New life in Christ is mind altering, life changing, soul rending, and heart wrenching. I liken it unto a gutted house. The Holy Spirit is the construction manager. He rips out the old, re-constructs the interior walls, replaces the windows, changes the paint, and accessorizes mind, body, soul, and heart. He moves in--not in the guest room--but the entire home. My open-door to Christ gives Him eternal occupancy, God's grace allows me residence.
Liberty grants me freedom to move in my own furniture, and rest in the comfort of God's foundational support. The Spirit sets the alarm system to warn me of intruders and thieves who might try to enter with clear intent to vandalize, destroy, and steal my peace. While my body is on this earth, my liberty couples with responsibility to maintain and follow the directives of the eternal Owner. He's rather holier-than-me in His idea of what He allows to go on into the house of His Father. He gives me discernment to ascertain who I should invite in to have conversations with my mind. He gives me wisdom to know who to allow to hold my heart. He gives me explicit directives and common sense to determine what is best to care for my body. He gives me His Spirit to guide me, to feed me as I worship Him. He stocks my pantry with love, kindness, joy, forgiveness, gentleness, peace, generosity, and self-control. He gives me gifts to use for inviting others to meet Him. If I neglect my home, He sends in work crews to help in its completion. Sometimes these crews must rewire and restructure. That's okay. I gave Him my life and trust His blueprint of righteousness.
Jesus set me free to live in His new life...not mine. He paid the price for my release from darkness. I belong to Him, I have a responsibility to Him, and my wholeness has no room for self without His approval. I waken each morning and drink of faith to stand in His strength and rest in His watchcare. There is a struggle in this world. There is a battle every day. With Christ in residence, I can answer the door with confidence.
"For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12.
