Real Living

"Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that they profiting may appear to all" (1 Timothy 4:15)

Let me observe that some Christians think they can be disciples of Christ without ever a thought about the necessity of self-discipline and genuine commitment to Him. We must face the fact that many today are notoriously careless in their living. This attitude finds its way into the church. We have liberty, we have money, we live in comparative luxury. As a result, discipline practically has disappeared.

What would a violin solo sound like if the stings on the musician's instrument were all hanging loose, not stretched tight, not "disciplines"? Being an artist, the musician would not attempt to bring sound from that violin until each string had been tuned and tested and all was in perfect harmony.

In things that matter with God - important things - we need to be disciplined, pulled together, attuned to the Spirit until we are in harmony with all of God's planning for us.

The Spirit of Life dwells and fills men, permeates their being, sanctifies their nature, quickens their powers, vitalizes their mortal bodies and radiates their life. Pentecost turned anemic believers into exuberant saints.

~A. W. Tozer~

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It's A Choice

"Choose you this day whom ye will serve... God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods" (Joshua 24:15-16)

It is the spark of God within a person that troubles him or her. That spark is placed within by the Spirit of God. Conviction. Longing. Desire. That spark within does not save. But that spark must be there to lead the person on to salvation.

Why is it that some men and women seem never to have any awareness of that spark from God? They may be nice people, nice neighbors, nice fiends. But they live every day without any spark of discontent, without any spark of need for God.

God has made us with the right to make our own choices. We were not created to be robots. God made us in His own image, but with the right and the ability to choose. We are free moral agents.

When our first parents made the wrong choices, the human race became alienated from God. Since that time, every person has been faced with choices and decisions.

Happiness is nothing but that inward sweet delight, which will arise from the harmonious agreement between our wills and the will of God.

~A. W. Tozer~