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God's Words For US
by Cecelia Lester
“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God; the benefits you reap lead to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” Romans 6:22 (NIV)
Paul writes to the believers in Rome. He reminds them God has set them free from their sinful pasts. Further, he relates they have become God’s servants.
When people ask Jesus to come into their hearts, they receive certain “benefits.” Believers have peace, wholeness, eternal life, the Holy Spirit, and His gifts. These benefits work together in our hearts to set us apart for God’s service. He sanctifies—separates us from the secular and the sinful for a sacred purpose. 1.
Recently, in Sunday school, we heard of Mother Teresa’s history. Her father died when she was a child. She felt called by God to go to India to minister to the people there. She never saw her homeland in Macedonia again.
I have always admired her for her work and for her living out her faith. God prepared her for the task He gave her to do.
Do we see holiness in our 21Century world? Yes, if we look for it. With all the terror and violence in our world, there are pockets of calm. We ask the Holy Spirit to be in our worship services because Jesus’ people need a respite from the day-to-day trials they have.
These trials may be personal or interpersonal. News events cause them to grieve. In church, we never know the personal trauma the person sitting beside us or in front of us goes through in their lives—personal or family illness or both, financial issues, lack of employment, problems or concerns involving their children.
When we ask Jesus to take over those difficult issues in our lives, he is able to quiet our hearts and can work in our lives. Others can see Him in you.
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1. The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, Moody Press, Chicago, revised 1988, page 1124
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Cecelia Lester has been serious about her writing for over two decades..
She composes Christian essays and posts them to her blog quietspirit-followingmyking.blogspot.com/
She has served in a faith-based organization, Grace In Action by writing two newsletters and searching for possible grants.
In July 2017, she published her first book, 'Times of Trouble Bring Rays of Joy.'
She and her husband of 54 years live in central Indiana. They have one grown son.
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