Mysteries Revealed

I am grateful for revelation, Holy Spirit!

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

John 16:13

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 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. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:9-14

Me: Good morning, Holy Spirit!

Holy Spirit: Good morning, Jon!

Me: This work of Yours, “revealing the deep things of God”, is mysteriously awesome in that it is done completely in the open, yet reserved only for those who love and trust You enough to take what You say by faith over their five senses and human wisdom. And what mysteries! Things that would not even enter my mind, were it not revealed by You!

Holy Spirit: Faith implies you also must be fine with being considered foolish and hateful for believing what I Am telling you.

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

John 15:18-19

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6


Me: Thank You Holy Spirit! The name calling of the world is inconsequential compared to the glory of knowing You! I love You!

Holy Spirit! You are welcome! I love you!

Some melting this afternoon

Easy?

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

Me: Good afternoon, Jesus!

Jesus: Good afternoon, Jon!

Me: Tell me more about this passage?

Jesus: Let’s continue, shall we?

Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:29-30

Me: You have borne the weight of all the sins of all the world for all time. Or, should I say, “are bearing” instead of, “have borne”? How can you say, “My burden is light”?

Jesus: My burden is light for you if you are in the yoke with Me. I have, and I Am bearing the load. Do not miss the charge to learn of Me. The wisdom of the world is not like My Wisdom.

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

James 3:13-18

The wisdom of earth is based on the senses. Seeing is believing, the scientific method, and so forth. On the dark side, there is delusion, propaganda, lies and deception. These things masquerade as wisdom, when they are anything but. Examples go back to near the beginning.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Genesis 3:6

Note that Eve was deciding based on physical sight. The wisdom she was sold was a mirage. She already had access to the wisdom that is full of mercy. You can recognize wisdom that I give. It is first pure. No strife, no confusion, no conflicting accounts. When it comes from Me, it comes with a sense of peace, down in your spirit. Only don’t let fear lurking in the mind mask the peace I send to accompany wisdom from above. The rest of those characteristics listed in James 3 are important as well.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27

Me: Thank You Jesus! I am grateful for Your wisdom and Your Peace! I love You!

Jesus: You are welcome! I love you!

Photo by Alan Cabello on Pexels.com

Featured: Photo of yoked oxen by Sarau00ed Carrasco on Pexels.com

Transformation for a Purpose

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 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.

Romans 12:1-2 K JV

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Romans 12:1-2, The Message

The Lord was speaking to me about these verses as I was spending time with Him with my journal open earlier today, especially as it relates to the process of salvation if one recognizes the conceptual division of body, soul, and spirit. A blogging friend recently mentioned to me some thoughts she was developing along these lines. She put forth the notion that we are 100% saved, our whole being; body soul and spirit. I believe this is true. But, I would assert that it is true only in the ultimate sense because of the perfect faithfulness of God. I believe in the short term this process is more nuanced.

An earlier journal that I shared, Body, Heart, Soul and Spirit, might be useful in laying some background for what I am saying here. It has been a while since that post went live. In that writing, I highlighted the idea of our born-again spirits being “sealed” by the Holy Spirit in a protected state. I sincerely believe this is immediate at our acceptance of Christ as Savior, and irrevocable, except potentially by our own intention. (I cannot see God holding the unwilling convert hostage to his own profession of faith.) Even so, this brings to mind a passage that, it seems to me, is one of the most awesome reassurances in the Scripture.

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:31-39

If we consider the opening passage from Romans 12 followed these observations of Paul in Romans 8, I think we can say some strong things about the process of salvation of soul and body, once the spirit is redeemed. One thing we can observe is that our mind, will, and emotions (soul) are not immediately replaced at salvation. Romans 12:2 told us the mind had to be transformed and brought into subjection to the will of God. This involves some time and diligent work (2 Timothy 2:15). Most of us on this journey, on some honest introspection, can point to many wrong ideas that the Spirit, using the word of God, has faithfully relieved us of. In effect, we are participating in that process of “proving” or testing that the will of God is good and perfect by our life experience. We hope others will observe this positive change in us and want to know how to come along on the same trip.

A second observation is that Romans 12:1 talks about our bodies being presented as a living sacrifice. It seems to me that the Message translation has a lot to offer about recognizing that it is important what we do with our bodies. We are obviously commissioned to be ambassadors for Jesus while we are walking around (Matthew 28:16-20). We are better able to carry out that calling if we are behaving as good stewards of the bodies we have been given.

Further, Romans 8 has made it glaringly clear that these bodies are in peril of many kinds of danger and damage. I accept that these dangers are real, but I am in no wise fatalistic about them. David was in danger before Goliath, but he emerged victorious by the power of God. Nonetheless, we have just seen that even death cannot separate the believer from His love.

Never forget, Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). We are called to continue in His leading. For sure in our own lives, and upholding our brothers and sisters in the battle also. We are commanded to put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). No armor would be necessary if we were completely immune from the devil’s attacks.

A final thought. What of the one who dies soon after salvation? Would that person be stuck in an untransformed state of mind? I don’t think so. In 1 John 3:2 we find this:

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

I think the Spirit’s transforming work in our lives mostly serves the purpose of fitting us for the calling we have to carry out our commissioned work. It is not for the faint of heart. Walking around spiritually unprotected and unarmed by knowledge of the word of God (our sword, our one offensive weapon) is unwise.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

1 Peter 5:8