Table of Contents
Your Best Life
If you’re not living life as unto the Lord, you’re not living your best life. This is more encompassing than meets the eye. It’s a life of surrender, and that surrender includes every area of life. When considering the magnitude of what this really means, some might call you a Jesus freak, because it seems to be extreme in their view. Some just want a dash of Christianity; they do not want it all. Lukewarm is far more comfortable, as far as they are concerned.
Ironically, lukewarm is a place of misery. It’s a joyless bath that is not all that comfortable. How many like lukewarm milk? It is what many drink, and consequently never grow, because it is not the sincere milk of the Word (see 1 Peter 2:2). Those who try to live with one foot in the Kingdom, and one foot in the world will eventually hit a fence post. Until they’re all-in, they’ll never know the fulness of joy. Miserable “Christians” are those who avoid living life as unto the Lord. Living for yourself is never fulfilling.
You’re Not Your Own
1 Corinthians 6:10-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Everyone belongs to God, even though, far too many have not surrendered to Him. Consequently, they are not His. Two things can be true at once.
Psalm 24:1-2 The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
This passage of Scripture makes it clear. Nevertheless, Jesus also made it clear God is not everyone’s Father.
John 8:42,44 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love Me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of Myself, but He sent Me. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Regardless of what people believe, He is God and we are not! Those who reject Jesus Christ will never have true joy. If a Christian is partially surrendered, is he truly surrendered? Fulness of joy comes with obedience. When people only obey when it is convenient, they experience fulness of joy, sporadically. Please understand, everyone struggles with obedience from time to time, because we still contend with the flesh (Galatians 5:17), and outside forces. Do not confuse struggle with disobedience!
As a matter of fact, if there is a struggle, it means there is a desire to obey. Otherwise, there would not be one. Deciding to be fully committed to the Lord does make obedience easier. As we read, Jesus came at the behest of the Father. His obedience was far from convenient. Do you remember the phrase, “You were bought with a price?”
How to Live Your Best Life
God gave us the Solution to the struggle with the flesh. We already possess the victory over it. By His grace, we’ve been given the ability to submit to Him, and walk as children of God.
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Romans 8:13-16 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God (read full chapter, along with Roman 6).
Paul made a very important statement that we should not overlook: “For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son. . .” (Romans 1:9). He served God with his spirit; not his soul, nor his flesh. Remember, we are sprit, soul, and body (see 1 Thessalonians 5:23). Our spirit connects with Holy Spirit, and as we align with Him through our spirit, the rest follows (soul, and body). Our spirit takes the lead.
His grace enables us to say no to the flesh, and yes to Holy Spirit. When we became disciples of Jesus Christ, we did not turn into robots who have no choice in the matter. God did not remove our will. The key to obedience is love. To obey is to believe Him, and submit to His desires with a heart of love. Faith pleases God, and faith works by love (see Hebrews 11:6; Galatians 5:6). Our obedience is a sign of our love.
John 14:15 If ye love Me, keep my commandments.
John 1510-14 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Obedience, and doing all things as unto Him means nothing is done for show.
Colossians 3:22-23 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
