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His Consuming Fire
Ice will turn to water at a temperature just above zero degrees centigrade. We might consider the water to be consumed as it turns to stream at one hundred degrees centigrade. Wood must be heated to a much higher temperature before it's consumed and metal must be heated even more. How much heat is required to finally consume the works of our flesh and burn away all selfishness and pride?
Hebrews 12:28-29 "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire."
When we begin to understand the Kingdom which we've inherited through Christ, we dare not enter the sanctuary with anything but pure praise and worship. Whatever else we attempt to bring is born in our flesh with a spirit of pride. If we say: "Look at what I've brought You, my Lord," He will simply burn it to ash. We might protest: "But God, look at all I've done for You!" and the heat will be turned up until all we hold is consumed.
Is our greatest ambition to impact the world for Christ? Is our motivation to be significant in the eyes of God? Do we strive to become a major player in the advancement of the Kingdom? Beware! Although these sound good and pleasing to God, they have their foundation in pride and will be consumed.
We truly can bring Him NOTHING of worth except a pure heart. "All our righteous acts are like filthy rags," (Isaiah 64:6). Our greatest desire - our only desire - must be to praise and worship the King. All of our striving to be obedient and produce good works - all of our "Godly" motivation and ambition - must flow simply as a direct outpouring of our worship.
This is a daily challenge, one of the more subtle battles between the Spirit and the flesh. While we must strive, we must also remember that God does not need what we produce. True fruit which pleases our Heavenly Father comes only as we "remain in the vine," (John 15:4), and love Him with all our heart.
The same fire that will one day burn all our righteous acts can be used today to purify our heart. Let's come into His presence with total surrender. Let's worship with pure reverence and awe, and allow every selfish desire and every fiber of pride to be burned away in His consuming fire.
Have a Great Day!
Steve Troxel God's Daily Word Ministries
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In the last two messages, we've considered the importance of God's absolute truth. In the message "Did God Really Say" we saw the deception of the enemy in causing us to doubt God's Word.
And in "Boundary Line of Truth" we recognized our tendency to shift the truth to fit the desires of our flesh.
But discussions about absolute truth, as it relates to "rules" for Christian living, makes many of us uncomfortable.
Much of the Christian teaching we receive today is focused on the free gift of God; "For it is by grace you have been saved," (Ephesians 2:8), and this grace seems to be in conflict with the presence of rules.
Since our sins have already been forgiven, and "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," (Romans 8:1), how can we talk about rules or standards or expectations?
It is absolutely true that we are saved by grace and can do nothing to earn or improve upon our Salvation - we live under God's grace.
However, it's also perfectly clear in His Word that there's a standard of holiness we must strive to achieve. God's grace never gives permission for sin!
Romans 6:1-2
"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning to that grace may abound? By no means!"
As children of God, we now have complete freedom; "the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death," (Romans 8:2).
But the freedom we have been given is the freedom to claim victory over sin and live a pure and holy life; "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do," (1 Peter 1:15).
Many areas of a holy life are clearly defined in God's Word, but many areas are not.
Where God's Word is clear, we must also be clear and obedient; but where God's Word is silent, we should ask Him for direction and then live by grace.
An occasional drink (within the laws of the local government) is never mentioned as a sin. This must be an area of personal conviction and grace. But becoming drunk or having a drinking "problem" is clearly outside of God's will.
Physical affection between a man and woman is an area where we have liberty. But any form of sex, or even lust, outside of marriage is clearly not in line with a life of holiness.
Praise God that His forgiveness is big enough to cover any amount of sin.
Praise Him that we are now free to live a life which brings Him glory and honor. We began our Christian walk with a Spiritual birth;
let's continue to walk in the Spirit and strive toward a life of grace-filled holiness.
Have a Great Day!
Steve Troxel
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