“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2  Recommended Reading: Ephesians 5:1-20   “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;² And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.³ But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;⁴ Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.⁵ For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.⁶ Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.⁷ Be not ye therefore partakers with them.⁸ For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:⁹ (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)¹⁰ Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.¹¹ And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.¹² For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.¹³ But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.¹⁴ Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.¹⁵ See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,¹⁶ Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.¹⁷ Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.¹⁸ And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;¹⁹ Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;²⁰ Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”

COMMENTS:  “WHAT AM I DOING HERE?”   There are times this question means “What is my purpose for being alive?”  But, there are times this question really means “What am I doing at this party or this meeting or at work on Saturday or Sunday instead of at worship services or spending quality time with our family?”  Reflection would guide us to forfeit time doing enjoyable and good things in order to do spend more quality time with loved ones building important relationships with them.  Same also relates to building an important relationship with our Creator and Savior and Lord.

Truth is devoting time to build a closer relationship with God also helps us build a closer relationship with our family as well as help us do our jobs better and more efficiently too.  Entertaining sin robs us relationship with loves ones and with God, resulting in costing us additional time trying to restore relationships which become broken or diseased due to that sin.  The quality of our work also suffers from unrepented sin in our lives too.

So what is our purpose and what is God’s plan for each of us?

 

Well, our ultimate purpose is to worship and praise Christ, our Creator and Savior and Lord.  God’s plan is for us to become more like Him and less like the devil who lures us, through deception and temptation, to sin.  Sin that pulls us away from a close relationship with God and from fulfilling His plan and purpose for our lives.

 

Sin, done for pleasure – enjoyment or for selfish ambition or due to pride or for personal gain.  Sin done due to addiction or weakness to resist.  Sin done for any reason, even what seems to be good reasons, never has good or positive lasting results.  Sin always costs more than it offers and always fails to delivery what it offers.  Instead sin only give misery and pain and regrets and ultimately death because unchecked it will keep us from a personal meaningful relationship with God and from others who would strengthen us and from those who we could strengthen with God’s help.

 

So take some time to reflect on your past sins and regrets and consequences they brought.  Reflect on how satan lures you into sin and away from God’s helping hands, from an awareness of God’s Holy Spirit, and from seeking help from other Christians.   Write them down and seek Christ’s forgiveness for both sinning and for shutting Him out from helping you overcome the temptation.   Christ understands since He was tempted in every way but without the divine power and insight He had from eternity past.  He put off all His divine powers and abilities to take on human form and endure all the temptations and weaknesses and dependencies and even mortality we all do as humans.  He endured temptations but did not sin.  But He also took on all our guilt and sin consequences as our sacrifice for our redemption and died bearing them all.  The only weapons and tools and help He accessed to fight and defeat temptation and weaknesses and overwhelming discouragement is the same tools available to you and me.   By prayer to the Father and indwelling of His Holy Spirit, help and guidance and strength came to Him. 

 

 This is the mystery of the Trinity and the mystery of Christ laying down His divine abilities for a time when on earth as a human.   The Father and Son and Holy Spirit share identical thoughts and character and abilities and attributes.  Yet they each reveal and provide help and have relationship with us in different ways.  The Father is our Authority Figure.   Christ is our advocate to the Father, our example and guide and redeemer.  He, like an older stronger and wise brother, who walks with us and fights our battles for and with us.  The Holy Spirit provides 24x7x365 council-inspiration-encouragement-strength-….   This and so much more ways of help empower and enable us to resist temptation and motivate and energize us to do good  by  walking with us personally day by day and minute by minute with His 100% attention and focus.  If we don’t feel and sense His presence and hear His quiet voice speaking to our soul, it isn’t because He isn’t.  It is because we are listening to other voices and noises distracting us and drowning out His.

 

He always complies with our choices but does not leave or forsake us.   So what needs to change in order for us to tap more consistently into the Holy Spirit’s help and become more Christ-like in our daily choices?  The answer is God’s to share with you if you take the time to seek Him and listen with a seeking and hungry and open mind and soul to receive.  I too am seeking and opening my soul and hungry to receive His answer for me too.   I know deeper dives into His word, more time I prayer and fellowship with Him.  I know even times of fasting and restraint from not only food but other blessings God has showered on me is including in His answer.  I don’t know how to turn from the distractions and noises that keep drowning out His voice and suspect you don’t know how either.   “BUT HE IS SAYING, THAT IS OK, I DO!!”   When we ask Jesus for help, the Holy Spirit and the Father hear and are involved in the answer.  When you open your soul to the Holy Spirit, you also are opening yourself to Christ and to the Father too.  He knows we don’t nor can’t understand or comprehend Him.  He doesn’t expect us too.  He only asks that we include Him and follow and do what He asks.  He only asks that we believe in and trust Him and look to Him.  Trust Him like Daniel and Joseph and Esther and Ruth and Mary and Joseph and David did.  Trust Him like Moses did and Joshua did and Paul and Peter did.  They all had times of disobedience and doubt but they all prevailed when they turned back and yielded to His grace and sustaining Spirit.  Part of His answer to us will include learning from all these examples and stories.  His answer will not be a one time or short one but one that will unfold as we begin the journey of  walking with our hand tight in His and our  eyes focused on His and our attention sharpening our minds and ears and legs moving closer to Him.

 

As we look at examples of those before us recorded in scripture as well as in more recent history or even from our own personal memories, we will discover those who took this journey enjoyed great and eternal benefits and reward but also had to make noteworthy sacrifices too.  You and I will need to prepare ourselves to not only commit to do what God asks of us but also to give us what He will ask too, knowing what He gives will be far better than what we give up.   After all, when we die, we will give us an old diseased broken down body for a new eternal body.  We will give up all our earthy possessions and home for a far better eternal home.   We will give up the worlds temptations and evil influences for a place free from evil and with full and unrestrained access to Him and our loved ones there and all those before who so influenced us positively and those after us who we influenced. 

 

AMEN?  AMEN!!   

What am I doing here? By God’s grace and the power of His Holy Spirit, I’m living my life as a child of God.

 PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, thank You for the joy and purpose You have given us as Your children. Let the lives we lead point to Your Son, our Lord and Savior. In His Name we pray. Amen.

 

If you wish, you can access my blog at “https://donsdevotions.wordpress.com“. There you will find 398 blog posts I have made plus a link to my devotional journal material archives from 2013 to present.

You may also access my Facebook page and request to be my friend and automatically receive my daily journal publications daily.  My Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/Dondevotionals/ Many thanks to a pastor and dear brother in Christ in Nepal who set up the above Facebook page to help and encourage and give opportunity for more to   explore and use my devotional blog materials.

My hope and prayer are, my blog and devotional materials will become a source of encouragement and tools in ministry for you.