Initially we trust in our ignorance, calling it innocence, and next we trust our innocence, calling it purity. Then when we hear these strong statements from our Lord, we shrink back, saying, “But I never felt any of those awful things in my heart.” We resent what He reveals. Either Jesus Christ is the supreme authority on the human heart, or He is not worth paying any attention to. Am I prepared to trust the penetration of His Word into my heart, or would I prefer to trust my own “innocent ignorance”? If I will take an honest look at myself, becoming fully aware of my so-called innocence and putting it to the test, I am very likely to have a rude awakening that what Jesus Christ said is true, and I will be appalled at the possibilities of the evil and the wrong within me. But as long as I remain under the false security of my own “innocence,” I am living in a fool’s paradise. If I have never been an openly rude and abusive person, the only reason is my own cowardice coupled with the sense of protection I receive from living a civilized life. But when I am open and completely exposed before God, I find that Jesus Christ is right in His diagnosis of me.

The only thing that truly provides protection is the redemption of Jesus Christ. If I will simply hand myself over to Him, I will never have to experience the terrible possibilities that lie within my heart. Purity is something far too deep for me to arrive at naturally. But when the Holy Spirit comes into me, He brings into the center of my personal life the very Spirit that was exhibited in the life of Jesus Christ, namely, the Holy Spirit, which is absolute unblemished purity.

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Journal Entry for Today-JDV

July 26, 2010

I don’t know why, but I am still surprised by the carnal things I can say and do when I am not connected to the Spirit of God. Perhaps it is innocence, but I suspect it is ignorance, or even arrogance.  

And God says…”When your spirit is connected to My Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ is living through you, you are protected and directed. When you choose to be “on your own” you are either ignorant or arrogant. There is no innocence left in your nature.

You fight against powers and principalities you cannot see, and without connection you have and will fail…continuously. You have struggled over and over and are often frustrated that you cannot demonstrate more growth and maturity. However, you are beginning to learn that the only REAL maturity is the knowledge that apart from Me you can do nothing. Apart from Me you are vulnerable and subject to carnal thoughts and deeds. Just when you know you should demonstrate your Christian maturity, you do not. Just when Jesus is needed to act through you, you find you have chosen to be disconnected from Him. Allowing Jesus to live through you is a decision. You must let go of your life.

Just as Paul said, even when you want to do right, you do not. Who is to save you from the carnal man you can become? It is already done. Jesus took all your carnal thoughts and deeds; past present and future, and nailed them to the cross. When you asked Jesus into your life, He came into your life with the goal of living through you. All you must do is stay connected. You accomplish this by allowing Jesus to live through you. Simply ask, and then receive.