Living Life for Christ Alone

Two kingdoms are at war in this world: the kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of Light.  And every human you or I meet is in one kingdom or the other.  Everyone was born into the kingdom of darkness. But some have been transferred from that kingdom into the Kingdom of Light.  It is interesting to me how we expect so much from those who still live in that kingdom of darkness.  We expect them to love what is right and protect it.  We expect them to treat others with kindness and respect and for that kindness and respect to endure the harshest treatments.  We expect them to not fall for the enemy's lies and believe that God's ways are not really the right way.  But, really, should we expect so much from those who are under the sway of the wicked one?  Should we be surprised when they embrace wickedness wholeheartedly?  "...The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one." (1 John 5:19) Do we really think the wicked one would sway the world in favor of God and His

“But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:17) Shuts up his heart. Makes it so that the needy person has no access to the tenderest emotions that are felt there.   In a world that encourages us to put up walls and shut people out who hurt us, Jesus lifts high a different banner. He shows us a better, more beautiful way. But it is the way of the cross; the way of true, heavenly love.   You can’t truly lay down your life with your heart shut up –walls up, roof on, windows and doors locked. If your heart is inaccessible, so are the tenderest emotions that are needed to love another human being. And if compassion and tender love are not an ingredient in laying down your life, you aren’t laying it down.   But the risk involved in opening  your heart to another human being is huge. How many would dare go to that extreme for someone?   Many have been so hurt by others that they have s

"A mirror?" She questioned. "You want to show me a mirror?" "Yes, but not just any mirror," He said. He motioned for her to look in the mirror, so she did. It was the same reflection she saw every other time she looked into a mirror, but this time, she looked with the Spirit of Christ alongside her.  "There are many ways you can look at yourself," He spoke gently to her. Peering in, she realized it was true.  Suddenly, she was seeing herself as she imagined others saw her. Some of what she saw made her gasp in horror.  "I did not know I looked like that to them," She thought, "Must I always be conscious of this?" "Ah, but that is not all there is," He said. "Look deeper."  She looked again, but nothing had changed. She shook her head. "I'm not sure how to look deeper."  He reached out and touched a veil that seemed to cover over her face. It was the veil that covered everything about her that