Do you ever stop and think back on your life? Who are you? Where have you come from? Where are you going? What is your purpose? Do you have an answer for all of these, or any of them at all? Now if you are a child of God in Christ, consider what you’ve become by the grace of God, the blood of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit. What does it look like? Who are you? Really?
As I consider these things I realize that though I sometimes hold on to things that used to bring me enjoyment, my heart has been changed. Not only am I not who I was, but I am not who I would have been apart from Jesus. This is a very elementary statement, I know, but sometimes the most simple thoughts can be the ones that blow you away. In fact, I’ll share something I came across this afternoon that left me amazed.
“Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.” -1 Peter 1.10-12 (ESV)
“To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.” -Ephesians 3.8-12 (ESV)
We Christians, as messed up as we are, are being perfected by God’s grace. Not only that, but we are being used by God to teach the angels and demons God’s purpose for redemption. They don’t understand it! It’s not that we’re superior to angels, Hebrews tells us that when Jesus veiled his glory and became a human, he was (albeit only for a bit) made lower than the angels. The angels stand in the presence of God, worshipping him. Instead, we are pursued in a way that the angelic hosts are not. We are transformed and redeemed in a way that they are not.
All this to say if you are in Christ, you are not who you were. If you’re in Christ and are not living as a new creation, deal with your obedience issues and listen to what God said in His word. Does the Holy Spirit speak to us and guide us? Yes. Jesus promised that He would be with us always, even until the end of the age (that is his return in glory), but I know many brothers and sisters wait for God to tell them what to do when he already has in His Word, and the Holy Spirit will NEVER contradict the Bible since He wrote it.
God made us His family, He made you His child. And He loves His children.
Ancient Abandon 