Gift of God Devotional

I repeat that simple phrase: We are no longer of this world. Can you believe that?

We are no longer bound by the earthly struggles we face. We are no longer bound by our earthly needs and worries each day. We are not bound by our schedules, by our finances, or by our friends and our things.

The world may view us as “out of our mind” (2 Cor. 5:13) – but we are compelled by Christ’s love to no longer live for ourselves, but for HIM. He, who knew no sin but was made to bear all of sin on our behalf. He, who promises that we will have struggles in this world, but that He has already overcome this world (John 16:33).

Right now, I am going through the New Testament trying (key word there) to read a chapter a day. As I write this, I am looking at 2 Corinthians 5, which shows some pretty profound insight from the apostle Paul about how Christians should view our stations in this world. He opens by talking about how earthly things may be destroyed, but we have an eternal place in heaven with God. What would it take for you to give up the things in your life for the promise of eternal blessings?

The world looks at us and believes we are crazy, because we “live by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7), but through the compelling of the Holy Spirit we are made into a new creation by His hands. He shapes us and molds us into perfection, so that in Him and through Him “we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). However, this all starts with a choice: will you decide today that you will give it all to Jesus, or will you continue to pursue the world?

A friend of mine told me this the other day: “every last thing that we experience on this planet has the power to draw us closer to God or pull us further away. We get to choose which it does.”

Will you choose to let God lead you closer to Him, even in the trials and valleys? 

Where is God leading you today?

What is He compelling you to do as His ambassador to a fallen world?

Is He asking you to give up something you have made into an idol in your life? 

Is he asking you to take on a new challenge to further His kingdom?