Believer

The Spirit of God lives in you. That’s the amazing truth for every true believer. And when the Spirit of Christ lives in us, that changes everything.

Isn’t a Christian supposed to be “aw shucks” humble? Aren’t believers meant to hide in a corner and not let the right hand know what the left hand is doing? Aren’t believers expected to refrain from showing off? Not according to Jesus.

Salt, a mineral vital to life, is unlike anything else. It has a distinct taste, which is imparted to anything with which it is mixed. It is used as a seasoning and a preservative. Salt makes an impact! Even a little salt sprinkled in a bowl of soup or on a pile of fries changes the taste of the food.

Saving Private Ryan is an epic World War II war film that follows the search for James Ryan, the last surviving brother of four servicemen. The search is led by an army ranger captain named John Miller. Ryan is located, but on the return journey, Miller is gravely injured. As he dies, he whispers to Ryan, “Don’t waste this.” Ryan carried those words throughout his life. Years later, he broke down when he and his family visited Miller’s grave in Normandy. Through tears, he asked his wife, “Am I a good man?” He wanted his life to be significant, not wasted, for the man who had saved him.

Peter’s list of vices is a repulsive reminder of our lives apart from Christ. The sins noted above were not occasional places we visited. We were “living in” them. These offenses characterized our lives and defined who we were. But now things are different. We spent enough time in the past living like pagans chasing after human desires. Now it’s time to follow hard after Christ.

The Spirit of truth reveals to the believer the truths of God’s Word.

God in the flesh surrendered himself, entering Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. He continued to yield all the way to the cross. The charge of the believer is to follow that example of humble relent.

Our hope is fixed in Jesus. He died for our sins and rose again from the dead. His Spirit empowers us during our time on this earth, and we know that the moment we are absent from the body, we will be present with the Lord.

It gives God no greater joy than to see that his children are walking in the truth.