When I was in first grade we were given a coloring book. Each page was designed to help us share and not be me-centered. Why is it so hard for children to learn to share? We are born with a sin nature.

I mentioned narcissists yesterday. Psychology says that it is a personality disorder. What does the Bible say? John 6:63 says that our flesh profits nothing. A biblical definition for narcissistic behavior would be: me-centered, selfish, self-idolatry, my way is the only way, and pure ego rooted in sinful words and actions.

What is Christ-centered? I had a favorite hymn when I was young that was my theme song. It is called “Others” and is a prayer. The chorus is: Others, Lord, yes others. Let this my motto be. Help me to live for others, that I might live for Thee.”

Galatians 5:16 says, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Can a true believer in Christ be a narcissist? Yes. When we seek our own way and demand that others follow us.

Proverbs 10:17 Amplified showed the contrast between being Christ-centered or self-centered. It says, “He who heeds instruction and correction is (not only himself) in the way of life (but also) IS a way of life for others. And he who neglects or refuses reproof (not only himself) goes astray (but also) causes to err and is a path toward ruin for others.”

Paul wrote to the Corinthians to follow his example. 1 Corinthians 11:1 says, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” Paul patterned his life after the life of Christ. As we read the four gospels, we can watch Jesus in action.

A person who lives in their flesh refuses all correction. They see nothing wrong in their behavior, because they are deceived and do not know it. Hebrews 3:13 warned, “…lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

Romans 8:5 says, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” Romans 6:11 says, “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Self-denial is a high watermark of an authentic follower of Jesus. I encourage you to read chapter one of 1 John. Jesus’ disciples personally walked with Jesus. Verse 1 says, “…which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life.”

John 1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” 1 John 2:6 says, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as Jesus walked.”

We gain our understanding of how Jesus walked as we daily read our Bibles. It is through His word that we become acquainted with Him. As we abide in Him, He abides in us, and draws us into intimate communion with Himself. 

2 Corinthians 3:18 says that as we gaze upon the Lord, we are transformed, “…into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Colossians 1:9-11 was Paul’s prayer for the folks in the Colosse church.

It is our template for being Christ-centered. Verse 9 says, “…that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” I will continue this tomorrow.

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True inner freedom says NO to our flesh. It is called self-denial. It comes up constantly in our journey of progressive sanctification. Matthew 16:24 says, “…If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

Following in Jesus’ footsteps looks like Psalm 85:13. It says, “Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make His footsteps our pathway.” That does not leave any room for our flesh. It is a narrow path. 

In Genesis 4:7 God instructed Cain. We do well to heed His words. It says, “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well,  sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

We were given dominion. That means that we are not to allow anyone or anything to rule over us. Years ago I heard a definition of the Jezebel spirit: controlling another through a spirit other than the Holy Spirit. What did Jezebel do? She took away Naboth’s inheritance through her witchcraft (1 Kings 21:1-16).

1 Samuel 15:23 says, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry…” The devil is crafty. He looks for those he can use against another. His goal is to permeate the body of Christ and bring division.

We each have a holy calling. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 says, “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” The Holy Spirit within us is our Leader. When we follow Him, we will be equipped to do the work the Lord has called us to do.

Beware, lest anyone try to usurp His place. We sin against God when we allow someone or something to take dominion. This pops up in interpersonal relationships in our families and within our local church. 

False teaching can creep in and lead us astray. In my lifetime, there have been numerous high profile men who created a dominated following through false doctrine. Matthew 15:8-9 says, “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me,

And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.” Verse 6 says, “…Thus you made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.” What tradition of man have you been sucked into? It makes me think of Tevye in “Fiddler On The Roof” singing, “Tradition!”

Remember the broken cisterns from Jeremiah 2:13? It is a great description of our flesh. It says, “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.”

I recently read a book for a friend about narcissists. Their main goal is to control others through their self-centered demands. When we receive satan’s lies, we will be controlled by them. Remember, that he seeks to divide. He uses others’ fleshly desires to control our freedom of choice.

An authentic follower of Jesus seeks to be controlled only by the Holy Spirit. He is our Fruit Producer. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…”

On the 4th of July, America celebrated the freedom of our nation. The Declaration Of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. 13 American colonies celebrated their independence from Great Britain. 

The moment we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we severed our allegiance to the prince of the power of the air. All control was broken through Jesus’ death for us. We entered into our freedom through dependence on the Lord.

John 8:36 says, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” This verse followed a very important truth for Jesus’ disciples—that’s us. John 8:31-32 says, “…If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Paul warned his readers about how not to use their freedom. Galatians 5:13 says, “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

We lose our freedom when we critically judge another. Romans 2:1 says, “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.”

We have many choices in our freedom in Christ. I’m reading through the book of Matthew as I type this. We still have a free will. When we veer off our progressive sanctification path, we will sin against the Lord.

Matthew 7:13 says, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.” The wide gate holds no restriction for our flesh.

Verse 14 says, “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Narrow to me means a tight squeeze, restriction on both sides, tunnel vision, and no way to turn back. It reminds me of being inside an MRI machine.

Romans 14:4 says, “Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.” Each one of our hearts is open before the Lord. Nothing is hidden. Every thought is known by Him even before we think it.

Therefore we will continue to walk in our freedom when we are attentive to the Holy Spirit. He will ‘check’ us when we are still in the thought stage. At that moment we have a choice. We can submit to His way, or chose to go our own fleshly way. More on this tomorrow.

We were once controlled by the prince of the power of the air, according to Ephesians 2:2-3. We lived in sin with no thought. We were born with a sin nature. We were programmed to sin.

I love verse 4 which says “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us.” Salvation took us from the slave block of sin, to freedom in Christ. Our moment of acceptance, of Him as our Savior and Lord, transferred us from darkness to light.

Here is a new song entitled Extravagant Oil Of Joy. It birthed something new in me, especially the line, “…knowing Your joy as You behold me.” Each time I sing this song back to the Lord, it expands the walls of my heart afresh with awe.

Extravagant Oil of Joy

I lift my unveiled face to gaze into Your face. Face to face I behold You as You behold me. No veil separates us. No fear of being known. We have intimate communion. Our hearts are knit as one.

I stand O Lord in Your presence unashamed. All guilt is washed away. All condemnation is cleansed. Through the blood. Through the shed blood of Jesus.

With joy I lift my heart in song. A song that flows through me like a river. A song that cascades and rushes to be expressed. In pure worship knowing Your joy as You behold me.

O the wonder. The marvelous wonder and awe. All my sins are cleansed in the power of Your blood. Let my joy be a fragrance that delights Your heart O God. An extravagant oil poured upon Your feet in worship.

Do you see yourself through the eyes of the Lord? Do you drink in His Presence as He delights in beholding you? What amazing grace that we can dwell in His Presence. There is comfort to know and acknowledge that He knows every nook and cranny of my heart, yet embraces me in all of His fullness.

This takes us back to yesterday’s devotional. Are the things that He delights in our delight as well? I think of Mary. John 12:3 says, “Then Mary took a pound of verse costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.”

What prompted Mary to expend something so valuable. Luke 10:38 says, “…Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.” She drank in His Presence. Her heart was full of love for Him. She carried the fragrance of their intimate communion. Do you?

Psalm 107:9 says, “For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” Have you tasted His goodness? Jeremiah 31:14 says, “I will satiate the soul of the priests with abundance, and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the Lord.” Satiate means to fill to the full.

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When we answer this question, we will see other ways we can partake of His nature. Here are some verses that speak about His desire, His pleasure, and some of the things that He delights in.

I pondered Isaiah 58:13-14 as I read it. What would my life look like to call the Sabbath a delight? The Amplified says, “If you turn away your foot from (traveling unduly on) the Sabbath, from doing your own pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a (spiritual) delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and honor Him and it, not going your own way or seeking or finding your own pleasure or speaking with your own (idle) words. Then will you delight yourself in the Lord…”

Psalm 147:11 Amplified says, “The Lord takes pleasure in those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy.” Psalm 69:30-31 says, “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.”

He delights in mercy (Micah 7:18). Those who deal truthfully (Proverbs 12:22). Pleasure in uprightness (1 Chronicles 29:17). Truth in the inward parts (Psalm 51:6). A just weight (Proverbs 11:1). Blameless in their ways (Proverbs 11:20). Children obey their parents (Colossians 3:20). Prayer of the upright (Proverbs 15:8). Do good and share (Hebrews 13:16).

Jeremiah 9:24 says, “But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness on the earth. For in these I delight, says the Lord.”

Hosea 6:6 says, “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” Knowing Him through intimate communion is His desire and delight. We enter into His nature when we delight in the things that delight Him. The more time we spend with Him, we enter into His nature so that we also can reflect Him to others.

Here is the capstone that touches all. 2 Peter 3:9 Amplified says, “The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.”

In all the above verses, I believe that He wants us to share in His utmost desire for all to be saved. We enter into His nature when we share Him with others. On June 27, 2021 I heard this and wrote it in the front of my Bible. All who know me would know Jesus.

We are absolutely dependent on the Lord. He is not dependent on anyone or anything. Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God…” Psalm 90:1-2 says, “Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting. You are God.” 

This takes us back to many Scriptures. Psalm 86:8 says, “Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; nor are there any works like Your works.” Verse 10 says,  “For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God.”

Psalm 145:3 says, “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.” Psalm 2:4 continually declares His sovereignty over those who seek to oppose Him. It says, “He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision.”

In the end, 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 clearly sets the record straight—totally revealing His sovereignty once and for all. Verse 18 says, “Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who puts all things under Him, that God may be all in all.”

I love to think about His attribute of Self-Existent. It means that He has no barriers, no fences, and absolutely nothing that can limit Him in any way. When we partake of this part of His nature, we are hidden in all that He is at all times.

One day I was driving and had a full blown panic attack through a thought that flitted into my mind. I was in the left lane with trucks on my right. I had no place to get off. I felt like I was fighting for my life. I began rehearsing the Lord’s attribute of Self-Existent.

My whole trembling body came under that umbrella and calmed. I literally shared in His nature by seeing myself hidden inside the One who has no barriers or limitations. He not only sustained me, but kept me safe from harm or harming others through that unexpected attack.

He is Lord Over All. Psalm 97:9 says, “For You, Lord, are most high above all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods.” David was surrounded by Saul and his army. I often visit his words in Psalm 18. The whole Psalm speaks to and strengthens my spirit.

Verse 1-2 says, “I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” We could camp in each one of these attributes through our focused thoughts.

Romans 1:20 says, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.”

Genesis 1:26 says that we are all made in God’s image. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.”

In A. W. Tozer’s book, “Knowledge Of The Holy” he wrote that there are attributes of God that are not known to us. Romans 11:33 says, “Oh, the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!”

Yet He reveals Himself to His children who love Him and keep His word. John 14:21 says, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

He makes Himself known to us through our trials. Manifest, in the Greek, is two words “in” and “to cause to shine.” Defining words are: to appear, come to view, reveal, exhibit, make visible, present oneself to the sight of another, to declare, to make known.

1 Corinthians 2:9 says that our eyes have not seen, our ears have not heard, nor has our heart comprehended the things God has prepared for those who love Him. Verse 10 Amplified says “Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit…”

Paul went on to explain what the Holy Spirit does for us. “…the (Holy) Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound  and bottomless things of God (the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man’s scrutiny).”

The Lord reveals His hidden attributes through our intimate communion with Him. His whispered words penetrate our heart. We gaze upon Him with unveiled faces. We behold Him as He beholds us.

Psalm 25:14 Amplified says, “The secret (of the sweet, satisfying companionship) of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them its (deep, inner) meaning.”

It is communing with Him through His word that we learn about His unsearchable attributes. Think of a few ways He revealed Himself through His laws to His children Israel. Through David’s Psalm 19 we read various ways His word works in us.

Verse 7 says, “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” Verses 8 through 11 states, they are right, pure, enlighten the eyes, true, righteous, and give us warning.

Our progressive sanctification is a journey into the heart of God. He meets us where we are, and leads us deeper in our communion with Him. He reveals Himself through ways we have not experienced Him before. Let nothing on this earth rival your intimate communion.

I woke up with this thought: No other gods before Me. It took me back to Isaiah 45. Verses 5, 6, 14, 18, 21, and 22 say that same thing. Verse 21 says, “…And there is no other God besides Me, a just God and a Savior; there is none besides Me.”

At salvation we were positionally and forever set apart for the Lord. No one and nothing else. That is our standing. Nothing can alter that truth. Yet our daily walk with the Lord is a journey of being kept continuously set apart for Him. There are ebbs and flows on our part.

When we choose to sin, we depart from our close fellowship. When we confess our sin, we are reunited in fellowship. That is the ebb and the flow. John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

Hiding God’s truth in our heart is an essential life skill for our progressive sanctification. It is the truth that we live in, and make our own, that brings inner transformation. Hebrews 13:21 says, “Make you complete in every good work to do His will…”

We depart from His process of conforming our will to His will through our thoughts first. All actions are based on our thoughts. His design in verse 21 continued, “…working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Picture His working His word into our heart through the eyes and actions of a potter. They first take the hard packed clay. It has to be softened with water and kneaded until it can be formed into a malleable ball.

That is just the beginning. While the wheel is spinning the potter adds more water, until it freely slips around their hands. Then they must apply intense pressure to center the clay. Until it is centered nothing useful can be formed. 

Hebrews 12:7 Amplified says, “You must submit to and endure (corrections) for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not (thus) train and correct and discipline?” Verse 10 says of this process, “…He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.”

2 Peter 1:4 says, “By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature…” We embrace His centering processes by clinging to His promises, as we enter into His very nature through our thoughts. More on this tomorrow.