Someone needs to read this:
This week was my last week being the large group presenter to about sixty+ kids on Wednesday nights. After praying about what to teach, it was settled to talk about having a hard heart versus one that is moldable and chasing after Jesus. Then, this morning, before I even cracked the book of Zechariah open, my daily bible verse reading came from Romans 8:1-4. I posted those verses on my Instagram story and posed the question, “Are you living for sin/self or for The Spirit?” Also, for the past few months (okay…years, and especially this week) the conversation of religion vs. relationship has been prevalent. In today’s reading of Zechariah 7, the Lord tied a bow onto these topics. He combined the lesson, thoughts, and scripture reading together, presented it as a gift, and now we just need to receive it.
The short version:
- God wants to know if you are living and doing for Him or for self.
- Are you outwardly living for the Lord by doing church, saying a prayer, etc. because that is what you are to do…out of habit…head knowledge instead of heart? He asked, “Was it really for Me?”
- Living for and loving Jesus is about a relationship, NOT a religion. (BTW…I’m not religious, I am a Christian. Do you know the difference? It’s a question I often hear.)
- He tells us to judge fairly, show mercy and kindness to one another, don’t oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor, and do not scheme against each other.
- When we refuse to listen to God and stubbornly turn away from the Lord, our hearts harden. Stop being stubborn. Don’t have a hard heart.
- Jesus Christ makes you free from the law. Our freedom is found in Christ alone.
- God sent His Son. He declared an end to sin’s control.
- Follow the Spirit, not your sinful nature.
Who are you living for? I pray you will evaluate your actions, seek wholeheartedly if you are being rote with your “righteous” life or or truly living the holy life because you desire Him. What’s it going to be, live for self or for the Spirit?
God has The Greatest gift for you…Jesus Christ, His one and only Son. Receive Him today, and start living a life of freedom and for Him.
Blessings to you and yours,
Stephanie
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4
