You Are Not Your Own

Today's reading is 1 Corinthians 6:12-15, and I think David did a great job of covering these verses on Sunday, so if you would like more insight into these verses, have a listen to David's sermon by following this link: http://www.northsidechristian.com/connect/sermons/.

I want to share some thoughts from a verse that just keeps playing in my mind, like a record that is scratched and it just keeps repeating a certain line in a song: You are not your own. You were bought with a price. If you are keeping up with the daily readings, you will read it tomorrow. And I hope you spend as much time meditating on those two statements as I have lately.

Personally, the thing that keeps coming back to me is the idea of a slave. I have never experienced slavery, and I certainly hope I never do. But the idea presented by these two statements is that I am not free to do what I want because Christ has purchased me as a slave. I am only to do what he tells me to do.

Now the reality is that I am a slave to Christ, but he is the most loving master ever. I am supposed to do what he tells me to do, but how do I know what he tells me to do? This is where my meditation has really been hitting me. I am supposed to read God's Word. The apostle John even called Jesus the Word in the beginning of his gospel. I have to be in God's Word on a daily basis, as much as possible. But there is more to it than that. If you back up just before Paul says that I am not my own, he says that the Holy Spirit dwells in us, an by extension, I know the Holy Spirit dwells in me, personally. If that is true, then I have the perfect resource to help me to know what Jesus tells me to do.

So here is the question for you...do you spend time allowing the Holy Spirit to speak into your life? I admit, the idea of the Holy Spirit speaking to me is a little bit freaky. I am not sure if I am afraid of it or if I just don't believe it. How do I know if it is the Holy Spirit or myself or Satan? And the doubts and questions could go on.

Sometimes I think God is the one who created a system of checks and balances. He gave us His Word, and that is a major source of truth. Then He gave us His Holy Spirit, and Jesus said the Holy Spirit will teach us all things (John 14:26) and guide us into all truth (John 16:13). If I believe the Word of God, then I must also not ignore the Holy Spirit dwelling in me. As much as it tests my faith in God, and freaks me out, I must not quench the Spirit of God. Why would I want to do that?

So here is my encouragement to you: Spend time in two-way prayer. Don't just speak to God, but listen. And when you are listening for the Holy Spirit, allow him to speak in ways you may not be comfortable with. Allow him to push you to do things you wouldn't ordinarily do. And submit yourself to His leading. And if you are unsure if you are hearing from Him or yourself or Satan, that is when it becomes imperative that you are in the Word daily. You must know the Word in order to know the Spirit, and you must know the Spirit in order to know the Word. See, checks and balances.

Spend time with God today.

- Gary