"The Heart of the Matter" pt.1

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not frustrate the Grace of God:

Galatians 2: 20 & 21a

"This Life we live"

We live in troubling times. The world we live in, is progressively, a less safe place. All around us, there are wars, rumors of wars, sickness, fear, political unrest, anarchy, and every sin imaginable. Sanctity of life, is just a passing thought, in this progressive moral decline in society, and the world. The killing of the unborn, trafficking,where people of all ages and genders, are just commodities to be used , and then disposed of. News reports of violence, in our streets, our workplaces and schools, grab headlines everyday. In 1 Peter 5:8, we are told the enemy, the Devil, goes about like a stalking lion, looking for someone to devour. It can certainly look overwhelming.

When the enemy comes in like a flood( a seemingly overwhelming event), the Spirit of the Lord shall raise up a standard against him. In this verse in Isaiah (59:19), this signifies God's response to the attack. the standard is a symbol, of rallying His people, of protection, and victory. It says God will intervene to defend His People, strengthen and guide them,in the face of adversity. Verse 20 says the Redeemer shall come to Zion. Jesus, our Redeemer, is the Standard. Our rallying point.

When we come to Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, that we are new creatures, old things are passed away, and all things are new, in Christ. We are no longer bound by the sin nature, we walk as children of the Light. A new direction, a new path. A new heart. In Psalm 51:10, David prays,"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." May that be the attitude of our lives, to humble ourselves before Him, and seek His Presence, and Will.

His Presence brings understanding and freedom, that helps us realize we are no longer to be controlled by the sin nature, and influenced by any source other than the Holy Spirit. The world system, the Devil, and our flesh, has no power over us. The world around us with all it's problems, the lies and attacks that the Enemy comes at us with, all the battles we fight with our own self, will not defeat us or deter us from following Him. That is exactly what he wants steal from us, kill and destroy in us,our Faith. To undermine the Foundation of our Faith, without which we cannot please God.

As the Holy Spirit lifts the Standard of Jesus, and we, His Church, rally around Him, we more fully grasp what today's scripture reminds us, we are crucified with Christ, as we live, He lives in us, by the Faith of the Son of God, Who loved us and Died for us, it's "This Life we live"