Rooted in the Rock

Therefore , from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh.  Even though we have known Christ according the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.-2 Corinthians 5:15-16 (NKJV)

One of the very best things you can do for yourself is to get yourself rooted in who you are in Christ and the love of God for you.

Why?

Well, one reason is the flesh-your own and others.

You are going to look at your own flesh and sometimes question.  And other people people are going to look at your flesh too.

There will be days where you look at your actions and think, “I might as well give up.I can’t do this.”  Jesus knew that and that is why He suffered in your place.  That’s why He did what He did.

But trust me. It will get better.  The more you grown in your understanding of Jesus, His love for you, and the grace of God that comes through Him, the more the outside will match the inside.

But it is not by anything you do to make yourself that way, but by hearing who you are in Him.

Other people will also try to remind you of your flesh.  Some people, okay a lot of people, only have knowledge of who you used to be, before Jesus.  And they will either remind you, or treat you as such.  And if you give your attention to that, it can lead you off and onto a path God never meant for you to be on.

Other Believers might also look at your flaws and forget to see Jesus and let that influence their judgments and how they react or respond to you.

There is a minister I have listened to for a very long time, and he once said, “Get yourself so rooted in the love of God that it doesn’t matter what the devil smacks you with, He can’t budge you.”

In Ephesians, Paul prayed that the church at Ephesus and all the family of Believers would be “rooted and ground in love.”  He also prayed that we would “be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”-Ephesians3:17-19 (NKJV)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells a story of two foundations, on one rock, and one on sand. (See Matthew 7)

When the storm came, the man who built his house on sand collapsed.  The man who built on the rock stayed strong and did not collapse.  It withstood the winds and waves.  As a saint or a Believer, you have been planted in that rock.

So, find out who you are in Him.  Make sure you know who you are, and what He said, so when the winds, waves, and storms from life and people come your way, you know you will not crumble.

God bless you as you continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Him.

Much love to you today,
Beth

Sandcastle Kings: Meeting Jesus in a Spiritually Bankrupt World by Rich Wilkerson Jr.

Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain cam down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.-Matthew 7:24-27

The premise of Sandcastle Kings by Rich Wilkerson Jr. is based on the above scripture in Matthew 7 and the stories of four different people in Luke chapter 7. In Luke 7 we find the story of the Roman centurion whom Jesus healed his servant, the Widow of Nain, whom Jesus raised her son from the dead, John the Baptist, and the sinful woman who brings an alabaster flask and anoints Jesus with the fragrant oil.  Mr. Wilkerson submits that the people in the accounts in Luke 7 are like the man who built his house on the sand, as we all are without Jesus.

At first I didn't completely understand Wilkerson's thinking behind the two connecting sets of scriptures. The people in Luke 7 had amazing things happen because of Jesus. They were like the the house that didn't fall.  But after reading some more, and thinking about what the author was trying to say a little more closely, I understand.  If we build our lives on anything but Jesus, we are sure to fail, and endure heartbreak in the process.

The centurion was distressed about his servant until Jesus showed up.  The Widow of Nain was in mourning because her son had died.  I believe John the Baptist was in prison when he began to experience doubts about whether Jesus was the Messiah.  And the sinful woman had built her life upon other things that caused her to be called the sinful woman, until she encountered Jesus.

I like that the author shares a message about this.  I know people who have built their lives on other things, especially people, and when it doesn't work out, it is very distressing. This book confirmed some things in my own heart that I believe the Lord was teaching me in the past.

There were lots of good nuggets in the book.  It is apparent that Rich Wilkerson loves God and loves people.  He shares a lot about his own life and story.  I think he is a voice for the younger generation and those on the outskirts who are hard to reach.

I recommend this book if you want a greater picture of the goodness of God and the ministry of Jesus.  In the story of the woman with the alabaster box, Wilkerson says this,

"Friend, we need to realize that Jesus paid all of our debt.  The more we celebrate this, the more inclined we will be to walk in righteousness."

We cannot build our lives on anything but Jesus, or we will be Sandcastle Kings.  We all are anyway until He shows up, and we put our trust and faith in Him.  It's easy to do when you know Him and how much He loves you.

Many blessings as you build the foundation of your life on Him,

Beth

Disclaimer:  I received this book free from Book Look Bloggers in exchange for a review. I was not required to give a favorable review.  The thoughts and opinions her are entirely my own.

Mind Your Own Business Part 2-Judge Not

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” –Matthew 7:1-5(NIV)


This morning I had an argument with my husband. Yes, we had an argument. As we were both storming around the house, in a regular unhealthy manner, the Holy Spirit starting revealing some stuff to me. We were both so irritated with each other, and when it got down to it, it was essentially about the same thing. You see, we were fighting, and both of us were wrong. We both made mistakes. There was no way I could say that I am right and you better fix it, because I was guilty of the same thing too! I really need to fix myself and recognize that I was doing basically the same thing I was mad at him for.

In John chapter 9 we read, “Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?” Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains."

What Jesus was saying to the Pharisees was that because they said they could see and were aware of sin, they were held accountable for it. You see, if you see somebody doing something you know is not right, you are aware of that being a sin, and you are accountable for not making the same mistake.

That is what is so important about the blood of Jesus. It takes care of every sin, washing it away. You must go to God, and ask for forgiveness, when you make a mistake. It is so easy. 1 John 1:9 says, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

So, mind your own business, take care of your own sin (shortcomings of not being obedient to the Word), and you will be in a much better state spiritually and emotionally.







*Note: I asked my husband before I even starting writing this if he cared if I shared, since he is the head of our home.