Resistance

Acts 7:51 English Standard Version (ESV) “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.

While we can rightly declare that Paul is chastising Jews of the day, we might want to look at the issue of circumcision of the heart and resisting the Holy Spirit as a possible problem for us. Once again we address personal attitudes when we address Christ in us.

If we see Him only as Savior, the Lordship part of Christ will find a way to reveal that part of His identity. While resistance is not rebellion in a heart that has received Him as a friend, resistance to correction will led to steps that might not be as soft as expected. Rebellion is not an option. Being force to surrender to His Lordship is more painful than surrendering freely.

Because Jesus Christ is fully man, He has a deep understanding of what it means to be human. His understanding is patient and kind. He also knows how best to change our attitude by changing our hearts. We might not recognize at first that our hearts are being changed by His presence. The rational mind resists change but we cannot deny our hearts.

Ezekiel 11:19 English Standard Version (ESV) And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,

A heart of flesh is tender unlike the stone heart. It takes some time for the rational mind to accept something supernatural has occurred within our human condition. Change the heart, train the mind, and the result is a change in attitude. We will eventually come to terms with who Christ is in us as God, Son of Man, Lord and Savior.

John 1:16 English Standard Version (ESV) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

From His fullness, all that He is in us, not just the parts we want to receive.

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