November 16, 2024

Living A New Life

May 13, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

I have been crucified with Christ
and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
The life I now live in the body,
I live by faith in the Son of God,
Who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20 NIV

Paul had such passion and understanding for the Word of God.  He allowed God to use him in whatever way he was needed.  Jesus knew the character of Paul.  He knew that if he called upon Paul to serve, Paul would be ready.

Due to Paul’s early training as a Pharisee, he was well-versed in the Scriptures.  He would have been knowledgeable of the prophecies about Jesus’ coming and about the Law.

Paul would have known about Jesus’ teachings and been a witness to many of them in Jerusalem.  Because Paul would have been so immersed in the teachings of the Law, there would not had been room for the Holy Spirit.  When Paul was visited by Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul was given a gift—he was given a second chance to win others to Jesus, the only way to God.

Paul was freed from the Law.  He was freed from the rules the Pharisees had created for the Jewish people to follow, making the burden impossible for everyone to come close to God.  With Paul’s conversion and baptism, he could speak to the Jews and the Gentiles with authority and eloquence.  He learned about faith.  He learned about Jesus’ love for everyone, not just the Jewish people but also for the Gentiles.

I am glad Jesus recruited Paul for the Gentiles.  He is a great example of what Christ did for you and me.  He sacrificed for us His life to give us the gospel.

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Father, thank You for the people You have recruited to spread the Gospel.  Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to create for us a way into Your Kingdom.  We thank You for the Jewish people who have made it possible for us to know You.  Help us have the courage of Peter, Paul, and the others to share the good news of Jesus.  Let us be bold to stand for what is right.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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So Wait…Who Am I Then?

May 12, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

 

 My old self has been crucified with Christ.
It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.
So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God,
Who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20 NLT

Galatians 2:20 says that our old selves have been crucified with Christ. When I first got saved all I knew was that the darkness that once consumed my mind was gone.  For the first time I had hope and the now believable notion that my life really did have a purpose.

My initial conversation with the God was a slap in the face.  I accused God of not caring anything about me and not doing anything for me. His response was, “Why should I care about what you have going on, when you don’t care about what I have going on?”  This was an eye-opener for me.  (I am not saying that God did not care what I had going on, but I see things better when I’m not focused on myself.)  The truth is God has always cared about me, and what I do, and how I am.  I am the one who cared nothing for Him and what He had going on.  He was pointing out that we had a one-sided relationship—His side.

Somewhere along the line, I began to hate God and was determined that He was against me.  I approached God with the notion that He was my enemy and not my friend.  And, yes, some part of me knew different or else I wouldn’t have bothered at all.  Months later, after laying some Scriptural foundation, He tugged at my heart again.  He wanted my life.  He wanted me to live for Him not just with Him.  He invited me to a deeper relationship to explore Him and learn His ways.

I feel He did this to prepare me to help others like I had been.  One of the first things I had to learn to do was die to myself.  This is something that has to be done daily.  I hesitated.  If I was to let go of who I had always been, then who would I be?  How could I be me and not be me at the same time?  To me this seemed impossible. God was going to change me into someone different, someone I didn’t know. And the last thing I wanted to do was give up my uniqueness.  It took some time, but God showed me that he did not want to eliminate me…He was proud of creating me.  What he wanted was to improve me. When you improve something, the original is there, but its been made better and that was God’s plan. The angry Ahmee would be kinder, gentler Ahmee. All the while my uniqueness is still present just more Christ-like.

I was then who the world made and influenced me to be.  I am now who my Father says I am.  Each day I am growing and changing to be more like the person God intended me to be.  All the while I am and will always be the only Ahmee He ever has made or will make.  Why not be the best version of me?

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DYING WITH CHRIST

May 11, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live,
but Christ lives in me.
The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,
Who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

In this Scripture I hear Paul telling us that those who have faith in Christ live their lives in intimate relationship with their Lord—both in His death and Resurrection.  As Christians we have died to the Law as a means of salvation and now live through Christ for God.  Sin no longer has control over us.

Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world,
why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules?
Colossian 2:20

As Christ was risen from the dead we also now live with Him in Resurrection life.  Christ and His Strength lives within us becoming the Source of all life and the center of all our thoughts, our words, and our deeds.  It is through the Holy Spirit that Christ’s risen life is  continually communicated to us.

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:3

Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with Him,
we will also live with Him;
2 Timothy 2:11

Our sharing in Christ’s Resurrection is appropriated through faith.  The confident belief, the love, the devotion, and the loyalty we have in the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us (John 3:16).

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Lord, we thank You, we bless You for Your grace and lovingkindness.  We bless You because You are a good God, who loved us unconditionally and let Christ die for us Whose death paid the highest price of our sins.  His death gave us salvation which is the biggest testimony every Christian believer has.  We thank You for this price—the greatest price ever paid—for mankind.  We honor You for everything, Lord.  Help us, Lord, to appreciate this love for us by loving You back, Lord.  For as we love You, we cannot do anything that You do not want us to do but always we strive to please You.  We pray for Your grace so that we can be in an intimate relationship with You always and obey Your commands.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Crucified With Christ

May 10, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

My old self has been crucified with Christ.
It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.
So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God,
Who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20

When I look back on what I thought was living
I’m amazed at the price I choose to pay
And to think I ignored what really mattered
‘Cause I thought the sacrifice would be too great

But when I finally reached the point of giving in
I found the cross was calling even then
And even though it took dying to survive
I’ve never felt so much alive

For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live
Not I but Christ that lives within me
His Cross will never ask for more than I can give
For it’s not my strength but His, there’s no greater sacrifice
For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live

As I hear the Savior call for daily dying
I will bow beneath the weight of Calvary
Let my hands surrender to His piercing purpose
That holds me to the Cross yet sets me free

I will glory in the power of the Cross
The things I thought were gain I count as loss
And with His suffering I identify
And by His resurrection power, I am alive

And I will offer all I have so that His Cross is not in vain
For I found to live is Christ and to die is truly gain

Phillips, Craig, and Dean
written by Randy and Denise Phillips, Don Koch, Dave Clark

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This Week…Colossians 3:1-3

May 8, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ,
set your sights on the realities of heaven,
where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:1-3

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

This week, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, our sisters have reminded us again and again of these truths.  Here are a few highlights from the devotionals that Tina, Cynda, and Ahmee wrote earlier this week.

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In Why?, Cynda shared a couple of questions…

“If we have died and our life is hidden with Christ then

Why do I need to keep seeking Him?
How long must I continue to seek Him?

The second question was a little easier to answer than the first.

Hosea 10:12 (HCSB) says: It is time to seek the Lord until He comes and sends righteousness on you like the rain.
1 Chronicles 16:11 (NKJV) tells us: Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!
Psalm 105:4 (HCSB) states: Search for the Lord and for His strength; seek His face always.

But WHY?

Scripture tells us:

  • If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.  2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV
  • As long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him.  2 Chronicles 26:5 NASB
  • …that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a straight and right way…  Ezra 8:21 AMP
  • Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.  Psalm 69:32 NLT
  • Seek Me that you may live…  Amos 5:4 NASB
  • Seek the Lord that you may live…  Amos 5:6 NASB

I don’t know about you but, for me,
that is reason enough to continually seek Christ!

❦

In Taking Our Thoughts Captive, Tina issued a challenge…

We look at what others have and say: “Why can’t I have that?”  “Why do they get to go on those great trips all the time?” “I want a car like that!” God knows what we desire.  He hears, He sees, and He wants to bless us.  But where the correct thinking should be is where are we storing up our treasures?  These things we desire will corrode, tarnish, wear out, or we will forget them.

This week, ask God to show you how you can honor Him.  Listen and watch for those moments where you and God will be lifted up and you will be amazed at the blessings you may have been missing.  Today, find your quiet time and reflect on the words in the verses above.  Ask God where you can make changes in your thoughts and actions to glorify Him.

❦

In In The Middle: It’s Called Balance, Ahmee shared an excellent perspective…

“Verse 1 of this passage tells us to ‘…set our sights on the realities of heaven…’.  I agree with this statement (it is in the Bible, after all, and it is not wise to argue with the Bible).  However, I also believe in balance.  Although the reality of heaven is very real, we are not to be blind to that which is going on around us.  If we did this, a countless number of souls would be lost because everyone would be solely concerned with the afterlife.

I believe what this verse is saying is that we need to live our lives with heaven in mind; but not to ignore our earthly life now and live in a dream world.

Colossians 3:3 says, “…your real life is hidden with Christ in God.”  Let us live for our God.  Let us point people towards Him. Let us remind each other and comfort each other discerningly with the very real reality of heaven.”

Be productive for God…always point people to the Father.
And remember that heaven isn’t all that far away.

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Taking Our Thoughts Captive

May 6, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above,
where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth.
For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God.
Colossians 3:1-3 HCSB 

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

As the world goes, we should be different.  We may look the same on the outside, our hair, our makeup, our clothes. But from our heart we should have such a different light that shines forth from us.  Our inner light, our inner contentment should be so shining that others are intrigued.  The way we react and love each other should be with a different slant, a better example of what God has for us.  

We all know this is not easy.  We look at what others have and say: “Why can’t I have that?”  “Why do they get to go on those great trips all the time?” “I want a car like that!” God knows what we desire.  He hears, He sees, and He wants to bless us.  But where the correct thinking should be is where are we storing up our treasures?  These things we desire will corrode, tarnish, wear out, or we will forget them. 

If we have been given the gift of teaching, we should use this to further His love by showing kindness, encouraging kindness in our students. If our gifting is in the corporate world, we are to be sure to practice what Jesus demonstrated in the Temple and to always honor God in all of our business dealings.  We are to be fair and honest, not seeking to get the best deal for ourselves, but the best for our customer. 

This week, ask God to show you how you can honor Him.  Listen and watch for those moments where you and God will be lifted up and you will be amazed at the blessings you may have been missing.  Today, find your quiet time and reflect on the words in the verses above.  Ask God where you can make changes in your thoughts and actions to glorify Him. 

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Father, today I thank You for Your Word that would remind us of right thinking and actions.  Today, I repent of the wrong thoughts I have had.  Forgive me for coveting what others have.  Forgive me for focusing on things here on earth that are of the world.  Begin in me a new heart, one that seeks after You and Your ways.  The one that will bring much fruit into Your Kingdom.  Thank You for the many chances we have to serve You. In Jesus’ name, I pray and ask these things, amen!!!

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Why?

May 5, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ,
Keep seeking the things above,
Where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set your mind on the things above,
Not on the things that are on earth.
For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:1-3

In the Bible, we are repeatedly instructed to seek the Kingdom of God, to seek Christ, and to seek His face.  As I was reading the above passage a couple of questions came to mind.

If we have died and our life is hidden with Christ then

Why do I need to keep seeking Him?
How long must I continue to seek Him?

The second question was a little easier to answer than the first.  Hosea 10:12 (HCSB) says:

It is time to seek the Lord until He comes
and sends righteousness on you like the rain.

1 Chronicles 16:11 (NKJV) tells us:

Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!

And Psalm 105:4 (HCSB) states:

Search for the Lord and for His strength; seek His face always.

Seeking God must be extremely important if we are to do it ‘until He comes’, ‘evermore’, and ‘always’.  To seek is to aspire to, desire, or be passionate about something.  We are to aspire to be like Christ and be passionate in doing so.  Psalm 63:1 says we are to earnestly and eagerly seek God, to thirst and long for Him.

But WHY?

Scripture tells us:

  • If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.  2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV
  • As long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him.  2 Chronicles 26:5 NASB
  • …that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a straight and right way…  Ezra 8:21 AMP
  • Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.  Psalm 69:32 NLT
  • Seek Me that you may live…  Amos 5:4 NASB
  • Seek the Lord that you may live…  Amos 5:6 NASB

Matthew 6:33 and Luke 12:31(NKJV) states that those who “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness,…ALL these things shall be added to you.”  And Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) reminds us that “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

I don’t know about you but, for me,
that is reason enough to continually seek Christ!

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Father, thank You for repeatedly reminding us to seek You.  I don’t want to miss out on any of the blessings You have stored up for me simply because I chose not to seek You.  While I don’t always understand, I choose to put my trust in You alone.  You are in control and You see the bigger picture.  Only You can lead me on the right path.  Thank You for being patient with me.  In Your Holy Name I pray, Amen – It is so!

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In the Middle: It’s Called Balance

May 4, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ,
set your sights on the realities of heaven,
where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:1-3

Verse 1 of this passage tells us to “…set our sights on the realities of heaven…”  I agree with this statement (it is in the Bible, after all, and it is not wise to argue with the Bible).  However, I also believe in balance.  Although the reality of heaven is very real, we are not to be blind to that which is going on around us.  If we did this, a countless number of souls would be lost because everyone would be solely concerned with the afterlife.

I believe what this verse is saying is that we need to live our lives with heaven in mind; but not to ignore our earthly life now and live in a dream world.  Nobody ever said, “I’m running low on gas in my car…oh well, that’s an ‘earthly’ thing. I don’t need to be concerned with that.”  The facts are as facts are: if you don’t stop to get gas, you will run out.

No, we don’t need to worry about things in our lives because God will provide for us in all situation.  However being practical is not the same thing as “worrying or being concerned with.”  Jesus felt that it was important enough to come to Earth and help people. He came and walked among the people of earth.  He did good deeds and performed miracles.  And we should do as He did.

Colossians 3:3 says, “…your real life is hidden with Christ in God.”  Let us live for our God.  Let us point people towards Him. Let us remind each other and comfort each other discerningly with the very real reality of heaven.  Sometimes, we can get so overwhelmed with life and forget that all that we strive for here will pass away.  In these moments—when we are so immersed in our earthly doings—we need each other to remind us that what we have here on earth is not all that we have.  Matthew 6:19-20 says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” We live with our ultimate goal in mind, but we don’t simply stop being productive.

Be productive for God…always point people to the Father.
And remember that heaven isn’t all that far away.

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My Life Is In You, Lord

May 3, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ,
keep seeking the things above, where Christ is,
seated at the right hand of God.
Set your mind on the things above,
not on the things that are on earth.
For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:1-3 NASB

I will praise You with all of my life
I will praise You with all of my strength
With all of my life
With all of my strength
All of my hope is in You

My life is in You, Lord
My strength is in You, Lord
My hope is in You, Lord
In You it’s in You

Daniel Gardner, Singer/Songwriter

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This Week…1 John 4:4

May 2, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him]
and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist],
because He who lives in you
is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:4 AMP

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

This week, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, our sisters have been encouraging us with this Truth.     Here are a few highlights from the devotionals that Tina, Laura, Cynda, and Ahmee wrote earlier this week.

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In Success, Cynda did a Biblical word search on ‘success’ and shared a number of verses with us.  She wrote of a common struggle we have:

“All of us want success.  Yet so many times we get bogged down and frustrated.  Why?  We forget to let God lead.  We forget He is always with us.  We forget He is greater than anything we could come up against.”

(And then reminded us of the truth:)

“Who brings about our success? God
Why? Because we seek His guidance and leadership
How? Because God is Greater than he who is in the world”

❦

In Who You Are, Ahmee shared some things that have been happening in her life and the struggles she has been going through.  She shared some good encouragement about what we choose to believe about ourselves.

“Be mindful of the spoken words you choose to believe about yourself. John 8:44 says that the devil is ‘the father of lies’.  The people we encounter may not be of the devil or demons, but their words can be used to plant seeds that Satan will use against us.  Anything time you choose to believe words spoken about yourself, first test it against the Word of God.  God has the final say about who you are, because He made you.  God is greater than Satan.  He will always be greater than Satan. Therefore, His Word is always going to be greater than anything Satan could have to say about us.  Test the words you hear, against the Almighty’s words. ”

❦

In Living In Us, Tina  shared a very good question:

“How to be in the world but not of the world.  We strive everyday to live in a fallen world…surrounded by hate, mistrust, deception, malice, negative thoughts, and backbiting.  We are guilty of it no matter how hard we may try to remove ourselves from it.

The question is, how do we live in the world but not of the world ?
By inviting the Holy Spirit to live in us.”

❦

In Weapons of God, Laura shared an experience and how it reminded her of Who is living in her and how that protects us.

“This past weekend I had the joy of enjoying the Priscilla Shirer simulcast…her topic was on the armor of God.

God is greater than all in the world.  He is greater than man and greater than all disasters and sin on the earth.  It is hard to protect ourselves from the world.  Yet, when we accept God we are from God. He sends us to spread His message, and we must be prepared.  The armor of God is a set of weapons that we can use to protect ourselves with and be part of the one who is greater than us.”

 

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