~Margaret Bottome

What I really needed was the deep ocean of God's love, and the high mountains of his truth within me. His wisdom had depths and heights that neither the ocean nor the mountains could contain and that could not be compared with jewels, gold, or precious stones.

Eternally

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16

How long the years ahead of us seem, and how short the ones behind us. We think in terms of seconds, minutes, days, weeks, months, and years, no wonder it's so difficult to grasp the concept of living eternally.

All through the scriptures we are reminded that God is forever, not just forever in the future but forever in all that has come before. Genesis 1:1

So when God speaks to us of an eternal perspective, it seems beyond our comprehension. Fortunately, He does not require that we fully comprehend it before we accept it. We don't make facts true by believing them; they are true whether we believe them or not.

We don't wait for eternity to begin, eternity has no beginning, it was forever and will be forever. God had no beginning and has no end. Knowing Him is how we plug into eternity, the means by which we catch hold of something that has no beginning and promises that never end.

Knowing who you are in Christ is your connection to eternity.
Question for thought:
When you are struggling and it seems to go on endlessly, what thought patterns could you choose to change, not to minimize the problem, but to maximize your hope?

Being Different

"Do not conform any longer 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

"Don't Get Mad, Get Even," says the world system. "Grab all you can get; and do unto others before they can do it to you." "Take things into your own hands; watch your back; don't trust anyone."

The Christian culture is different. We order our lives and live them by the principles of God's Word. We answer our accusers with truth, not anger. We choose to live open handedly and generously. We choose to make lifelong commitments and to love those in our lives with unconditional love. We make decisions to trust, even though we may have had our trust violated. We select attitudes based on what Jesus teaches instead of what life hands us. This is not a legalistic or perfectionist way of life; it is one of freedom and love as we pursue every godly principle until it becomes natural and the norm for us.

Living counter to our culture is our assignment and our goal.

Question for thought:

How have you chafed against the world recently?

Life in a New Dimension

"And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you."

Romans 8:11

How do we navigate such stressful times? We begin by taking hold of several important truths:

1. God's life within us does not exempt us from the realities of this life, but adds a new dimension to it, as we saw in Romans 8:11
2. God's life within us does not mean we will not feel pain, but that we will have the strength to endure it and grow through it. (Isaiah 43:2)
3. In our Lord and Savior we find our identity when our reputation is damaged. (I John 3:1)
4. With Jesus by our side we answer our accusers. (Psalm 110:5)
5. Because of Jesus e are able to make sense of pain and struggle. Because of Him we have the strength to go on. (Psalm 9:11-12)
Living life in the new dimension means that we are no longer afraid to feel the pain of our struggles, and that we are confident of the strength to go on.

Question for thought:
What difference does life in a new dimension make in coping with everyday struggles?

"Papa, God"

"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.' "

Romans 8:15

When you and I received Jesus, we became His children: "To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God" (John 1:12-13).

Read: Hebrews 4:16, Ephesians 3:12 and 2 Corinthians 6:18.

I once lived apart from God, doomed to isolation and loneliness. But because of Jesus that has all changed. Now I am a child of God, part of His family, and I live in relationship with Him. Knowing who I am in Christ means that I must fully realize my relationship with my "Papa, God"; take advantage of the privilege of knowing Him; and find every excuse and reason for entering His presence as often as I can.

Question for thought:
If you were to climb up on God's lap and He were to tell you the story of how He loved you and found you, how would He begin?

Bought at a Price

"You are not your own; you were bought at a price."

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Jesus has come before God and all the universe to present you for adoption into His family. By accepting His redemptive work, your legal status has changed: You have become an heir! "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will to the prise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves" (Ephesians 1:4-6)

You were granted a changed status, both legally and spiritually, when you accepted Jesus Christ. As His heir, you now share all rights, privileges, and responsibilities with Jesus. You also bear some responsibility in fulfilling His purpose, and you are entrusted with stewardship over everything He places into you hands. As an heir, you can understand more abut His purpose, and you can grow in a more complete understanding of his will.
We are His children and He loves us.
Question for thought:
How does knowing your change in legal status help you to know who you are in Christ?

Remember This One?

~ENJOY