What are the
key indicators of physical life? Heart rate, the pressure that blood is being
pumped by the heart to every cell and the rate of oxygen being mixed and carried
by that blood is considered to be our ‘vitals’. The reading of these vitals is
the first protocol of being diagnosed well and alive. Just as the state of our
heart is vital to maintaining physical life the condition of our spiritual
heart is the key indicator of having true spiritual life.
Jesus
described the beginning of spiritual life as being ‘born again’ (John
3). And that re-birth is literal; in an instant, completely unnoticed by our
physical senses we are entirely r foremade. Everything about us is transformed;
our thinking, our knowing, our will, our emotions, our reacting, our relational
reality and our understanding, even to the level of our DNA (Divine Nature
Added) is remade. This transformation begins at the moment we are Born Again
and continues/matures as we walk with Jesus by his Holy Spirit.
Also as a
direct result of our transformation in Christ; God knowing the desperate
condition of our core—our heart, has given us a gift that cannot be
overstated—a new heart. “I'll pour pure water over you
and scrub you clean. I'll give you a new heart; put a new spirit in you. I'll
remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that's
God-willed, not self-willed. I'll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for
you to do what I tell you and live by my commands.” (Ezekiel 36:25-27, Msg)
This new heart enables us to live a life beyond our wildest
hopes and dreams. It awakens us to living life sealed, led, secured, and filled
by Holy Spirit. But even more incredible, we are invited into an ever deepening
relationship with Jesus’ Father. As such, we are also gifted and called into
the intimacies that Heavenly Father, He and Holy Spirit have always shared
together.
25 “Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer:
"Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You've concealed your ways
from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly too ordinary
people. 26 Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work." 27 Jesus resumed
talking to the people, but now tenderly. "The Father has given me all
these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out
of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the
Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I'm not keeping it to
myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen. 28
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away
with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. 29
Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms
of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. 30 Keep company
with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.”(Matthew 11: 25-27, Msg)
How amazing—we can hardly fathom such
love being offered freely as a result the death, burial and resurrection of
Jesus! Intimacy with the Trinity and the spiritual knowledge and divine
perspective that graces us in Christ is almost too good to be true! Oh, but it
is true—truer than any truth or reality in heaven or on earth. You and I are being
called out of the desolation and relational dysfunction of life BC (before
Christ)!
Paul
understood that God is always communicating in everything and that God’s
message is everywhere, all we have to do is pay attention and look for it. It
wasn’t that hard to find. Once you recognize the voice of God, you hear
Him everywhere; but most amazing we can hear and communicate with Jesus and Our
Heavenly Father with our new heart. What an amazing gift: a heart that is focused
and sensitized to our “NEW HEART”, filled with Holy Spirit and all He brings and
moment by moment communication with Jesus Christ!
Jesus taught his followers that no one puts new wine into old
wineskins. Why? Because the old wineskin will rupture and the new wine will be
spilled. Instead, He puts new wine into our new wineskin; the regenerated
spirit and new heart he gives all who are Born Again. Our ‘old man’ (which
describes our existence before Christ) cannot contain our newly awakened spirit
man. Our new identity in Christ makes room for everything we have to look
forward too—a grand journey with him! This new journey we share with Jesus and our
new destiny mirrors Jesus’ relationship with his Father.
“For it is
by grace we have been saved, through faith---and this is not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God (from beginning to end)—not by works (either by self effort, observing religious duties or
practices, or worldly wisdom), so that no man can boast. For we are God’s
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works (His work in and through
us), which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Become your heart's best friend!
Nurture your heart, protect your heart and share your heart. Immerse your heart
into the passionate, fiery love of Jesus! He lives there...Ron Ross
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