Romans 8:2 -- Holy Inheritance

Are we living in our inheritance?

 

Do we believe in a Grace that is amazing enough to change "a sinner" (someone belonging exclusively to the devil) into "a saint" (someone who belongs exclusively to The Lord)?

 

Romans 8:2 is powerful. "The standards of the Spirit, who gives life through Christ Jesus, have set you free from the standards of sin and death." (GWT)

 

Holiness Unto the LORD.

Grateful

A Saving Passion For Sanctified People

The Holy Spirit cannot conquer the world with unbelief, nor can He save the world with a worldly Church. He calls for a crusade, a campaign, and an adventure of saving passion. For this enterprise He wants a separated, sanctified and sacrificial people.
-- Rev. Samuel Chadwick

Lord, I want to be in this world but not of this world. Yes, by faith, please include me in the adventure of Your saving passion. Make me (by the indwelling presence of Your Holy Spirit) to be a separated, sanctified, and sacrificial saint for Your glory, that is, make me exclusively Yours. In the Name of Jesus, I ask these things. Amen.

High Priestly Prayer of Jesus to the Father for His Disciples:
(15) My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. (16) They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. (17) Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. (18) As You sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world. (19) For them I sanctify Myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. -- John 17:15-19 (NIV)

By Faith! In Faith! (Hebrews 11)
Grateful

A New Song of Beautiful Joy

For the one who belongs exclusively to God, yes for the saint, suffering is not merely something to escape but something to be entered into so that a new song of beautiful joy might be born and sung for the glory of the Lord.

A new song of beautiful joy always requires the blessing of bountiful rain storms. Lord, give me wings to rise above the storms of suffering with singing. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

The suffering You sent was good for me... Psalm 119:71 (NLT)

Sing a new song to the LORD!
Sing His praises from the ends of the earth!
Sing, all you who sail the seas,
all you who live in distant coastlands.
-- Isaiah 42:10 (NLT)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Standing a'Trembling

1 Kings 19:11 is an overwhelming command from Almighty God and an overpowering image for my mind: "Go out and stand before me on the mountain," the LORD told Elijah. (NLT)

What makes this command so overwhelming and this image so overpowering is my belief that to stand before Holy God, especially just before He reveals His unrivaled omnipotence (His unmatched "Almightyness"), is surely a guaranteed prescription for human fear and trembling. Which brings me to my personal prayer, in light of this heart a'pounding and knees a'knocking reality:

My Holy Almighty God, when I am found guilty of human trembling, let me be found standing a'trembling in Your Holy Presence as "a God-fearing, surrendered saint" -- yes, "as one who is undeniably overwhelmed while also being without doubt Exclusively Yours!" In Jesus Holy Name. Amen.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Prayer of Saint Francis for Saint Kathleen

I just received a call that a dear 89-year-old saint, Kathleen, passed from this life to the next. She was a saint, in that she belonged exclusively to God. She was also like a grandmother to our children, always cooking snicker-doodle cookies for them up until she entered the rest home.

Saint Kathleen's favorite prayer was the Prayer attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi. I post it below for the glory of God and as a tribute to His Life in hers:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light; and...
where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and...
it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen

See you soon, Kathleen. Thanks for leaving me with a lovely last memory of yourself -- the smile of JESUS glowing from within you. It will inspire me until we meet again.

ALL JOY!
Grateful