A privileged life of a prince

This morning in London, two young people were wed and, if media reports are to be believed, a quarter of the world’s population watched the ceremony at Westminster. Will and Kate, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, will lead a privileged life. Their every move will be scrutinized by the press. They will set trends and someday will become the King and Queen, symbols of Britain’s glory. In times of crisis they will be expected to offer encouragement. At all times they will be ‘royals’ whether they feel like filling that role, or not. It is their calling and birthright.

When you received Christ, you too were called to a privileged life. The Spirit of God, who lives in us, ennobles us, lifts us out of the slavery to Satan and Self that was our natural state, making us royal sons and daughters of Heaven. Think of that wonder! The Scripture says that when we live this high calling, there is such a quality of life in us that others cannot help but take notice and thank God. "Keep on growing in knowledge and understanding … live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return … be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God." (Philippians 1:9-11, NLT) In another passage we learn that we "recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him." (2 Corinthians 3:17-18, The Message)

Go back and re-read those two passages, please. Do you see how it happens? It’s not because we were born beautiful, or because we were trained at the best prep school, or from a sparkling personality. The radiance of life, the nobility of heart and character, comes from the love of God, from the gift of the Spirit we receive by faith. There are eccentric people who try to become like the English royals. A few even buy titles! They put on a role, pretend to be who they are not, but they are quickly recognized as wanna-be’s because they just don’t have the right stuff. Similarly there are those who try to act like a Spirit-filled Christian, going to church, doing the stuff of Christianity, but whose lives do not reflect the brightness of which the Bible speaks.

Do you want a life that is marked by a quality unattainable by any human means? Do you desire to be a noble whose life has a radiance?

Ponder this word from the Word and give the Spirit yourself, without reservation, that He might lead you into the holy and privileged life of a child of God.

"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.


The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:16-26, NIV)

___________________

Change my heart, oh God,
Make it ever true.
Change my heart, oh God,
May I be like You.
You are the potter,
I am the clay.
Mold me and make me,
This is what I pray.

Change My Heart Oh God

Espinosa, Eddie
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