Christdwellsin us. We are not our own. Living by the Fruit of the Spirit is a lifestyle conviction. ~ LISA BLAIR
Christ lives in us through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells in us. He leads us and directs us if we are in tune with Him. Becoming in tune takes time. We must train ourselves to think differently. We must monitor our actions. We must know the Bible. We should make the effort everyday to please Him by radiating love. We should become familiar with the Fruit of the Spirit. It’s a journey that I’ve been on for some time, but recognizing that I am crucified with Christ means I must acquire the same traits as Christ. I had to learn to identify my actions and deeds (behavior) as part of the Fruit of the Spirit. While this practice begins to separate us from mistreating others, we are still sinners and have to be alert at all times. Our walk is a life long process, one that we agreed to when we received Christ as our Lord and Savior and invited the Holy Spirit to live in us.
The Fruit of the Spirit teaches us the behaviors we should use involuntarily in our day-to-day life as we grow in Christ. Learning the Fruit of the Spirit is important because 1) it frames who we are, and 2) it frames our walk in the eyes of others. The question is – are you familiar with the Fruit of the Spirit? Can you name them? What do they mean to you?
Romans 10:9,10 and Acts 16:31 share this common theme – believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.
~Lisa Blair
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved…Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved…Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” Romans 10:9-10, 13, 17 NIV
Acts 16:31 also explains how one receives Salvation through Jesus Christ. Acts 16:31 is clear, but perhaps the most difficult for non-believers to understand. Constant prayer forges it’s way into the hearts of loved ones who one day will sense God’s presence, and heart tug, and want to come to know Him and be saved. God is merciful and only He can invite us to receive Him as our Lord and Saviour. We are His tools, His workmanship displayed for the world to see.
Paul in Acts 16, ministered to prisoners and a prison guard, after the earthquake, sharing the Good News and encouraging them to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior. He shared that they could overcome this world if they professed with their mouth and believed in their heart that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and is the Son of God. He also shared that their family members could become believers and change their lives. The key is, they must individually profess. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” – Romans’ 10. Acts 16 includes family/household will also be saved.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”” Acts 16:31 NKJV
This part is important because many read this scripture believing if they are saved, their family/household will be saved, however, the theologians interpret the scripture to mean that anyone who receives Christ is saved, and is the best security for the guards family from present danger, but they must make the decision and profess the truth of the scripture individually to be entitled to the same spiritual and everlasting blessings as the guard. (Benson), a family is not collectively saved by one persons witness. Jesus offers everyone salvation if they believe He is the Son of God.
The Amp version elaborates separating the scripture into two parts, the first focuses on the guard being saved, and the second focuses on his prospect of his household/family also being saved. The key – they must personally profess with their mouth and know in their heart that Christ died on the cross, rose and is the Son of God.
“Believe in the Lord Jesus [as your personal Savior and entrust yourself to Him] and you will be saved, you and your household [if they also believe].” And they spoke the word of the Lord [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ] to him and to all who were in his house.” ACTS 16:31-32 AMP
Romans 10:9,10 and Acts 16:31 share this common theme – believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.
Images – YouVersion.Bible.com/Roger Coles; Google Images
References: Thru the Bible with Dr. Vernon McGee. Q&A: Acts 16:31. Oneplace .com; Acts 16:31, Benson Commentary. Biblehub.com
Jesus is no pioneer. He is not a colonizer or an explorer. He is the Son of God and a member of the Trinity.
~ Lisa Blair
The NIV version of the Bible refers to Christ as a pioneer. I like the term ‘pioneer’. It stands out to me. But, it is not accurate – as a noun it means, a person who is among the first to explore or settle in a new place. He was not a colonizer, trailblazer, or explorer. Jesus was not among the first. He was the first and only Son of God.
As a verb, it is still left wanting. I would not call Him an innovator or developer. He did not launch a new project. He brought us a new way of life. The King James Version reports, God is the Author and finisher of our faith.
In Him, all things are possible for those who accept Him as our Lord and Savior (Matthew 19:26). We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). We believe and have faith. We cannot fear or be dismayed because we are new creatures in Christ. He resides in us (Holy Spirit), and around us. He protects us and gives us (eternal) life. He upholds us with the right hand of His righteousness (Isaiah 41:10). There is no other like Him.
The King James Version carries the weight of who Christ is to those of who love Him. All other versions fail.
A good shepherd cares for its flock. Christ cares for those God placed under His guidance and protection but to and including His death. We, as Christians, are also responsible for those in our sphere of influence.
~ Lisa Blair
Google Images
Police Officers, the Armed Services, Fire Officers, and Medical Practitioners all vow to protect their own and those under their charge. In some cases this occurs to a fault. However, in the truest sense, it’s part of the Christian way of life.
Like a Shepherd, Christ protects His own, even through [His] death. Shepherds care for their sheep. Christ’s actions define the attributes of a good shepherd as the Fruit of the Spirit: loving, kind, patient, caring, understanding and controlled. These characteristics represent who we are as Christians. Like Christ, we strive to motivate, encourage, praise, teach, train, and protect those in our charge.
To this end, we protect and defend those in our sphere of influence: family, friends, and in some instances co-workers, to the extent of putting ourselves in the line of fire to protect them. The line of fire is not always bullets; sometimes it is words, degradation, or hurtful actions, regardless, we are the defense. We establish the boundary for their security. We should strive to be like Christ in every endeavor we undertake.
Image – LAB Photos
Reference – Sheepherders vs Shepards. John Taylor. Jan 1, 2018. LinkedIn; Biblehub.com; Biblestudytools.com
Christians are being attacked around the world. Many ambassadors and missionaries throughout the world are wounded, destroyed, and killed every day. Please add this prayer to your daily prayers to cover them as they share the Good News with non-believers and newly converted Christian groups.
~ Lisa Blair
PRAYER
Lord, Christians are being attacked, tortured, terrorized and killed, much like when you, Lord, were on earth. Please post your angels around all Christians under attack. Place angels in front of the attackers, murders, and abusers like you did when Elisha, the Prophet, prayed that you would open his servant’s eyes and see your angelic army surrounding (2 Kings 6:17) the enemy’s army. Let your Christian missionaries and ambassadors see your army wherever they go. Also, let the enemy see the angels shadows over them as they are plotting and planning in person or on social media, like the Internet, to destroy your people. Keep them from moving forward and cause them to abandon their plots in fear of your wrath.
Our primary goal in life should be acknowledgement that we fall short of the glory of God [our Savior and Father’s plans for us], but act to continue to strive forward. It’s our daily walk.
~ LISA BLAIR
We all fall short of the glory of God, yet we must strive every day to do better than the day before, reconciling our sins through repentance. Repentance sounds so indomitable, when in fact it only means to ask for forgiveness, which we can do after we assess our shortcomings/sins of the day.
Sin varies in intensity. They may be minor, such as avoiding a coworker, cussing, ranting and racing, or major, taking a life. The type of sin committed does not lessen the fact that you sinned. Don’t overlook the little things. Sin is a violation of God’s Glory and is identified in Galatians 5:19-22. Look to the Fruit if the Spirit to identify how we can overcome sin.
Our primary goal in life is to become more like Christ. The acknowledgment that we fall short of the Glory of God [our Savior and Father’s plans for us], is one of the fundamental steps we must take to change our behavior and continue to strive forward. It’s our daily walk.
Lisa’s Daily Inspirations 