February 3, 2004 Teusday
Emotional Vs. Spiritual

"I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision" - Acts 26:19

When Paul was on his course to Damascus he was eternally changed by Jesus Christ. Places such as the road to Damascus and Calvary separate those who are empowered by their emotions and those who are empowered by the very Spirit of Almighty God. And what Paul experienced on his way to Damascus was far more than the emotional rush that many glory in today - it was radical Spiritual transformation that brought him to a firm foundation of absolute obedience to the high calling of God. Emotionally charged people may enjoy talking about heavenly visions and matters concerning God while those who have been spiritually charged by the very power of God pouring forth from their souls simply display to the world a life of uncompromising obedience to the Gospel. Those who have committed their souls to Christ know precisely what they have been chosen for and will never turn back..."he is a chosen vessel unto me...I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake" (Acts 9:15,16). Our emotions are God's instruments for expressing ourselves to Him, but never to be confused with His Spirit, our only means of total sanctification to His will. The emotionally driven person is unable to even receive the heavenly vision of God for their life, for God knows that the weakness of their flesh will soon slither in to destroy all of their temporal, emotional charge. "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16). Paul remained obedient to the high calling of God for his life, until the very end, because he never stepped out of his walk in the Spirit to walk in his flesh...to give way to his emotions. Emotions cause us to say, "Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death" (Luke 22:33), but only the Spirit of God can drive us to such devotion. The purest emotions we can ever share towards God and others are those that flow out of our spirit as our life is consumed by His.