Today’s devotional: Becoming Whole in Christ
How do you measure success in your life? Most of us would probably list things like happiness, financial security, a satisfying career, or good relationships with others as indicators of a successful life.
Those are certainly good things, but the Bible sets a different and more compelling standard for our lives than simple material happiness and stability. According to this Our Daily Bread devotional, human beings find true fulfillment when they become whole:
The issue was not happiness, prosperity, or satisfaction, but wholeness. This is the great need of us all.
In the King James Version of the Bible, the word whole is often used to describe Jesus’ work of physical healing. When the Lord encountered a man who had been an invalid for 38 years, He asked, “Wilt thou be made whole?” (John 5:5-6 KJV). After Jesus healed the man, He challenged him to also embrace spiritual wholeness: “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you” (v.14).
If we only want something Jesus can do for us, our relationship with Him will be limited. When we want Jesus Himself, He brings completeness to our lives. Christ wants, first and foremost, to make us whole.
Consider the last 24 hours of your life. Are your actions and thoughts during that time characterized by wholeness? As you go through your day today, take a few moments to think through these questions:
- Does your life feel “whole”? Why or why not?
- Is there such a thing as an incomplete, or “limited,” relationship with Jesus? What would that look like?
- What change does Jesus bring into your life when he makes you whole?
i love the LORD JESUS one thing i cant figure out is why JESUS wont heal my back or hasnt yet.regardlesss i still love him.may GOD BLESS who reads this
I read the phrase “the battle Jesus won”. With some of us, it would seem you once had decided you wanted the Lord Jesus Christ and hopefully success or wholeness will follow, for He’s the Source. But, then, your Jesus turns out to be “in constant battle”. That’s the Lord whom you’ve wanted and chosen. The rest has nothing to do with success or even wholeness. And the truism, “the world doesn’t understand it for it’s not of this world” — this aggravates your doubts. Your assurance and comfort: the record shows it’s “the battle Jesus won”. You realize you just have to have faith, hope — and to assure yourself that these are yours you obey to your best the command; and so you, too, in little ways youinvest in loving, loving God and loving people (and your Bible).
I read the phrase “the battle Jesus won”. With some of us, it would seem you once had decided you wanted the Lord Jesus Christ and hopefully success or wholeness will follow, for He’s the Source. But, then, your Jesus turns out to be “in constant battle”. That’s the Lord whom you’ve wanted and chosen. The rest has nothing to do with success or even wholeness. And the truism, “the world doesn’t understand it for it’s not of this world” — this aggravates your doubts. Your assurance and comfort: the record shows it’s “the battle Jesus won”. You realize you just have to have faith, hope — and to assure yourself that these are yours you obey to your best the command; and so you, too, in little ways you invest in loving, loving God and loving people (and your Bible).
I thank GOD for saving a sinner like me.He is a big GOD.
He will never leave us or forsake us.We fail him he will never fail us.
Jesus still heals today, don’t be discouraged by seemingly unanswered prayers. Keep asking, seeking and knocking in faith, chase out the doubts with the powerful word of God. God heals even today and he makes whole everyday.
1. Does your life feel “whole”? Why or why not? MY LIFE DEFINITELY HAS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. I WANT GOD’S WILL IN MY LIFE BUT THERE ARE SO MANY TIMES I AM LEAD BY TEMPTATION, AND THE EARTHLY THINGS AND NOT BY SPIRITUAL THINGS. I WANT GOD’S BLESSINGS AND I WANT TO BE THE WOMAN HE CREATED ME TO BE.
2. Is there such a thing as an incomplete, or “limited,” relationship with Jesus? What would that look like? IF WE ARE MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE AND ALL OUR LIFE IS SPENT FACING TRIALS TO MOLD AND SHAPE US INTO THE PEOPLE GOD CREATED US TO BE THERE ARE PARTS OF US THAT PROBABLY LOOK LIKE GOD AND PARTS THAT DON’T (SPIRITUALLY ANYWAYS)
3. What change does Jesus bring into your life when he makes you whole? I HAVE STARTED DOING DEVOTIONALS DAILY,B UT IT SEEMS BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN MY LIFE I HAVE LOST MY FIRE AND AM DWINDLING ON BURNING COALS…I’M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO TO RENEW MY SPIRIT, BUILD MY FAITH AND REVIVE MY SOUL BUT I KNOW SPIRITUALLY I CAN HAVE BETTER AND BE BETTER BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN THERE BEFORE AND BEEN BLAZING FOR CHRIST. I NEED THAT BACK!!
Romans 12:2 says Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and pefect will of God.
You can only renew your mind by studying and meditating on the word of God.