Colossians 3:1 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.”

Yesterday we were reminded of the great importance of spending time in the Word of God, and how when we spend time in the Word of God, we will indeed grow closer to the Lord! Today, we are reminded of another thing that we must NEVER forget in our walk with God and in reading the Word of God!

We must never forget the working of the Lord our God, the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is so very often, that people, even the Children of God, tend to forget the presence of God in their lives! Yet, as we are reminded today in the verse above, as we are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above . . . In other words, we who are in Christ and have become a new creation, need to be heaven-minded . . . Or rather, simply put, we need to not be so distracted by the things of this world, to where we loose sight of the Spiritual, the ETERNAL, things! Just as we are told in 2 Timothy 2:4 “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life: that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

As the verses after today’s verse says also, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Verses 2-3)

Yet in dealing with these verses, we have to be careful not to go to an extreme. I think people in general, tend to struggle with going from one extreme to the other, regarding all things and not just spiritual things. In this case, we must not go to one extreme of being so heavenly-minded that we ignore the things going on in the world and cannot be used by God very well. Then, again, we cannot become so worldly-minded either that we end up being carnally minded and lose sight of what’s important! The verses above, are mostly speaking of how we should not become so comfortable here on earth, with the things of this life . . . to where if God were to call us Home to Him, we’d tell Him we want to stay here longer and enjoy life here! Sadly, there are several Christians out there that have told me personally, how they hope the Lord doesn’t return, until they fulfill their dreams in life, or something like that. Sadly, there are so many more who show that same way of thinking, in their lives by the way they don’t seek the things of God, to see what HE wants instead of what they want. This is a major reason we must pray for the body of Christ!

Yet, with our thoughts on the things above, let’s look at a bit of a slightly different subject for today. Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

We are reminded in Philippians 2:13, how it is not our doing, when we do God’s Will, but rather it is God working IN US, to do His Will . . . even to WANT to do His Will! If we think about what we were shown yesterday, how that reading His Word will help us to have a zeal and passion for God, and help us to do His Word despite the struggle we may have in our lives to do it, we may become a bit focused on the us part, instead of on God. Yet, we have to remember that God is very much present in our lives, and it is His Enabling that causes us to do His Will! Again though, don’t go to the extreme of deciding that since God works in us to do His will, you can go ahead and sit back and relax, and wait for God to do everything. God works through us, by His Holy Spirit indwelling in us. And if someone decides not to do anything at all and not move because they’re waiting for God to do it (perhaps imagining God literally moving them), then what will happen is that person will in a way, quench the Spirit of God as warned against in 1 Thessalonians 4:19! So realize how the Holy Spirit works through us!

We are the body of Christ, correct? Many members, one body: Christ’s. Now think of how your physical body works! What happens if a member, your leg, decides not to move but rather stay in a position for a long time? That leg could lose the blood-flow to it, and fall asleep! Now . . . try to walk on that leg when it’s asleep! Almost impossible . . . Now, begin to move that leg again and the blood starts to flow to it again, then it doesn’t exactly feel nice at first either. It begins to tingle to an almost painful extent—until that blood flows to it normally as before.

Now, imagine again we are that leg in the Body of Christ. The blood could be considered the Holy Spirit, which must flow throughout every single member in the Body. If a member decides it’s not going to move but rather sits still for some time (decides not to seek working for God), the blood (Holy Spirit) will be hindered from flowing through that member. That member falls asleep and honestly becomes useless to the Body! Not only that, but that sleeping member hinders the rest of the Body from moving and working like it should! Then wake that member up, and it won’t be a bed of roses at first. It’ll be difficult to get back where they should be, but in order for that to happen, they must move and get that flow again! Now keep all that in mind . . .

The fact that it is the Lord who works through us to follow His Word and His Will, is an encouragement as well as a reminder to keep pride at bay. We can be encouraged to know that while we struggle, we have to put ourselves in God’s Hands! While we struggle to walk the way we should, remember that if you fall, don’t beat yourself up so badly . . . but rather get back up, and know that God will help you straighten out, and you are in good hands! This isn’t an excuse for sin of course, but rather a reminder that we cannot do it without God. So if you try to do things on your own, if you try to straighten yourself out, by yourself through your own will . . . you will fail! Rather seek the Lord every single day, spend time in His Word, Spend time in Prayer with Him . . . and keep walking!

Now, pull up the paragraph of the body, to your remembrance again. If that leg decides that it’s going to help the body out by moving somewhere or doing something . . . unless the head/mind (which is Christ) moves the leg, that leg won’t be able to do anything, will it? It’s the same with members of the Body of Christ, who forget that it is God who works through them. They either think they are self-sufficient and try to work their own will instead of God’s will . . . or they sincerely are trying to work, but are trying to go about it through their own will-power instead of relying on God to work and move through them or change them!

We have to really remind ourselves every moment of every day, of the Presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives! We are not walking through life with God in heaven looking down at us and listening to our prayers when we need help . . . Rather we are walking through life, with the Holy Spirit right inside us, working with us and through us! God is not just watching out for us . . . He is WITH US, IN US even, every single moment of every day. Where you go, He goes. What you do, He takes part in it (so be aware not to drag God with you to do things that shouldn’t be done)!

1 Corinthians 6:17 “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” This verse right here speaks volumes of the relationship the Lord has with us . . .

I continue to pray for all of you every day, and pray that God truly helps us to realize how very real and very present He is, in every moment of our lives—From waking up to waking up again the next day, when we are having fun, to when we are sorrowful. When we sin and when we stand—God is right with us in everything! I pray we never forget such truths! I love you with brotherly love, and May God Bless you greatly in all you do for Him, and hold you close to Him always! Have a very blessed day today in the Lord!

Love always in Christ,
Your friend forever,
And brother,
Michael

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Psalm 16:8 “I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”

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