July 18 – Discarding Rags for a Suit of Glory

 “For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.” -  2 Corinthians 5:4 (ESV)

Reflecting back to the promise verse three days ago, we considered what Paul the Apostle meant by “to die is gain.” In our world, we nearly always consider death to be a loss. Loss of life, family, loved ones…whatever is precious to us is lost to us when we die. Paul restates that he could hardly wait to be in his glorified body. Paul wrote about fixing his eyes “not on what is seen but on what is unseen” (2 Corinthians 4:18). Paul wanted the fullness, through the fulfillment of all that God had planned for him in eternal life, when we lose all that is earthly and human as we exit this world. He states this by making the allusion that the temporary decaying part of us being swallowed up by what is eternal life. We will have immortal imperishable spiritual bodies in heaven.  Perhaps a true loss for us happens when we prefer what we have now over what we will have been promised. Now, our life is poorly dressed with the rags of humiliation and hardship. Let’s focus on what we will be dressed in and not treasure our poor present state of being.

 

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May 6 – New and Eternal

“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 because of his Spirit who lives in you.” Romans 8:11 (NIV)

We know that when Jesus Christ rose from the dead it was a marvelous miracle. It was something that only God could do. It was the very action that give us new and eternal life. Our verse today reminds us that God's power is available to us even while we're living here on earth in our earthly bodies. Yes, God has made this power available to us through the Holy Spirit. The things that we could never do in our own strength we can do by His Holy Spirit power. So when we find it difficult to do God's will in specific instances we can trust in the indwelling Holy Spirit to enable us to do it. He who raised Christ from the dead assures us of this promise.

December 9

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 (NIV)

Although this message was given long ago to Old Testament people, it applies to us today, too. We notice that the Lord expects His followers to deal in a certain way with other people. He wants to act justly toward others and yet to be kind and merciful. That is in our relationship with others. And then our Lord wants us to have the proper attitude to Him. Those are precious words, are they not? “To walk humbly with your God.” He wants us to walk close to Him always and to do it humbly. He has shown us what is good so let’s follow His words today.