The Light for Today

“… a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us.” (Luke 1:1)If you are a new Christian, this is the “start” of a new way of life for you. There will be habits and actions that you will want to change. In fact it is the start of a new life because you have been born again. The place you must go to work is in your attitudes. You must start a “re-newel of the mind” process. (Romans 12:2) If you have been saved for some time now but have never had anyone sit down and use a consistent and deliberate biblical plan of discipling you (teaching you how to walk pleasing to the LORD and reproduce your faith in others) then this is the start of a “re-newel of the mind” process for you as well even though you may have been a Christian for some time now. The reason it is important for every Christian to start this re-newel of the mind process is because it is GOD’S Will for you to be conformed to the image of Jesus. (Romans 8:29) You will have to do this with the help of an older, maturing Christian. It will not “just happen”. In your mind, with your attitudes, is where the life-change for Christ will commence. Being a Christian is NOT about being like some Christian we admire, or acting according to some list of denominational rules. It is about growing, as ourselves under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, in Christ. This is done by the Holy Spirit residing in another maturing Christian. This is the process called “discipleship” and is much like family. This is where older children love, nurture, watch over and teach younger children to become happy, productive, responsible members of the family generation after generation.

In keeping with good teaching principles we will use the word “START” as an acronym. As a child of GOD, born of and filled with the Spirit of GOD, you now enjoy certain privileges and assurances from GOD Himself that you never had before. These assurances are unique to the family of GOD. They are always present as you strive to follow the Spirit’s leading. Memorizing these scriptural assurances is the best way for you to have spiritual weapons, armor and strength. You will need these to be present in your life for living your new life in the Spirit instead of in the flesh as in the past. You now need to START walking in the Spirit, not in the flesh. The Bible says: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of GOD; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13. The scriptures are written for you and you only as a believer, so that you may KNOW you are a child of GOD. Next, the Bible says: “Thy Word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:11. This is why we memorize scripture. That we may KNOW that we have eternal life and are pleasing to our heavenly Father. We do not live according to the Word of GOD “so we WILL be saved,” we live according to the Word of GOD “because we ARE saved.” When we are “born again” we have a desire to please Jesus more than a desire to please our self. “PEACE” is the first “fruit” of the presence of the Holy Spirit. This means that the conflict between what I want and what Jesus wants for me is over. It means that I have surrendered my will to His. I now have “peace that passes all understanding” because I trust Him to do what is best for me in every instance of my life. By memorizing these scriptures from the acronym “START” below, and other scriptures, you will be equipped to face the spiritual warfare that is sure to come your way now that you are a child of GOD.

Salvation is Assured - 1 John 5:11 & 12 “And this is the record, that GOD has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that has the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of GOD, hath not life.” In addition to this memory verse about the assurance of your salvation, read also the words of Jesus in John 5:24: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that hearth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath ever lasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” Jesus Himself promised that upon hearing the word of GOD, if we are lead by the Spirit of GOD to place full faith and trust in Jesus we will: #1. -- Receive “everlasting life”: #2. -- Shall not “come into condemnation”: #3. -- Shall “Pass from death unto life”. This is a three-fold assurance from the LORD Jesus Christ Himself that we can have salvation and never have to worry that we may “lose” or “through away” our salvation.

Trustworthy Guidance is Assured - Proverbs 3:5 & 6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.”
Answered Prayer is Assured - John 16:24 “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
Repentance Acceptance is Assured - 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Temptational Victory is Assured - 1 Corinthians 10:13 “There has no temptation taken you but such is common to man, but GOD is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye be able to bear it.”
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START Today to be ASSURED that as a child of GOD;
Things are now, and always will be, well with your soul!