We are all students, ever growing in our faith. In what is your faith? Is it in Christ Jesus? Then continue to learn!

2 Desire without knowledge is not good–how much more will hasty feet miss the way!

8 The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.

27 Stop listening to instruction, my son [child], and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

The Spirit of God lives in our hearts. By the grace of God we live in Him. Jesus is the grace of God and He lives in our hearts. Therefore, this verse refers to the process of transformation that He is doing in our hearts:

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It [He] teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, Titus 2:11-12

We can learn all the verses in the Bible, but without the Spirit to interpret them for us, to tell us what they mean and how to apply them to our lives, to give us the desire to do them and the power to carry them out, we are back where we started. SALVATION is a one-time event, but it is also a process, SANCTIFICATION, which is Christ making us holy, setting us apart for Himself, making us to look like Him in character.

We will also be saved in the future, GLORIFICATION, where we receive our new bodies that do not have the sin nature in them anymore! Hallelujah!!!

13 while we wait for the blessed hope–the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Those who belong to Christ are eager to do good. Our first act of righteousness each morning is to acknowledge Christ’s presence and sovereignty in our lives for the day. Our next act of righteousness should be to immerse ourselves in His Word as we continue to fellowship with Him in prayer. In this way, we learn to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives–no matter how bad it gets out there!

Abba, I pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ that they will have that “higher desire” to rise above their own feelings and desires to make Your desires their priority. I know that when we do, Your love, joy and peace flow freely from Your throne as we enjoy Your presence! There is no higher honor and no greater blessing than communing with You even as we go about our day. Stretch us and grow us, O Lord. Give us that higher desire! Amen.