Beginning Sunday, our Pastor is beginning a new series, Either-Or. During that series, he will be addressing a very important aspect of the Christian life: either we are living in obedience to God’s word or we are not. As I have planned for and anticipated this series, I noticed that several of our recent devotions have spoken very clearly to Either-Or.
One of the most confronting scriptures in the Bible is Luke 12:34: For Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The devotional on June 28 in Experiencing God Day by Day spoke to this scripture. The author’s conclusion was that we can determine where our treasure is by examining where we spend our available time and money. As I consider my heart, I ask myself these questions: What do I think about most? Would my family and friends say that it is obvious that my heart and treasure are found in God, in Jesus? I can see that I fall short. There are areas that still need to surrender before I can truly can say that my actions reflect the devotion and heart of one who completely treasures the One who has made me, sustains me, guides me, sacrifices for me, ministers to me, and empowers me.
Why does the heart resist surrendering to Biblical instruction? The devotion of July 3 in Experiencing God Day by Day deals with that question. The devotion is entitled, Strongholds. Strongholds are places of sin that have not been surrendered to the forgiving, transforming power of the Holy Spirit living within us. This is a great devotional which again confronts the reality of our faith in practice. Either we have surrendered those strongholds or we have not. Please take a moment to read that devotion.
God wants our complete devotion and obedience. We do, and we will fail Him. However, our God is loving and forgiving. We, though, must be responsible to acknowledge and deal with our sin. He has given us the power of the Holy Spirit to do so! He desires to be our treasure.
Benny Stofer
Worship Pastor
1 comment:
What a great blog! Strongholds can be toppled. In order to do this we MUST cast away ALL idols, seek God earnesly, and pray for his grace to get us through the difficult times of going without (whatever that may be that we thought our idol provided).
We must seek the greater things Christ has to offer us. We will find real fulfillment in that place.
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