THE TRANSFORMATION OF LIFE WHEN ABIDING IN JESUS CHRIST

Holy Week should always be a Time For Reflection. The time leading up to, and the actual cruxifixction and Resurrection of Jesus ARE LIFE CHANGING ! The annals of history Confirm the large majority of things that occurred during this week. Scripture gives us a visceral taste of all the events through the eyes of those who followed Jesus and were closest to Him…His Disciples. The Story of Jesus and all those around Him is without doubt instrumental in our Knowledge of our Faith and it’s very beginnings….but I am here to bring our “Focus” onto something much more important. It is great to know who Jesus is, and what He did and accomplished, but simply “knowing’ facts does not TRANSFORM US ! Transformation comes when WE GIVE OUR LIVES AND HEART TO CHRIST. It is a DEEP SURRENDER AND COMMITMENT TO LIVE IN OBEDIENCE TO HIS WILL ! It is also a Commitment to a JOURNEY OF GROWTH AND MATURITY….one full of many fundamental changes that truly make us “A New Creation”. It is a journey that takes each of us out of a worldly viewpoint and carnal existence into a Relationship where “Abiding” and “Change” take place A TRANSFORMATION ! Abiding is the idea of lasting a long time; enduring; continuing. It is something that has a permanence to it. FOUNDATIONAL AND DEFINING. In John 15, we have a clearer definition of “Abiding” in terms of Christ. It means Remaining In Close Living Dependence on Jesus. Jesus tells us, “ Abide In Me, And I In You”. A branch can’t bear fruit unless it remains in the Vine. It is a “Relationship” that is ongoing and founded in Dependence and Trust. Think of it as a Relational Place that moves your Heart in a New Direction. Staying In Jesus' teachings and words; Trusting Him rather than yourself; Walking in Obedience to His Will; Having and Feeling an ultimate Love for Him, and from Him; Bearing Fruit that shows Real Life In Christ:) It is an Examination: WHO I WAS BEFORE JESUS, AND WHO I AM NOW WITH HIM AT THE CENTER OF MY LIFE. I will speak from my own lens of experience in regards to this image. Before, I was “Centered” on Myself. My needs, my thoughts, my wisdom, my decision making. Things like pride, anger, lust, envy, impatience had a strong grip on who I was. Anxiety, fear, doubt, loneliness, and questioning were always present in some form or another. Trust was a moving target that had no sure foundation. My family was a strong influence and refuge, but I NEEDED MORE. Then….MY SURRENDER CAME ! JESUS FOUND MY HEART, AND I GAVE IT TO HIM :) THINGS CHANGED ! I CHANGED ! Jesus became not just my Savior, but also My Lord And King. It was TRANSFORMATIONAL. I had a New Identity…JESUS DEFINED “WHO I AM”. I had a New Purpose and Path…JESUS LAYED IT OUT FOR ME. I had a New Foundational Trust And Belief…ROOTED IN HIM. MY LIFE WAS NOW ETERNAL; BOUND TO HIM; ENDURING AND STEADFAST; ABIDING AND COMPLETE; FULL OF LOVE AND COMPLETE IN JOY AND PEACE:) Thus, my Journey is In Motion. Not perfect by any means, but Growing and Maturing. Learning Experiential TRUST AND DEPENDENCE. Could I ask for anything Better ? COULD YOU AS WELL ?

THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH AND MY SHIELD, IN HIM MY HEART TRUSTS, AND I AM HELPED, MY HEART EXULTS, AND WITH MY SONG, I GIVE THANKS TO HIM. Psalm 28:7

YOU KEEP HIM IN PERFECT PEACE WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON YOU BECAUSE HE TRUSTS IN YOU. Isaiah 26:3

LET US DRAW NEAR TO GOD WITH A SINCERE HEART AND FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH. Hebrews 10:22

COME NEAR TO GOD, AND HE WILL COME NEAR TO YOU. James 4:8

Where are YOU standing today ? Do you Know God or Desire to Know Him ? Are YOU your own ruler and focal pointt, trusting in your own wisdom and direction ? Do You SCOFF at the idea of God and His Love For You ? Is Life simply a journey of acquisition and adventure with no True Lasting Meaning ? A Journey to Dust ? Is a “good life” all about self pleasure and happiness ? In that deepest place in your mind and heart,…do you yearn for MORE ? LETS GO BACK IN TIME…roughly to 700 BC. The prophet Isaiah had been given a vision and words from God. Seeing himself in a mirror-like experience, Isaiah realized that “he” was a man of unclean lips. A man like us, that lived in self trust and self driven action and words. GOD OPENED HIS EYES AND HEART. “Isaiah’…I have a message for you to deliver : WHO HAS BELIEVED WHAT WE HAVE HEARD ? AND TO WHOM HAS THE ARM OF THE LORD BEEN REVEALED ? HE GREW UP BEFORE HIM LIKE A YOUNG PLANT AND LIKE A ROOT OUT OF DRY GROUND. HE DIDN’T HAVE AN IMPRESSIVE FORM OR MAJESTY THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT HIM, NO APPEARANCE THAT WE SHOULD DESIRE HIM. HE WAS DESPISED AND REJECTED BY MEN, A MAN OF SUFFERING WHO KNEW WHAT SICKNESS WAS. HE WAS SOMEONE PEOPLE TURNED AWAY FROM; HE WAS DESPISED AND WE DIDN’T VALUE HIM. YET HE HIMSELF BORE OUR SICKNESSES, AND HE CARRIED OUR PAINS; BUT WE IN RETURN REGARDED HIM STRIKEN, STRUCK DOWN BY GOD AND AFFLICTED. BUT HE WAS PIERCED BECAUSE OF OUR REBELLION, CRUSHED BECAUSE OF OUR INIQUITIES; PUNISHMENT FOR OUR PEACE WAS ON HIM, AND WE ARE HEALED BY HIS WOUNDS. WE ALL WENT ASTRAY LIKE SHEEP; WE ALL HAVE TURNED TO OUR OWN WAY; AND THE LORD HAS PUNISHED HIM FOR THE INIQUITY OF US ALL. HE WAS OPPRESSED AND AFFLICTED, YET HE DID NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH. HE WAS TAKEN AWAY BECAUSE OF OPPRESSION AND JUDGEMENT, AND WHO CONSIDERED HIS FATE ? FOR HE WAS CUT OFF FROM THE LAND OF THE LIVING; HE WAS STRUCK BECAUSE OF MY PEOPLE’S REBELLION. HE WAS ASSIGNED A GRAVE WITH THE WICKED, BUT HE WAS WITH A RICH MAN AT HIS DEATH, BECAUSE HE HAD DONE NO VIOLENCE AND HAD NOT SPOKEN DECEITFULLY. YET THE LORD WAS PLEASED TO CRUSH HIM SEVERELY. WHEN YOU MAKE HIM A GUILT OFFERING, HE WILL SEE HIS SEED, HE WILL PROLONG HIS DAYS, AND BY HIS HAND, THE LORD’S PLEASURE WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED. AFTER HIS ANGUISH, HE WILL SEE LIGHT AND BE SATISFIED. BY HIS KNOWKEDGE, MY RIGHTEOUS SERVANT WILL JUSTIFY MANY, AND HE WILL CARRY THEIR INIQUITIES. THEREFORE I WILL GIVE HIM THE MANY AS A PORTION, AND HE WILL RECIEVE THE MIGHTY AS SPOIL, BECAUSE HE WILLINGLY SUBMITTED TO DEATH, AND WAS COUNTED AMONG THE REBELS; YET HE BORE THE SIN OF MANY AND INTERCEDED FOR THE REBELS…….. 700years before JESUS was crucified on a cross for US….Isaiah had Introduced Him. The miracle of the GOSPEL was already in GOD’S HEART AND MIND ! Our Creator is Never without a plan and purpose, and it extends to Everyone Who Calls Upon His Name. This isn’t just a religion to contemplate or a story to examine…THIS IS LIFE ! THIS IS TRANSFORMATION ! I have learned that the most valuable thing we have in life is TIME…and where and with whom we spend it. Will this Holy Week make you open up your HEART to consider these things ?

IF THEN YOU WERE RAISED WITH CHRIST, SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE, WHERE CHRIST IS, SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD. SET YOUR MIND ON THINGS ABOVE, NOT ON THINGS ON THE EARTH. FOR YOU DIED, AND YOUR LIFE IS HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD. Colossians 3: 1-3

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 FLESHI LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME. Galatians 2:20

Scripture makes it clear: WE AS BELIEVERS AND FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST HAVE TO DIE TO SELF AND GIVE OUSELVES OVER TO HIM. In this Transformation, WE ARE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, who guides us, convicts us, and replenishes us. God’s Love has no limits once it is embraced…but one can choose to reject it sadly. Once accepted, one must Act Upon It and ABIDE IN IT. Simply being close to religion, attending church, and doing nice things will simply not cut it ! ALL IN TRANSFORMATION IS WHERE WE MUST BE, and that comes with ABIDING :) I hope this is a week of Meditation and Gratitude. Jesus is the Passover Lamb that fulfills God’s need for Righteous Judgement. THE CROSS…where God’s Mercy collided with Judgement, and Our Salvation poured forth. May you SEEK GOD AND HIS KINGDOM AND MAY JESUS CHRIST ABIDE WITHIN YOU ! HE IS RISEN/JAA

JESUS SAID TO HER, “I AM THE RESSURRECTION AND THE LIFE. HE WHO BELIEVES IN ME, THOUGH HE MAY DIE, HE SHALL LIVE. John 11:25