November 10 – A New Culture (Romans 12:9-13)

“Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”(Romans 12:9)

IN WORD:
A man went to live in a foreign country. He loved it. He wanted to apply for citizenship, and having no real ties to his former country, he began to live “like the natives.” He adopted the dress & habits of his new culture. He began to learn the language. He refused to eat food from his former diet and dined exclusively on the cuisine of his adopted homeland. He wanted no visual reminders of his past and embraced all the customs of his present and future. He established a new identity.
That’s what God tells us to do. We have left the kingdom of darkness and been adopted into the Kingdom of Light. We are to put off the clothing of the old nature and live in the Spirit of the new. We are conforming to a different culture and being shaped into a different nature. The old has passed away; all things have become new.
When Paul tells us to hate what is evil and cling to what is good, he is not giving us friendly advice. He is using graphic images to define our transition. We are to “turn in horror from wickedness” (v. 9, Amplified), loathing any semblance of ungodliness. The deeds of darkness are no longer appropriate in our new Kingdom; they do not fit into this culture. And then we are to cling to what is good — embrace it, desperately grab hold of it, never let it go. It is to be our obsession, of a sort. We are to pursue godliness with unbridled zeal.

IN DEED:
Few Christians make such a dramatic transition, but those who do can testify to the rest of us that it’s a greater blessing to make radical changes than to make slow, imperceptible ones. Sanctification is a lifelong process, but blessed are those who are on the fast track. They are quicker candidates for usefulness in the Kingdom, they are greater testimonies to the power of God, and they are less likely to fade away into the apostasy of lukewarmness. Real godliness is radical.
Are you in a spiritual rut? Hate what is evil and cling to what is good. Let sin horrify you, and embrace the culture of the Kingdom of blazing light. Total immersion is always the best way to fit in.

“He that sees the beauty of holiness . . . Sees the greatest and most important thing in the world.” -Jonathan Edwards-

November 9 – The Real Thing (Romans 12:9-13)

“Love must be sincere.”(Romans 12:9)

IN WORD:
We are called by Jesus to love one another. Love is the defining characteristic of the Christian community; Jesus called it His “new command” and said it would distinguish us as a good option; it was an order. Obedience requires that we love Him and that we love others.
Knowing that, we usually try to put on love — or at least the appearance of love. Even when we cultivate bitterness in our hearts toward another, we cultivate smiles and warmth on our faces. Our words and our inner feelings do not always match. We act loving because we know we are supposed to; but we do not feel loving. That’s a problem.
Which is genuine love? When Paul tells us to love each other sincerely, does he really expect our feelings to fall in line with our obedience? Is it acceptable to act loving rather than to be loving? It’s a start, but we can’t be content with that. Our feelings change slowly, especially when we’ve been offended or slighted. In such cases, we can at least act as we know we are supposed to act. But we cannot stop there. We must guard our hearts diligently. That is where all actions will eventually flow from. At some point, obedience must include sincerity. Otherwise, it doesn’t come close to the character of God.
Think about that. Does God love us reluctantly? Does He say: “You’ve sinned so much that I don’t have strong feelings for you, but according to My promise I’ll treat you lovingly”? Of course not. There is no internal contradiction in God’s attitudes. He is not superficial in the least. His love is real — the most authentic, genuine love there is. So must ours be.

IN DEED:
How can we get there? Genuine love is so hard, especially when we’re told to love our enemies! Fallen, sinful natures cannot fulfill that command. The answer must be supernatural.
Trust God to live His life in you. That’s what our life in the Holy Spirit is all about. Ask Him not to reform your character by giving you love, but to replace your character by giving you His. His love is utterly sincere. Ours must be as well.

“Has Gos commanded something? Then throw yourself back on God for the means to do what He has commanded.”
-Watchman Nee-

November 8 – Authentic Thoughts (Proverbs 15: 8-11)

“Death and destruction lie open before the Lord — how much more the hearts of men!”(Proverbs 15:11)

IN WORD:
If we want to get to that place of fearing the Lord — you know, the place where wisdom begins — then all we have to do is consider this: He knows everything! All of those exceedingly embarrassing thoughts — Hateful? Lustful? Twisted? All of the above? — are laid bare before Him. We are publicly stripped, the nakedness of our soul held right in front of his eyes — that burning, piercing, holy gaze. The bright spotlight of glory shines right on our most private places. Everything we were ever ashamed of is in His full view.
Our first reaction to that is shame. Just as Adam & Eve nervously covered themselves with fig leaves and hid from God’s presence, we push thoughts of His judgment to the back of our minds. “Surely we’re not that bad, are we? Everyone knows He’s lenient, right? Doesn’t grace give us a pretty big margin of error?” But all we’ve done is justify ourselves or compromise God in order to reconcile the two. Our fig leaves overestimate our righteousness or underestimate his holiness — or both. We just can’t face up to our shame.
But the penetrating gaze of God is gracious. Yes, our shame is, in fact, legitimate. And no, He doesn’t casually overlook our sins. We are entirely right to feel guilty. But we are invited to lay our guilt on Jesus, exchanging our rotten life for His perfect one. Oh, the mercy of the all-seeing God! He does not just look at us and shake His head in bewilderment. He deals with it all. He doesn’t give us a margin for our errors, He crucified his righteousness to pay for them. Everything He sees is accounted for. Everything! Which is really important for us to know, because there is nothing He doesn’t see.

IN DEED:
The one who understands God’s perfect, merciful vision is the one who will live sober-minded and aware of the gravity of a life in His view. Wisdom thrives in that life. There is no pretense there, only gratitude. The authentic life will never be casual again. And though completely laid bare, it will never have cause to be ashamed.

“He is nearer than our own soul, closer than our most secret thoughts.” -A.W. Tozer-

November 7 – Authentic Trust (Proverbs 15:8-11)

“Stern discipline awaits him who leaves the path; he who hates correction will die.”(Proverbs 15:10)

IN WORD:
It is hard for human nature to accept correction. We like to think that we were born in a pristine natural state, corrupted only over time under the influence of a rotten society. We want to be able to say, “This is just the way I am,” and consider it a good enough defense. But wisdom begins when we fear God and understand who He is. So wisdom begins when we acknowledge His intense interest in making things right in our lives.
That requires an immense amount of trust. When a Word from heaven speaks against our natural tendencies, we need a lot of faith to follow it. And God will grant it. He knows that those who are redeemed out of the human rebellion will be a little disoriented. He knows we may get confused over right and wrong. He understands that it takes time for our eyes to adjust to light and for our senses to discern the direction of the wind. So He speaks. In numerous pages, in red letters and black, in many kinds of fellowships, in the intricacies of our hearts, He speaks. We are not children of a silent God.
What are we to do when His voice is stern? Reject it because it confronts us with ourselves? Or follow it because we know where it will lead? One choice leads to death, the other to life. The voice of the Father is firm but loving. Blessed are those who can accept its firmness while discerning its love.

IN DEED:
All cultures of all ages have hated God’s correction. Ours is no exception. It takes a move of His Spirit to inspire genuine repentance anywhere in this world. But He has moved often. He does not leave us to our own devices unless we insist on them.
How much do you trust God’s voice? When He calls for a radical life change, can you accept it? When He points out a sin, can you resist being defensive? When He pits you against your culture, can you stand firm? Trust in God’s corrective Word is a powerful thing. It changes hearts and directs lives. It puts us on a straight path into His arms.

“It is in mercy and in measure that God chastises His children.”
-John Trapp-

November 6 – Authentic Living (Proverbs 15:8-11)

“The Lord detests the way of the wicked but he loves those who pursue righteousness.”(Proverbs 15:9)

IN WORD:
God has put order and design into creation. He has woven His own character into it. The winds of the world blow according to His plan. The currents of the sea flow in ordered cycles. The river of life gushes in one direction, and that direction is toward Him. Order, purpose, a plan. Our God is a God of righteousness.
That’s the problem with sin. It goes against the flow, drives against the wind, and swims against the currents. It does not recognize the character of the Compassionate in the details of the cosmos. It corrupts and obscures the knowledge of the Holy in the heartbeat of the world. The pulse of mankind races and staggers at ungodly rates and rhythms. Rebellion has violated the very character of creation, contradicted the very logic of the Logos. It is an affront to the foundation of wisdom on which this earth was laid. God detests it.
Our treacherous, treasonous departure from the order of His handiwork has no remedy apart from a completely new creation. So God spoke Jesus into a virgin’s womb and began a new order of things. The new creation was un-corruptible by sin and unconquerable by death. And the Spirit of the new creation is put into us by the simple act of believing it is true and relying on its worth.

IN DEED:
That’s why God loves those who pursue righteousness. They are demonstrating a love for the rhyme and reason by which all things are established. We cannot truly have such a love unless He gives it, but the re-creation always does. God puts within us a mind for wisdom, a heart for passion, and a spirit for the purity of His Kingdom. Our newborn instincts drive us right along with the winds and currents of His plan.
Do you struggle with stubborn disobedience? Let it go and flee into the heart of God. Go with His flow. Know Him and love Him. Let that knowledge and love shape you. God delights in such a pursuit. It fits Him perfectly.

“Wisdom requires a surrender, verging on the mystical, of a person to the glory of existence.” -Gerhard Von Rad-

November 5 – Authentic Worship (Proverbs 15:8-11)

“The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.”(Proverbs 15:8)

IN WORD:
Several Bible passages tell us that the fear of God is where wisdom begins (Proverbs 9:10). If we are to be truly wise, we must understand who He is. All of creation was based on His character. His heart is written into the fabric of every part of this universe, even if sin obscures it. Those who find understanding will be those who can recognize the imprint of God in the depths and design of creation. They will be ardent observers of the way He deals with humanity. They will take their cues from Him.
The proverbs point out numerous such cues. This one in 15:8, tells us something profound about our Creator. He desires the essence of worship more than its demonstration. In Old Testament times, the sacrifice would have most often been an animal or a grain offering. Today, it comes from our finances at one level and our time and talents at others. In any case, it’s not the gift that matters most. God already owns everything anyway. What really matters is the heart of the giver. Why? Because things do not honor God nearly as much as does a devoted, living being.
Why does God hate the sacrifice of the wicked? Because it is superficial. It is an attempt to brush Him off and get on with the self-life. It bears the appearance of devotion, but there is nothing of relationship in it — no love, no honor, no passion. That tells us volumes about the One who made us. He is no distant force, a cosmic “first cause” who observes from afar. He is deeply, intensely personal.

IN DEED:
Have you really considered the implications of that? It means that when you think He’s far off, He isn’t. It means that those deep longings in your heart — you know, the ones that leave agonizing, gaping holes when unfulfilled — are longings He wants to satisfy in the right way at the right time. It means that your soul is a place of warm communion, not cold solitude. It means that what you thought was too good to be true — His unconditional love and His enjoyment of your personality — is real.

“I beg You to come into my heart, for by inspiring it to long for You, You make it ready to receive You.” -St. Augustine-

November 4 – Authenticity (Galatians 6:1-5)

“Each one should test his own actions.”(Galatians 6:4)

IN WORD:
What is the measure of hypocrisy? Is it defined by acting contrary to your feelings? Is it pretending to be someone you’re not? We know that acting holy while harboring sin is hypocrisy. Is a born-again child of God who acts contrary to the new nature also a hypocrite?
Christians easily get drawn off the course of authentic faith. On the one hand, we can quickly become pretenders, acting outwardly according to biblical standards — while cultivating corruption within. We appear sanctified, but we’re not. On the other hand, we can become so open to our impulses and so transparent in our indulgences that we are authentic, but not very sanctified. It’s a confusing balance, and we need to ask questions: Is a holy life a hypocritical life? Is an authentic life an indulgent one?
We must find that balance. We must avoid hypocrisy but embrace the call to holiness. There’s a difference between pretending to be who you’re not and disciplining yourself to be who you ought to be. The hypocrite will fake holiness with no real commitment to it. But the authentic, sanctified person will embrace God’s call, seek to live it outwardly, and openly confess both the inward struggle to do so and the failures that will inevitably come. Purity does not have to imply pretense. In fact, if it’s real, it never will.

IN DEED:
Don’t fall for the lie that if you act contrary to your feelings, you’re a hypocrite. Truth isn’t always about feelings. If you struggle with sinful thoughts, confess them openly to trustworthy people and let them help you through your struggles. But do not indulge those struggles in the name of avoiding hypocrisy.
At the other extreme, do not be so focused on your image that you become inauthentic. Don’t pretend to be holier than you are. A truly consecrated life does not need to put on airs. It’s transformation is more than skin deep.

“Real holiness has a fragrance about it which is its own.”
-Father Andrew-

November 3 – Just Like Jesus (1 John 2:3-6)

“Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”
(1 John 2:6)

IN WORD:
It seems obvious, but somehow we miss this truth. We who claim salvation by faith in Jesus — that we are filled with the Holy Spirit of God and worship our Father in spirit and in truth — are often remarkably unlike our Savior.
What causes such incongruity in our lives? Do we want only the benefits of salvation without its responsibilities? Do we grab the “free gift” of grace while forgetting the cross-carrying side of discipleship? Whatever our reason, we are not alone. Every religion has adherents who claim to follow its precepts but are noticeably indifferent to them. Christians are adept at such games as well. We fool ourselves into thinking that agreement with the gospel equals living in it. But it doesn’t.
Perhaps as John wrote this sentence, he was recalling the sharp words of Jesus when He asked His disciples a penetrating question: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). John had seen crowds surround the miracle-working Jesus with admiration and even worship, and he had also seen them walk away when the teaching got tough. Are we only miracle seekers as well? Do we seek a salvation that doesn’t disrupt our lives? Do we claim to live in Him and yet not live like Him?

IN DEED:
First John was written to help believers know whether their faith was genuine or not. High on the list of indicators for authenticity is a consistent lifestyle. John tells us, in essence, that there is no such thing as an un-Christlike Christian. He acknowledges our imperfection and our need to confess, of course, but he never implies that we can claim saving faith without a serious regard for the way we live. We must be like Him. Students resemble their teachers. Servants resemble their masters. Children resemble their parents. And Christians resemble Christ. It’s a given.
Devote all diligence to this truth. The watching world is skeptical of the faith because it has seen un-Christlike “Christians.” God’s Word calls His witnesses to be like Him.

“A Christian’s life should be nothing but a visible representation of Christ.” -Thomas Brooks-

November 2 – Identity Gift (Galatians 2:19-20)

“I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”(Galatians 2:20)

IN WORD:
We can scarcely understand the blessing of the life of Jesus within us. We were not holy, but we don’t live anymore; He lives in us. We weren’t able to produce any fruit, but we’re dead branches; He’s the Vine — the whole vine. We couldn’t find a mountain in daylight, but we don’t have to look anymore; He led us straight to God. He fulfilled the Law for us, He paid the price for us, He died our death for us. And now, He is raised to life for us — and in us.
Christ in us: It’s like identity theft from the divine, but freely offered, not stolen. You’ve heard of criminals who steal ID numbers, write checks and apply for credit cards using someone else’s name. We’re as illegitimate in our use of Jesus’ name, except for one act of God: He took our place. We are in Him. We have His name. His ID number is the only one God recognizes, and He has given it to us. We’re in His family. It’s as if God said: “Here’s my Son’s identity. Use it. Live in it. You will never be prosecuted for it. It’s a gift. Mercy says it is yours.”
What a God. What a Savior. What a promise. We were bankrupt, and our credit with God was no good. We owed an un-payable debt to an infinite lender. And instead of making us work it off — which we could never have done — or punishing us for delinquency — which we could never have survived — He forgave it. Cancelled it. Just tore up the certificate, erased our names off of His books, and put the name of His Son in our place. You know that Son, the One with perfect credit and infinite resources. His identity is ours. Our checks will never bounce again, our charges will never be declined.

IN DEED:
Have you considered the implications of that? When you pray, you pray with the mouth of Jesus. When you learn, you learn with His mind. When you worship, you worship in His Spirit and in His truth. Consider your inadequacy dead and buried along with the rest of you. Jesus is our sufficiency. He is our life.

“The very essence of Christ’s deliverance is the substitution of Himself for us — His life for ours!” -Horatius Bonar-

November 1 – Jesus in This World (Galatians 2:19-20)

“I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”(Galatians 2:20)

IN WORD:
The enormity of this realization — that it is actually Jesus who is now our life — will never fully be understood. We just can’t fathom it. It is deeper than our finite minds will go. But we can know one thing for sure: The God who gave His Son’s life in exchange for ours has invested a priceless treasure in us. He does not want mediocre returns on His investment. And, when we really think about it, neither do we.
The life of Jesus in us will make us ill-adapted to live comfortably in the ways of the world. But the life of Jesus in us will make us entirely satisfied as misfits. We’ll prefer His kingdom over the corruption of a truth-impaired society. We’ll dream His dreams, pursue His plans. We must not bury the treasure of His life within an exterior of common humanity. We must become uncommon — still fully human, still an earthen vessel, but one with a priceless, eternal life within. We must forsake the self-life for the life of Jesus in our hearts. We crave that life, and God craves it for us. He first came to dwell among us; now He comes to dwell within us.

IN DEED:
Do you honestly want the power of Jesus to live in you? Be careful how you answer: His life was ultimately joyful, but also deeply painful. We must choose it, though. Pray this prayer today, and tomorrow, and the next day — until it becomes as natural as your breathing”
“My Lord, You have mercifully exchanged Jesus for me. I now walk in His identity, His power, His will, His resurrection and life. May I live worthy of that calling, praying His prayers, seeking His possessions, desiring His desires, dreaming His dreams, doing His work. I’m a fellow heir of Your Kingdom, and I don’t want to waste the privilege. Please give me Your wisdom. Please plant Your desires deep within me. Let me see Jesus’ miracles, His power, His compassion. Yes, I know I will also feel His cross. But I gladly will, if I can only experience His life. Please let me live as Jesus in this world. Please. Amen.”

“To be in Christ is the source of the Christian’s life.”
-Charles Hodge-