Lifetime Daily DevotionsSample

Inseparable. . . because the love of God has been poured out

within our hearts

 through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 5:5 (NAS)

 

            "Mrs. Gillham! Mrs. Gillham! (Mz. Gilum--for fifth graders!) Look! Look! There's a little green thing coming up out of my dirt!" Gene was ecstatic--and I was just as enthusiastic. Gene was in the process of learning wonderful lessons about God's beautiful green earth from a tiny seed that he had shoved into his vase of dirt with his finger.         

            I taught school for several years--fifth grade--and one of our most exciting, very favorite times was when a science project came to life as they watched it develop right in front of their very eyes--like growing an avocado sprout from that ugly, unlikely "seed" or watching the jonquil draw colored water into the tiny veins of the vibrant yellow blossom. You learn from watching something done and then you learn even more by doing it yourself.[1] I used to proudly say something like this: "I've learned two things in my life. Show me how to do it, and I can do it!" You talk about having confidence in me!

            A "show and tell" is much more effective than the written words in a "boring old book." Let me share with you one of the "show and tells" that I use when trying to convince someone that their salvation'Christ "coming into their heart"--is an "inseparable" phenomenon that became a part of their life at that moment in time. Yes. It is difficult to comprehend. It always has been from the very first time it was taught.[2] Remember the question that Nicodemus asked when Jesus told him, "You must be born again"? Do You mean that I have to get back in my mother's womb?" Jesus would say, "You may not understand it, my Friend, but you must believe it!"

            Do this with me.

            (1) Get a jar and fill it with clear water. Put a label on that jar, "YOU."

            (2) Get a small vial of "cake coloring" and label that vial "HOLY SPIRIT."

Quoting the above scripture, pour a small amount of the red coloring into "YOU." Watch the color flow gently into the clear water. Then ask the person with whom you are talking, "Can you separate the two? How would you do it? Would you say that those two elements are now indivisible?" Inseparable! Christ now lives IN you through His Holy Spirit![3]

            And that person might say, "Well, perhaps that happened at that point in time, but I can very definitely say that it is not that way any longer." Oh? How did this come "undone?" How did you separate the Spirit and you? No. It is just the way it was at the moment of your prayer asking Jesus to "come into me." One of the very important principles[4] of our faith is this: Nothing I do will make Jesus love me any more and nothing I do will make Jesus love me any less. Maybe one of these days a "little green thing will come up out of your cup of dirt" and you'll be ecstatic. "Mz. Gilum. Mz. Gilum! He's still there! He's still there!" But then, He promised never to leave. Remember?

           

Even when we are too weak to have any faith left, He remains faithful to us and will help us, for He cannot disown us who are part of Himself, and He will always carry out His promises to us (II Timothy 2:13 Taylor's Living Paraphrase).

             Have you ever seen this study analysis? I remember the first time that I saw it I heaved this huge sigh of relief: "So that's why I can't remember what the preacher said last Sunday morning (and it is only Tuesday!)."

 

STUDY ANALYSIS

NEGATIVE:

We forget 90-95% of what we hear in 72 hours.

We forget 70% of what we read in 72 hours.

We forget 50% of what we hear and read in 72 hours.

We forget 10% of what we hear, read and do in 72 hours.

POSITIVE:

We retain 5-10% of what we HEAR.

We retain 30% of what we READ.

We retain 50% of what we HEAR and READ.

We retain 90% of what we HEAR, READ and DO.

[1] Refer to the Study Analysis at the end of this devotional

[2] John 3:3-4

[3] John 4:14

[4] Principle: An unalterable fact