[Yellow Balloons Series] The Recipe for Victory Sample

A Transplant

Our right standing before God is the result of Jesus’ sacrifice. The only reason we can go boldly to the throne of grace in time of need (Hebrews 4:16) is because of him. Our relationship with God was made possible because of Jesus. The Bible also tells us that Jesus is the Word (John 1:1) and that the Word of God is living and powerful, a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). 

God knows us very well, intimately; there is no creature hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and open to his eyes, and one day, we will all give an account to him (Hebrews 4:13). For this reason, we cannot afford to go through life without examining ourselves or our thought life. Whatever we feed our minds, at some point, will give birth to an action. 

David understood this well when he said, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!” (Psalm 139:23, ESV). Temptations don’t come from trials. Temptations come from within. James tells us that first, our lust is conceived within our hearts. Lust then gives birth to sin, and then, when sin is full-grown, it results in death (James 1:14–15). Separation. The most tragic separation takes place when we are separated from the life we could be living.

What is the solution? The solution does not lie in reforming our old selves. The cure comes from a transplant. As with any transplant, the first step is to put away the old. James tells us to put aside our inner wickedness. Move it out of the way. Render it inoperative. Tell our old man, our flesh, “No, thanks.” In its place, implant God’s Word – his perspective of our best interest and how we can win at life.

Just as a heart transplant saves the life of someone whose heart is failing, implanting the Word saves our lives. The Greek word translated “soul” is psuche. Living under the control of our dead self’s passions is like living as a zombie. 

Transplanting God’s Word into our hearts frees us to become all we can be and to encounter every circumstance as champions who win life’s gold by living in godly wisdom. Listening to others trains us to listen to God. Listening to God gives us a life transplant. Feed your mind with God’s life-giving Word. Instead of giving birth to deathly deeds, you will become a doer of the Word of God!