There is no greater mission the Holy Spirit has, in coming to live in us, that supersedes bringing us into a life of total conformity to the image of Christ.  His main task is to create in us a life that parallels the life of Christ. All that Christ is must become all that we are. What resides in him must reside in us. What is prevalent in him must become prevalent in us. When people get around us they should become aware of a heavenly presence; a presence that reflects his presence. In other words, what is living in us should become so evident through us that people we come in contact with are made acutely aware that something heavenly in invading their space! That is exactly what happened when Jesus crossed over the Sea of Galilee into the country of the Gadarenes. Mark chapter five says, "And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains....but when he saw Jesus afar out, he ran and worshipped him, and cried with a loud voice, and said, 'What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God: I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not'" (Mark 5:2, 3, 7). Obviously, there was something emanating from Jesus that invaded this man's surroundings. He felt inundated.  What was possessing him was being tormented by a heavenly presence that entered his terrority the moment Jesus touched foot upon the shore.

       What Jesus had within him is the same thing we have within us--the love of God. It is the key to the presence of God. Jesus didn't come to torment this man. He came to set him free. It was the demons in the man that were being tormented! Love is what carried Jesus across that sea in the first place. It was love that empowered him to reach out to one who was beyond human help. When love, God's love in us, possesses all that we are, then we will begin to walk upon a path that will take us to places where only God himself can bring healing and deliverance. Love, and love alone is what will enable you and me to go where only he can go, and do what only he can do. God spoke to Pastor Betty in a time of prayer and meditation, and said to her, "Faith can take you where no foe can go, and get you what no foe can withstand!"  As surely as that is true, it is also true that "faith works by love!"

       For me, I have come to the place where I have lived my natural life as much as I care to live it. All I want to do now is to live his life through me with whatever time that remains for me to live in this natural life. I have come to that place in my resolve where my life is to be lived for one purpose--that he may do whatever he chooses to do with this vessel.

       This is the essence of love. It is coming to that place in our commitment where we demand of ourselves total surrender, total obedience; total abandonment! It is where we decrease that he may increase. It is upon this endeavor that there will begin to arise a life within, so absolutely divine, that there will be no question as to what we are all about!

       It is important to understand that the purpose of God runs deep in the love of Christ, and when love becomes your ultimate attainment you will find such clear perspective in knowing how you are to live your life. Setting your heart to love as God loves is the true measuring rod to a surrendered life.  As deeply committed as you are to love determines your level of surrender to him.

        How committed are you to love? How much do you desire the Holy Spirit to take you over?  The moment you sense the presence of God beginning to wane you need to go no further in checking up on yourself than to look to love.  It is only in making love your ultimate attainment, that his presence in you will wax stronger and stronger until you begin to radiant the divine!*