June 26

There is a direct correlation between what we truly believe regarding Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord and how we live our lives. Oh, yes, we may have engaged in all manner of sinfulness prior to receiving Him into our hearts, but once we have given our lives to Him, there should be a complete and discernable difference in us.

Foremost in our mind is the realization that we are no longer our own, for we have been bought with a price—the shed blood of Jesus that cleanses us of sin and shame. In I John 2:4-6, this awareness is stated very clearly. It leaves no doubt that the individual who counts himself as the Lord’s will allow Him to transform his behavior.

“He who says he knows Him but neglects to keep His commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him. But, whoever keeps His Word, in him is the love of God perfected and it is in the keeping of the Word that we know we are truly in Him. The person who says he abides in Jesus will walk as He walked.”

Indeed, to walk as He walked is a formidable endeavor, for Jesus walked perfectly. He walked without ever diverging from the path of righteousness. He walked without sin. We can do that only as we put our hand in His and follow Him. The One who truly loves the Lord will allow himself to be brought from darkness into His glorious Light.