The Most Important Blog Post You’ll Ever Read

Costa Rica was a challenging month. However, it brought me to some deep revelation that I’ve come to terms with. So here it goes.

It’s incredible what we discover if we ACTUALLY live the way we are called to. 

Belief itself is simply not enough. We are called to act upon our faith. 

We see that when the Bible say:

“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:26

“And to whom did God swear that they would never enter His rest if not to those who disobeyed?” Hebrews 3:18

My mom always said, even satan believes is God.

The Bible is said to be the living word of God. A rather abstract concept. However, once you actually invest time into reading and commit yourself to understanding, and once you actually put what you read into practice, you really begin to take hold of what this means. 

“In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of God.” Ephesians 3:4

I mean we have to really live this out. 

“Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why as though you still belong to it, do you submit to its rules: Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!” Colossians 2:20-21

Once you do, it’s as if you gain this stream of consciousness. Like there’s something pouring into you that is connecting the dots that are your existential thoughts. 

Colossians 2:12 says “…having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.” 

We are called to be buried or die to ourselves. It does not sound like an ideal time, I agree. However, Phillipians 3:10-11 says,

“I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in death, and so, somehow to attain the resurrection from the dead.”

In dying to ourselves and suffering as Jesus suffered, we are brought into deeper relationship with Him. Dying to ourselves looks like putting the desires or temptation we have aside and following his instruction. 

In return, we gain (including but not limited to): 

1. Contentment “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, wether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13
2. True Life “For now we really LIVE, since you are standing firm in the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 3:8
3. Freedom “…and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” Hebrews 2:15 ~“In Him and though faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” Ephesians 3:12
4. Peace “I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
5. Eternal Joy & Glory “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

This has been the plan all along. 

“For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9

Again and again throughout scripture God instructs us to have patience, to endure, to have self control, to persevere, to stand firm, to not fall away. He knows it’s hard.

“And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

“Blessed is the man who persevere under trial, because when he had stood the rest, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12

It’s not easy. He never said it would be. We can’t do it on our own will. We give into temptation again and again.

However, the more time we spend in His presence and His word, the more He will transform our minds and our actions. We will quite literally be doing it through His strength rather than our own.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:3

He instructs us, “Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and your doctrine closely. Persevere in there, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” 1 Timothy 4:15-16 

It’s not a matter of pleasing ourselves and being constantly happy. Of course we want that. It feels good. However, it’s just not the reality of the matter. It’s about others. We are called to serve others, to put ourselves last.

“For everyone looks out for His own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 2:21

I’m doing so, we store up eternal joy and get to walk in freedom that exceeds earthly understanding. Scripture says that his ways and thoughts are higher than our own. 

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9

If there’s one thing I know as I grow wiser with maturity, it’s that I know NOTHING. We are confined by our earthly body. It deteriorates with age and we cannot get our minds past a certain place of existential thought.

Often people reject a relationship with Jesus because it “tells them how to live their life.” So often I hear people say, “find what feels good or right to you and practice that.” 

How can this make sense? How can we each decide what truth is? Is it really truth if it feels right to someone, and then wrong to someone raised or wired a different way? Does their not have to be some grounds for absolute truth? 

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” 2 Timothy 4:3

The Bible speaks on living out your own truth.

“Having lost all sensitivity, they have give themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in ever kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.” Ephesians 4:19 

Have you ever felt this longing for more? After achieving what you’ve pined after for so long? After a night of partying? Once the honeymoon phase in a relationship has come to an end?

We are wired to have a relationship with our creator. Until we do, we will always be left wanting. 

Test it for yourself. If you feel overwhelmed or confused by the Bible, I encourage you to start in the New Testament (Matthew) and read on. Pray for the Lord to open the eyes of your heart to understand. Ask for wisdom and revelation each time before reading. 

Scripture says, “You have not because you ask not.” James 4:2

It also says,  “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8

He’s very explicit about the fact that we must be intentional in pursuing this relationship with Jesus for ourselves. 

There are so many things to look forward to when you have the Joy of the Lord in your heart and eternal glory at your right hand.

Remember:

“The one who called you is Faithful and he will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24  

I hope this makes sense to you. My inbox is always open.

All the love,

Lindsey