Lets Get Personal

Over 96 million smart phones are in use today in the United States. We love the techonolgy and the convenience of connecting with the world at any time of our choosing. When we purchase a new gadget, what is the first thing that we do? We personalize it. We put our contact info, our pictures, change the backgrounds, buy new apps. And don't forget that we connect to our facebook, twitter and linkedin accounts, to name a few. Seems that the world around us is srinking, and that everyone in the world is ordering their own private world, via google.

There are some spiritual parallels when we recieve Jesus as our savior. When we are born again, we are immediately renewed (spirit man) on the inside like a new born baby. Regardless of how old we are, we are newborn in our inner-man. When this happens, in a sense, God personalizes us by realigning our unique spiritual DNA with His. But over the course of time something happens as we start personalizing the kingdom of God to suit our own desires instead of His. We stop reflecting His image and start seeing our own image in place of His. When this happens, we may not realize it, but we can become guilty of idolatry. When we think of idolatry, we generally think of giant golden calfs or gargoyles on a temple roof. Actually idolatry is when we reduce God down to our size, and make Him do what we want Him to do, instead of what He wants to do in our lives. In essence we are making heaven more earthy instead of the way God intends. Our goal is not to bring earth to heaven, our goal is to bring heaven to earth! Take a look in the mirror today and tell me what do you see? May you see Him in all of His beauty.

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References:

Idolatry [ ahy-dol-uh-tree ]noun [plural i·dol·a·tries.]1. the religious worship of idols.2. excessive or blind adoration, reverence, devotion, etc. (dictionary.com)

John 3:1-8 There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” (NLT)

Psalms 139:14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. (NLT)

Matthew 6:10 May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. (NLT)

2 Corinthians 3:18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. (NLT)