Daily Living With Jesus

 Living daily in relationship to Jesus is not always easy. Sometimes it is easier to live like we want and occasionally make big sacrifices.

God tells King Saul to wipe out the Amalekites. Instead, Saul spares the Amalekite king and some of the best of the livestock. When Samuel confronts Saul about this, Saul tells Samuel that he was planning to use the livestock to make sacrifices.

In 1 Samuel 15:22 Samuel responds to Saul by saying, “Has the Lord as great delight in offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of God? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.”

The reality is that daily relating to and obeying Jesus is hard. Paul shares with us some ways that we can better relate to Jesus daily and obediently follow Him.

Galatians 2:1-2a

Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preached among the Gentiles.

We live based on God’s truth.

God’s truth is everything that He reveals to us.

In John 1:14 we are told that Jesus is full of grace and truth.

In John 14:6 we are told that Jesus is truth.

In John 16:13 we are told that the Holy Spirit leads us into truth.

In John 17:17 we are told that God’s Word is truth.

When we live in the truth of God’s revelation, we live in security. Paul had confidence in his living and in what he taught because it was based on the truth of God’s revelation.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is living based on the revelation of God through Jesus.

Galatians 2:2b

But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain.

We live inviting godly counsel.

In Proverbs, we are given great advice about receiving godly counsel.

In Proverbs 15:22 we are told that without godly counsel, plans fail.

In Proverbs 20:18 we are told that through godly counsel, plans are established.

In Proverbs 21:30 we are told that without godly counsel, it will gain us nothing.

One of the great gifts God has given us is counsel through godly people.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is getting godly counsel.

Galatians 2:3

Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was Greek.

We live based in grace, not law.

Living daily in relationship with Jesus is about relating to Jesus, not following a list of rules and regulations.

Following Jesus is not a formula. It is about working out your salvation. It is listening and relating to Jesus.

It is knowing that we will blow it at some point and knowing that God’s grace will overcome our sin and failures.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is trusting in God’s grace, not our goodness.

Galatians 2:4

This matter arose, because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.

We live in Christ’s freedom, not slavery.

In John 8:31-32 Jesus said that His disciples will know the truth and the truth will make them free.

Sin brings slavery.

Jesus brings freedom.

In John 8:44 Jesus tells us that Satan is a liar and that everything he says is a lie. If we live based on a lie, we live in slavery. If we live based in truth, then we will live in freedom. God’s desire is that we live in freedom and use that freedom to serve others, not ourselves.   

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is living in the freedom of God’s truth.

Galatians 2:5

We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain in you.

We live in God’s truth, not in people’s opinion.

If we try and live based on what others think, we will look very much like a dog who is chasing his tail.

We will live life going around in circles, not making any forward progress.

Jesus’ agenda was set by what the Father told Him, not what others wanted. We see Jesus having a single-mindedness and confidence in His daily life.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is living confidently daily according to God’s truth.

Living based on Emotions or Selfish Ambition or Our Human Wants or

Others Opinions is easy. Making occasional sacrifices is easy.

Living in a loving, intimate, obedient relationship day in and day out is hard. Our calling to do it comes from God the Father. Our example to do it comes from God the Son. Our power to do it comes from God the Spirit.

Living Daily with Jesus Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls

                                            Joe