Toppled Cakes - It's The Christ Within

-
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me..."
Galatians 2:20
 My husband and I enjoy watching a particular baking show. I am by no means a great baker. But I learn a few things by watching others. The contestants have three opportunities each day to show off their baking talents.  Although the judges are looking for a spectacular appearance, they judge mostly by how the product tastes.  On one particular show the contestants were to bake an exquisite looking and tasting cake.  One contestant, after he had worked so hard on his beautiful several tiered cake, the cake toppled over just before he had to present it to the judges.  It didn't look too appetizing after that.  But when the judges tasted it, he still got good reviews on his cake- because of what was inside.

I thought about this along with the verse- "Christ lives in me".  It is the Christ within that matters most.  It is the fruit of our faith, and not just only our appearance.  True- after coming to Christ and allowing His nature to take over us, there should be a change in our appearance. Our countenance changes from sad to hopeful. When we are led by His Spirit the Christ within will check us on our outer appearance. It needs to line up with the Word of God. But know that we are not saved by how proper or religious we dress or look.  That has nothing to do with salvation.  It is the Christ within.

Some days I feel like that toppled cake. There are days when I don't look or feel my best.There are days when I don't do my best. I try to live a life pleasing to God, to live up to Romans 12:1,2- to not be conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of my mind. But sometimes I feel like all my efforts are in vain and I picture myself as that toppled cake.  Just a mess! But you know what?  God doesn't care so much about that.  He reassures me that He is more interested in what is inside my cake - my life - when it seems to topple.  What comes out of my  mouth?  How do I respond to others when I am going through a difficult time? What- or should I say - Who is in the inside?  This proves Who I am leaning on -  whether it is the flesh or the Christ within that is showing?  Everyone has their "bad" days.  I like to think of it as "good" days and "not so good" days. That's just me.  But the real question is: what is inside of my toppled cake?

Christ is continually being formed inside of me.  We are "progressively being transformed into His image from (one degree of) to (even more) glory which comes from the Lord (who is the Spirit) (Galatians 4:19 Amplified Version)

Has your cake fallen over? Do you feel like your life is in a mess?  Just remember,  God doesn't judge us by our appearance  (1 Samuel 16:7). He looks for the Christ within.


"...Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Colossians 1:27


~Donna

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Let Earth Receive Her King!

-
Image
  I love this time of year and I especially love the old Christmas carols. One of my favorites is “Joy to The World”. The words are so relevant to today. If you really look at the verses of many of the old carols, you get the whole picture of why Jesus came to earth as a baby. Many of them take you from the prophecies of old up to the age of glory when Christ shall rule and reign on this earth. One of the verses in “Joy to the World” says- “Let earth receive her King.” When Jesus walked on this earth many thought that He was going to set up His earthly kingdom at that time. In fact, most of His disciples and the Pharisees thought that He would .(See Luke 17: 20-24 ) But His kingdom was and is not of this world ( John 18:36 ). I was just reminded of this recently when I recalled the words of this song. We must let earth—receive Him as King- our “earth” meaning our lives. We are earthly- but we receive His spirit when we come to Him and allow Him to fill us with His Spirit. Sad
Read more

Extravagant Devotion Series ~ Introduction

-
Image
Scripture reference John 12:1-8; Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9 I saw this phrase “extravagant devotion” in one my study Bibles as it was describing Mary’s devotion for Christ.   It set me thinking and searching about my own devotion to God and what it was in Mary to have this phrase attributed to her. So, I began to do a little digging and praying. The Webster Dictionary defines “extravagant” as: "exceeding the limit of reason or necessity, lacking in moderation, balance and restraint, extremely or excessively elaborate and spending much more than necessary." There are a lot of moderate, balanced and restrained Christians in the Church today.   But God is seeking those a little “off balanced” with a lifestyle of giving “more than necessary” in their worship and devotion.   He is looking for those who display and live a life of “extravagant devotion” to Him.   This isn’t a fleshly display that we often see in churches and meetings today.   I personally
Read more

Embrace Expectancy

-
Image
 "My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him". Psalm 62:5     Back in December I had  been sensing a hovering of God’s Spirit over me, a nearness- just like a whisp of air that comes into a room. I try to stay open to what He is up to. I felt a quivering, a stirring deep within my spirit. In prayer, I sensed that something was being birthed in my spirit. Last year it was the Women’s meetings. I have no idea at this point what it is this time. I feel new life, a new anointing, a fresh vision coming.  It has been said that when women first sense that they are pregnant, carrying new life inside of them, that they will feel a quivering, a fluttering, like birds’ wings fluttering. That is how I was feeling. Before the end of the year I  purchased a new planner for my desk. I usually start filling it up with appointments, birthdays, etc. But I felt to do something I had never done before. I had Keith and me lay hands on it and dedicate the new year to
Read more