Month: May 2023

31
May
2023
Who’s in the House

Who’s in the House

Ever feel like you don’t belong? Maybe you’ve struggled to fit in with a particular group of people, or you feel like an outsider in your own community.

It’s easy to feel isolated and alone in such situations, but as the apostle Peter wrote, “you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house.” (1 Peter 2:5)

You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

What does it mean to be a living stone in God’s spiritual house?

It means that we are all part of something much bigger than ourselves. We are part of God’s family, and we form a community of believers who are built on the foundation of Jesus Christ.

Just as individual stones are carefully placed to create a strong and stable structure, so God is placing each one of us in just the right place in His Spiritual House.

Embrace your role as a living stone

Remember, you have a vital part to play in God’s plan. Each one of us has unique gifts and talents that can be used to build up the body of Christ. Use those gifts to serve one another in love and to bring glory to God. In doing so, you will discover the joy and fulfillment that comes from being part of God’s House.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Discipline, Faith, Family, Trust
30
May
2023
Hostility

Hostility

In the Book of Romans 8:7, we come across a powerful statement about the human condition. It says that the mindset of the flesh is hostile to God and does not submit to God’s law.

“The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.”

This verse shines a light on the internal struggle that exists within each of us—the tension between our natural inclinations and the desire to align ourselves with God’s will.

When the passage speaks of the mindset of the flesh, it refers to our human nature apart from God’s transformative work in our lives.

It is the part of us that is self-centered, driven by worldly desires, and resistant to God’s authority. This mindset creates a barrier between us and God, hindering our ability to fully embrace His truth and live in harmony with His will.

The good news is that through Christ, we have the power to overcome this hostile mindset.

Through the work of the Holy Spirit in us, we can experience a radical transformation of our minds and hearts. We can choose to align our thoughts, attitudes, and actions with God’s truth, surrendering our will to His and allowing His love to shape and guide us.

As you reflect on this verse, be reminded of the ongoing battle between your fleshly desires and the Spirit of God within you.

Recognize any tendencies within you that are opposed to God’s will and surrender them to Him.

Continually seek the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit to transform your mind, renew your heart, and enable you to live in alignment with God’s purposes.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Discipline, Faith
29
May
2023
Power in the Blood

Power in the Blood

In the Gospel of John, we encounter a profound statement made by Jesus Himself; John 6:53.

 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.

This statement may sound strange and even shocking at first, but it carries a powerful spiritual truth.

When Jesus speaks of eating His flesh and drinking His blood, He is using symbolic language to convey a deeper spiritual reality.

He is inviting us to partake in a close and intimate relationship with Him. Just as physical food and drink are necessary for our physical sustenance, Jesus is emphasizing the importance of nourishing our souls through a deep and personal connection with Him.

This passage reminds us that our faith in Christ is not simply a set of intellectual beliefs or moral principles.

It is a living and dynamic relationship with the Savior Himself. Jesus is the source of true life, and by partaking in Him, we receive spiritual sustenance, nourishment, and eternal life.

So, as you reflect on John 6:53, accept the invitation of Jesus to come to Him, to abide in Him, and to experience the fullness of life that He offers.

Cultivate a deep and intimate relationship with Him, nourishing your soul with His presence, His teachings, and His grace.

Never forget that Jesus is the bread of Life, the one who satisfies your deepest longings and grants you eternal life through faith in Him.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Faith, Forgiveness, Holiness, Humor
28
May
2023
Broken Chains

Broken Chains

In the Book of Romans, we are reminded of the transformative power of Christ’s death and resurrection.

Paul writes that our old self was crucified with Christ so that the power of sin would be broken in our lives. This means that we are no longer slaves to sin but have been set free to live a new life in Christ.

“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—”

Romans 6:6

When we come to faith in Jesus, something remarkable happens. Our old self, characterized by sin and brokenness, is put to death on the cross with Christ.

This is a symbolic representation of the fact that our sins are forgiven and that we are no longer defined by our past mistakes and shortcomings. We are given a fresh start, a new beginning in Christ.

This truth has profound implications for how we live our lives. As believers, we are called to live in the freedom that Christ has secured for us.

We are no longer bound by the power of sin, but we have the power to resist temptation and live according to God’s will.

We can choose righteousness over sin, obedience over rebellion, and love over selfishness.

Through the work of the Holy Spirit, we are being transformed day by day into the image of Christ.

So, as you reflect on Romans 6:6, embrace the truth that your old self has been crucified with Christ. Walk in the freedom and newness of life that He has given you.

May your life be a testimony to the power of God’s grace and the transformation that is possible through faith in Jesus Christ.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Faith, Forgiveness, Prayer, Trust
27
May
2023
Justified

Justified

As human beings, we are all sinners and fall short of the Glory of God. But the Good News is that God loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for our sins, so that we might be reconciled to Him. In Romans 5:9, Paul reminds us that we have been justified by Christ’s blood and have been saved from God’s wrath.

“Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!”

Justification means that we have been declared righteous by God through faith in Jesus Christ. We are not justified by our own works or by our own merit, but by the grace of God through faith.

This means that we have peace with God, and we can approach Him with confidence, knowing that we have been forgiven and reconciled to Him.

As you meditate on Romans 5:9, remember that your salvation is a gift from God. You did not earn it and you do not deserve it, but it was freely given to you through faith in Jesus Christ.

Remember also, that your salvation came at a great cost – the Blood of Jesus Christ. May you never take for granted the sacrifice that He made on your behalf and may you live your life in a way that honors Him.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Faith, Thankfulness