The Holy Spirit’s job
is to manifest Christ in us... to change our natural virtues, our natural
traits, qualities, and characteristics, from our Self-nature of the seed of
Adam to His Divine-nature of the seed of Jesus. The Spirit is a master
craftsman, not a cobbler. He never just patches up our natural virtues with a
little bit of Christ sprinkled here and there. “You shall be perfect”: There is
no ambiguity about our need for spiritual maturity. The Son said it, the Father
commanded it, and the Spirit will execute it... in willing hearts. Our natural
virtues can never come close to the virtues demanded by the Godhead... our
Self-serving love is not even a cheap imitation of God’s self-sacrificing agape
love, yet we cling to our natural virtues, Self loving itself, all the while
proclaiming Christ is our Lord. But, Jesus knows what is in the heart of man...
God knows our hearts! So... we must learn to draw our nature from the reservoir
of the resurrection life of our Savior, to bring every part of our nature into
harmony with the implanted Christ-Life... to put on Christ. Woven within this
“learning” is death, submission, and renewal... not painless processes, but so
very rewarding for Self-willed stubborn folks who seem hell-bent on misplacing
their love on trinkets of wood, hay, and stubble. Remember, our Self-nature is
programmed to love the world, the same world we are commanded not to love...
the same world predestined to burn! Be thankful for God’s patience... and determination,
therein lies our Blessed Hope...
Author’s Note: As
with most of the thoughts I share, this “song” is for me. I am traveling the
road of Transformation at a snail’s pace, catching fleeting glimpses of what
could be... should be... if I could just climb up on my cross and spread wide
my arms. Don’t pray causally for God to reveal His heart to you, for we cannot
see His heart without seeing our own... and recognizing just how far short of
His transforming glory we have fallen. While I am most concerned about an
experience... signs, wonders, miracles, the felt presence of God, God is
whispering “Son, I need to talk to you about your heart.” The greatest sign of
spiritual maturity... of pleasing God, is not spiritual giftings, ministries,
or signs following. It is Love, Joy, Peace... the Fruit of the Spirit,
obedience, passion, and sacrifice. God’s presence is drawn to Godliness like a
magnet, abiding where His nature is strongest, but... Christlikeness is my weak
suit. Like I said, this song is for me... but if the shoe fits...
SON,
I NEED TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT YOUR HEART
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