ICS Daily Devotions
Outward or Inward?
The home is under tremendous attack today because many do not live a consecrated life especially in marriage and many relationships are affected or strained because of words, attitudes, actions and behavior. The devil is still in the business of divide and conquer today. The more he attempts to divide, the more we need to cling to one another through love and forgiveness.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Christianity is not a set of rules and law that is observed from the outward. If Christianity is an outward observance of ceremonies, rules and festival then it will become a religion which will cause us to give up ultimately because they will burn out under the yoke and burden of trying to be perfect in the flesh. Jesus came to enable us to live out the life from within and to give us a heart of flesh in replacement of a heart of stone. The Holy Spirit lives in us the moment we put our trust in Jesus.
Are we able to enjoy a home filled with warmth and love and not just to live in beautiful houses only? Absolutely! Jesus promised us to have an abundant life and this life begins the moment the Holy Spirit lives in us when we put our trust in Jesus.
Our children really want to know that this Jesus is really real and they can see it in our lives. They do not want another set of rules and law because they had enough of it in school, at home and in society. They are looking for something genuine.
Our relation with God will begin to drift apart when legalism begins to take a toll on us. This will happen especially when we feel that we do not measure up to God’s expectation coupled with the condemnation from the devil. We can be highly critical and harsh on others when we allow legalism to rule our lives. A legalistic lifestyle can also draw us to sin against God.
Let us live our life from the inside out so that our family can feel that our love for them is genuine.
Sermon Series: Legalism to Freedom 2
