A poor man lived alone in his little house.  One day a rich man came by and offered him a good price for it. He would be able to move into town, into a care unit for the money he would receive, so he agreed to sell it.

The poor man felt a sense of pride because the rich man had wanted his old house, so he busied himself patching the roof and repairing the walls. He scrubbed the walls and the floor and washed the windows. He even painted the main room. Although it was still only a little old house, he made quite a difference and was pleased with the result. He felt a little better about accepting such a generous price for his house.

When the money was paid and arrangements were made to move him to the care unit, the new owner immediately began to tear down and demolish the house.  The old man was aghast and cried out “Why are you pulling it down? I repaired it.  I cleaned it. It looks so nice. WHY would you pull it down?”

The new owner explained that he hadn’t wanted the HOUSE; he had only wanted the SITE.  He had paid a large sum of money, not for the house, but for the site, on which he would create a completely NEW building.

No matter how well I was able to patch myself up; no matter how much I cleaned myself, I was useless to God.  I could NEVER meet His standard of perfection. No amount of “cleaning” or reformation could make me acceptable to Him.  (Ephesians 2:8-9   Titus 3:5   Romans 4:5)   In fact, the very BEST I could offer was like filthy rags in His sight.  (Isaiah 64:6)

God says
2 Corinthians 5:17 
If anyone is in Christ he is a NEW CREATION. 
OLD things are gone and ALL things are made new.

Galatians 2:20
I no longer live but Christ lives in me 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 
I am NOT MY OWN, for I have been BOUGHT with a price.

God paid an ENORMOUS price to purchase me
but He cannot use me unless my SELF is broken down. 
HE WANTS THE EMPTY SITE – MY EMPTY SELF
so that HE CAN CREATE a NEW ME and FILL ME with HIS FULLNESS.

Ephesians 3:19
You may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 4:13
Till we come . . . To a perfect man,
to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
Or as the Amplified puts it . . .
nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection.

My question to God:  AM I FULFILLING HIS PURPOSE FOR MY LIFE?

In full and glad surrender
I give myself to Thee;
Thine utterly and only
And evermore to be.

O Son of God who lov’st me,
I will be Thine alone;
And all I have and am Lord,
Shall henceforth be Thine own.

Reign over me, Lord Jesus;
O make my heart Thy throne!
It shall be Thine, dear Saviour,
It shall be Thine alone!

O come and reign, Lord Jesus;
Rule over everything!
And keep me always loyal
And true to Thee, my King.
Frances Ridley Havergal  1836-79

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