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This morning I was thinking of a conversation
that I keep having....   
The quandary of James....   
Believing AND Doing....    

I know I don't live in relationship with Jesus by what I do...    
but what I believe.....   
BUT if what I believe is not impacting 
what I do.....  
am I believing?.....      

In John's first letter he 'paints it'
very black and white.
I am
in or out...
- Jesus
- devil

3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you.
Whoever practices righteousness
is righteous,
as he (Jesus) is righteous.
8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning
is of the devil,
for the devil has been sinning from the beginning.
The reason the Son of God appeared
was to destroy the works of the devil.
9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning,
for God’s seed abides in him,
and he cannot keep on sinning
because he has been born of God.
10 By this it is evident who are the children of God,
and who are the children of the devil:
whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God,
nor is the one who does not love his brother.

Back in John's Gospel chapt 3
Jesus tells Nicodemus that "He must be born again"
He must have a new 'nature' ref Jn 3:3-8
not the nature of Adam
but of
Jesus....
The 'seed' of God
The Origin or Source or Beginning..... God

Apparently only
2 Sources.
- God
- the devil

And I can choose to be 'born again'.....
so that when I DO righteousness
it reflects
Who I AM.
A son of God.

Lord Jesus
I know it's not supposed to be complicated
but it is so easy to get this backwards
Believe (in You)
Receive (from You)
Be changed (into Your likeness)

I listen and walk in recognition
of who I am (becoming)
that what I DO would have Your
'fingerprints'

Thank You.

PJ