BIGGER HOUSES
Greg and Nanette Robinson
Today’s Scripture: "... to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24, ESV
Theme: The Lord sanctifies us so that we might be renewed and made holy.
PUTTING OFF THE OLD SELF
There is a popular country song called “Bigger Houses” by the country duo Dan and Shay. The first verse of the song begins: “Used to dream about buying that bigger house sitting on top of some hill/ Losing sleep about filling my bank account wondering if I ever will…” “Bigger Houses” is a metaphor of our worldly desires. It represents those things we falsely believe that, if we could just possess them, would bring us joy and contentment. Before surrendering my life to Christ I, (Greg), was lost in a spiritual desert – empty, unfulfilled, unsatisfied, tired, thirsty and searching for something more in life. There was no house big enough, no car fast enough, no job prestigious enough, no worldly pleasure satisfying enough to fill the emptiness of my soul. In my personal desperation, Jesus began knocking on my spiritual door. Through His pursuit, a conviction rose within me that there were things in my life that needed to change.
PUTTING ON THE NEW SELF
One night in the quietness of my apartment I heard Billy Graham preaching during one of his TV evangelical crusades. He invited those watching to give their lives to Jesus Christ. He proclaimed Jesus’s love for us and that all who were weary could come to Jesus and find rest. Quoting the words of Jesus, he said, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life,” (John 4:13-14, ESV). He ended the crusade with an urgent invitation for everyone to come just as they were and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Thousands of people got up out of their seats at the stadium where he was preaching and went down to the field, publicly dedicating their lives to Jesus Christ. I fell on my knees in a puddle of tears, confessed my sinfulness, surrendered my life to Him and asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. Confidently, I got up from my knees ready to fully engage the newness of life I had found in Jesus! It was as if a spring of new life was welling up inside of me.
CHANGING FROM THE INSIDE OUT
As I began pursuing a Christ-centered life, reading the Bible, going to church and fellowshipping with other believers, the Holy Spirit began to transform me from the inside out. For a Christ follower, this is a lifelong process called sanctification is where we grow in righteousness and holiness, transforming ourselves more authentically into the likeness of God. Spoiler alert… I have not lived my life perfectly since accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Every day I fall short of doing the things I know that God would have me do. Having said that, I’m so thankful for the joy, protection, wisdom and spiritual gifts that God has blessed me with and no longer take satisfaction in wrongdoing or worldly pleasures. I no longer seek fulfillment from “bigger houses” but rather from the joy of blessing others and from the satisfaction of pleasing my heavenly Father. Spiritually, I’m nowhere near where I want to be, but God’s not done with me yet!
Make It Personal: In the chorus of Dan and Shay’s song, they conclude… “Theres always going to be a higher high you could chase for the rest of your life. You’re never gonna fill an empty cup if what you have is not enough. The thing about happiness I’ve found is it don’t live in bigger houses.” Trust in Jesus. He will fill your cup to overflowing with living water and spiritual blessings. The highest high any of us can ever know is boldly living a Christ-centered life empowered by the Holy Spirit of God!
Pray: God, I need Your presence in my life every minute of the day. Protect me from the sinfulness and evilness of this world with a hedge of protection. Convict me of my unrighteousness and make it so that I put the needs of others before my own. I want to walk in trust and faith. Lord, every day please show me the way. I want to love You with my heart and soul and strength. Father, let my life bring You joy… Amen!
Read: Mathew 11:28-30; John 4:14; Revelation 3:20; Romans 3:22-24
Weekly Memory Verse: “Keep my statutes and do them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you.” Leviticus 20:8, ESV