Luke 4:8
SERVE.HIM.ONLY
Have you ever wondered why you are here and what your purpose is?
If you think you know your purpose what is it attached to? Your spouse? Your children? Friends? Job? Money? Possessions? Status? Ministry? All of the above?
For along time I attached my purpose and my worth to the roles of wife and mother. I am no longer a wife and my children are raised. The life I knew for so long is now no longer. What is my purpose NOW?
Nearly seven years into this new life, I've been exploring, deeply, my purpose. As a Christian I KNOW the answer. I could write it here and be done. Easy? Not really. At least I don't find it that easy. I've been thinking a lot about Eden....we were created for Eden but we live here.
The Garden of Eden was paradise. "Paradise is defined as a place of contentment, a land of luxury and fulfillment. Paradise is often described as a "higher place", the holiest place, in contrast to this world, or underworlds such as Hell."
"God saw all that he had made, and it was very, very good."
Genesis 1:31
VERY, VERY GOOD.
"Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame."
Genesis 2:25
Eden was perfect. Adam and Eve walked with God himself. Their purpose was to WALK WITH GOD. Yet, just like me, they weren't satisfied. The one thing they were denied is the one thing they were most intrigued by. How well I understand that. Tell me something I can't have and I want it more than anything else. So, through Adam and Eve, sin and disobedience entered the world and ever since mankind has been fighting to get back to his purpose..... TO WALK WITH GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY.
Everyday is a battle about something, someone, some circumstance.
Every.single.day!
It's no secret that I love Jesus. I may not be in Eden but my purpose, from the day I confessed with my mouth and believed in my heart that Jesus is Lord, has never changed. I am to WALK WITH GOD.
Adam and Eve found out very quickly what sin does. Emnity was put between her and the serpent but also between us and God.
Emnity can be described as perpetual opposition.
"For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile (ENMITY) to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot."
Romans 8:7
"You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means ENMITY against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God."
James 4:4
And this:
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."
1 John 2:15-17
And I see me...in perpetual opposition....a tension between the flesh (the worldly) and the Spirit (the Godly).
One might say, "What's wrong with nice stuff? A nice house, a great job, status, beautiful family, friends, great relationships?" Absolutely nothing!
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
James 1:17
But this is where I get sidetracked....there is NOTHING in God's Word that says any good and perfect gift should come BEFORE my relationship with Him!
•But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these
things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33
•Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
Proverbs 16:3
•I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who
•I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who
lives in me. Galatians 2:20
The moment the first bite was taken the tension began between living for Christ and living for the world. A perpetual tension. Not that I don't desire to live a life worthy of the calling I've received but apart from Christ I simply cannot do it. And God knows it! That's why he says, "KNOW ME!!"
"I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,"
Philippians 3:10
The POWER of his resurrection! POWER!
IF I walk with God, I am to "put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
Ephesians 4:24
WALK WITH GOD
It's not easy! Oh how I want to...with my whole heart....my innermost being....I am a work in progress and I have to CONTINUALLY turn my thoughts, my feelings, my emotions, my circumstances, my hurts, my hang-ups, my childhood wounds and strongholds toward the One who has the power to pull me out of the muck and mire and set my feet on a firm foundation.
WALK WITH GOD
I love this definition:
"When we enter into an intimate heart relationship with God through faith in His Son (Hebrews 10:22), He becomes our heart’s greatest desire. Knowing Him, hearing His voice, sharing our hearts with Him, and seeking to please Him become our all-consuming focus. He becomes everything to us. Meeting with Him is not an activity reserved for Sunday morning. We live to fellowship with Him."
GotQuestions.org
Jesus says, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
John 14:3
Eden is coming back! Thanks be to God!
(If you want to read about the restoration of The Garden of Eden read Revelation 22. So beautiful. What a day it will be for those who call Jesus Savior.) 🥰
•He (God) must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30
•If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above,
•If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above,
where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things
that are above not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and
your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life
appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4
The moment the first bite was taken the tension began between living for Christ and living for the world. A perpetual tension. Not that I don't desire to live a life worthy of the calling I've received but apart from Christ I simply cannot do it. And God knows it! That's why he says, "KNOW ME!!"
"I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,"
Philippians 3:10
The POWER of his resurrection! POWER!
IF I walk with God, I am to "put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
Ephesians 4:24
WALK WITH GOD
It's not easy! Oh how I want to...with my whole heart....my innermost being....I am a work in progress and I have to CONTINUALLY turn my thoughts, my feelings, my emotions, my circumstances, my hurts, my hang-ups, my childhood wounds and strongholds toward the One who has the power to pull me out of the muck and mire and set my feet on a firm foundation.
WALK WITH GOD
I love this definition:
"When we enter into an intimate heart relationship with God through faith in His Son (Hebrews 10:22), He becomes our heart’s greatest desire. Knowing Him, hearing His voice, sharing our hearts with Him, and seeking to please Him become our all-consuming focus. He becomes everything to us. Meeting with Him is not an activity reserved for Sunday morning. We live to fellowship with Him."
GotQuestions.org
Jesus says, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
John 14:3
Eden is coming back! Thanks be to God!
(If you want to read about the restoration of The Garden of Eden read Revelation 22. So beautiful. What a day it will be for those who call Jesus Savior.) 🥰
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