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MORNING MEDITATION
Morning Meditation: "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over and through all and in all."- Ephesians 4:1-6
The Lord gave the rite of circumcision to His people Israel as a sign of their covenant relationship with the Lord. "You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between you and Me" (Genesis 17:11). The Lord promised them that He would restore them when they repented, turned from their wicked ways, and returned to Him with all their hearts. "The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants so that you may love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live" (Deuteronomy 30:6). He promised that a time would come when He would make a new covenant with His people; a covenant that would not be dependent upon an outward mark on the physical body, but would be sign of a greater spiritual reality "written on their hearts" (Jeremiah 31:33). "...circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code" (Romans 2:29a).
Circumcision was a sign that an individual stood in covenant relationship with God. But the true sign of belonging to God is not about surgery on the physical body, it is dependent upon the inner workings of the Holy Spirit - a surgery of the heart. "In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of man but with the circumcision done by Christ" (Colossians 2:11). We, who are in Christ, have had the flesh of our old nature "cut off," and have been joined with Christ to become one flesh; and united together as a new spiritual Body (Ephesians 5:31). This is the higher and holier marriage bond God purposed from the beginning: bringing believers into true spiritual union with Christ so that we would be united into one spiritual Body under one Head (Romans 12:5). "But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:17). Our body has been united with Christ through His Spirit, who is sanctifying and purifying us to become a sacred temple where He can dwell. Our body is no longer our own. We are part of a greater spiritual Body, so it is vital that we yield to the inner workings of the Spirit so we can keep the spirit of unity; honoring God with our bodies and keeping them pure and undefiled from the sins of immorality that seek to separate us from Him and unite us with the world. "The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By His power God raised the Lord from the dead, and He will raise us also" (1 Corinthians 6:13b, 14). The Lord gave us His Spirit to make us holy and set us apart from the world, but the desires of the flesh are always seeking to separate us from our union with Christ. Our bodies are holy to the Lord and we should not use them for anything that would dishonor the One whose body we are. May our Christian marriages reflect the purity and unity of our more perfect union with Jesus Christ, and provide a holy example of the marriage God intended to this corrupt and immoral world. Holy Spirit, it is beyond understanding how You have bowed Yourself to dwell in sinful man. May we ever be aware of the purity of Your presence, and daily bow to the holy workings of Your new life within so we can become a fit habitation for Your holiness, and bring glory to the Father with our lives. Thank You for Your powerful presence within. Amen.
"So I say, live by the Spirit,
and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit,
and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.
They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law."
(Galatians 5:16-18)
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AFTERNOON DEVOTION
Afternoon Devotion: "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." - Colossians 3:12-15
The Holy King extended the scepter of His kindness to an unholy and undeserving people, and invited them into His kingdom, not as servants, but as members of His family, welcoming them into His royal palace and seating them before Him as the guest of honor at His banqueting table. We have been saved because of God's kindness shown to us in Jesus Christ. We are a true "rags to riches" story, having experienced the "washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" and given royal garments of salvation and righteousness to wear. "And God raised us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:6-7).
We have been saved through the miracle of new birth; not because of anything we have done - it is the gift of God; and we ought to remember what a miracle of life we are and never forget what we were before we were saved. God in His grace has given us His spirit so that His spiritual graces might be perfected and performed through us. The Spirit was given to us, not to give us new powers, but rather new tendencies that guide us to new thoughts, desires, and affections. It is God's desire that the grace of His kindness that was first shown to us, we in turn, will now show to others. Christians ought to be the kindest people in the world because of the benefits of the kindness and love we have received from God. Lord, help us to not be critical of those who are unkind to us. May we not return evil for evil, but rather show them the kindness You have given to us, so they may one day also be reconciled to You and partake from the bountiful table of Your amazing grace. Holy Spirit, thank you for working Your grace in us, and help us not to resist or oppose Your work, but fully submit so we can become a beautiful temple in the Lord. Amen.
"But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done,
but because of His mercy.
He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,
so that, having been justified by His grace,
we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."
(Titus 3:4-7)
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EVENING PRAYER
Evening Prayer of Thanksgiving: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." - Colossians 3:16-17
Heavenly Father,
We praise Your Holy name
and thank You for the grace and love
You have shown to us through Your Son,
through whom, in Your loving kindness, You have chosen
to save us rather than destroy us as we deserve.
And we thank You for the presence of Your Holy Spirit,
who, by Your grace, Your glorious work has
begun within us to transform us into the
beautiful image of Jesus Christ.
May we give evidence to the world
of our perfect union with You
by walking in step with Your Holy Spirit
so we can live godly and holy lives
and glorify You with our Body.
May we also live our lives in gratitude
for the extraordinary grace and love You have shown to us,
and be willing to extend the same hand of kindness
to others You desire to invite to Your table.
Let us be filled with the Spirit and speak
to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual
songs. Singing and making music in our heart to the Lord,
and always giving thanks to God the Father for everything,
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
(Ephesians 5:18b, 19)
Devotional provided by Trumpet and Torch Ministries
Copyright © 2014. All Rights Reserved.
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