Jesus Christ is the Lord of my life. That declaration is not one of arrogance, superiority, or lack of self-awareness. Despite being a Believer for 40 years and a 'professional Christian' in my vocation as a Pastor, making that statement true is a daily decision! I don't always get it right when it comes to discerning what His will is. I make mistakes. Honestly, sometimes I am an outright rebel deciding to do what I want to do despite knowing better. Some days, serving Jesus honorably is a a real struggle as Ego fights for control. Yes, there are times when the Spirit is near, the Word is clear. But, I know this... there is a choice to make: today, tomorrow, and each day until I am made perfect when I am called into Eternity. It comes down to this - Is Jesus the Lord and Master of all of my life; or is He just my Friend, whose advice I seek when things are hard, or when I sense I can't control my circumstances?
Let's be clear about something. We cannot save ourselves from judgment. We cannot, apart from the intervention of the Holy Spirit, will ourselves to please God. But, He has given me the privilege of choosing to live 'in the Spirit' or serving Self. The Word teaches us: "Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living." (Romans 6:16, NLT)
How do we choose our Master?
There is Faith. Without faith, the Bible says, we cannot please God! Doing what Jesus wants done runs against our natural desires and wisdom. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to love the unlovely, to give to those who cannot reciprocate, to live for Heaven instead of Today! So, we pray, "Lord, increase my faith!"
There is Surrender. Paul uses some brutal language to describe this. He says, "I die daily!" and "I am crucified with Christ!" Half measures just will not do. You cannot really know what it means to serve the Lord if you hold onto yourself, any more than you can really enjoy all of the intimacies of marriage if you insist on maintaining an entirely separate emotional life from your spouse!
There is Declaration. "Well, Jerry, I'm not really sure if I should go public about being a Christian." Yes, you should, for many of the same reasons that I wear a wedding band signifying that I am Bev's husband. That little gold ring is a powerful symbol of commitment. The Bible teaches us about baptism as a way of making a public statement of our identification with Christ. It also teaches us about 'confessing that Christ is Lord.' Yes, there needs to be a lot of humility. Friends and family need to know that we have given ownership of our lives to Jesus, and they need to hear us admit to being a work in progress.
There is the Process. Once we have accepted Christ as Lord and invited Him to take charge, it will be amazing and sometimes disconcerting to discover how many issues will arise over time. Battles rage! Gradually the Spirit helps us to extend the rule of God into different areas of our lives - relationships, finances, security, sex - to name a few.
Choose your Master!
What's the benefit?
In Christ, we learn to love and we learn to live in love.
In obedience, we find deeper intimacy with God.
In surrender, we enjoy the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
By faith, we are blessed with wisdom beyond ourselves.
We discover the potential of being the person that God designed us to be.
Here's a word from the Word. Take it with you today. "Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace....
Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children." (Romans 8:5-6, 12-16, NLT)
All my tomorrows,
all my past,
Jesus is Lord of all.
I've quit my struggles,
Contentment at last,
Jesus is Lord of all.
All of my conflicts,
All my thoughts,
Jesus is Lord of all.
King of kings,
Lord of lords,
Jesus is Lord of all;
All my possessions
And all my life,
Jesus is Lord of all.
Jesus Is Lord of All
© 1973 William J. Gaither, Inc. ARR UBP of Gaither Copyright Management
CCLI License No. 810055
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
"Not an ounce of quit in him!"
I watched two hours of primary election returns last night, fascinated by this election's twists and turns - particularly by the comeback of John McCain. This is not an endorsement of a candidate. Hang with me. Back in July, McCain's campaign was 'over.' All the talking heads agreed that because he had no money left in his campaign and could not raise any; because his poll numbers had plummeted into single digits; and especially because he was just 'on the wrong side of the issues of the war in Iraq and immigration,' there was no way for him to win. So, they said! But, the 71 year old Senator kept going. He gave up most of his staff, flew in coach seats from DC to New Hampshire every weekend, carried his own bags, and drove himself to meetings with little groups of voters. According to one of his campaign staff, there is 'not an ounce of quit in him.' And, last night, his gritty determination paid off with a win. I still disagree with most of his policy positions, but I find myself inspired by his courage, stamina, and passion.
Only God knows why life sometimes slides into reverse! But, it does! Problems start to outnumber solutions. Opponents gather to tell us we're wrong. Health problems show up. Expenses are bigger than income. Friends turn on us. Ever been there? I have and I do not like it, not even a little. Even more troubling than the external problems are the self-doubts that starts to nag at the edges of our minds in those times. They tell us that we're yesterday's news, that it's time to step aside and let somebody with new ideas take over, or that God has sidelined us. When I find myself there, I naturally want to pray that God will smooth out the bumps. "Give me a miracle!" I cry. He can, sometimes does, but usually He asks me to keep going, straight into the struggles! He says, "Pray for courage. Ask for strength. See it through." "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:21, NIV)
Read the book of the Acts of the Apostles without the triumphal filter that is so often laid over it by preachers! You will find a story of gritty determination, of men and women with a steely faith, who would not quit. Paul and his companions were thrown out of city after city, sometimes imprisoned, more than once left for dead. In one city this was the message they preached: "strengthening the disciples (they) encouraged them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said." (Acts 14:22, NIV)
Believer, let's get a new grasp on what God wants done. Many around us have functionally if not intellectually adopted Nietzsche's declaration that "God is dead!" They live without moral compass, at the mercy of their emotions, serving no higher purpose than momentary happiness. "If it feels good, do it" reigns as the philosophy of this age. Those of us who claim to love God, to be disciples of Jesus Christ, and who are filled with His Spirit must have none of that! We are called to build the Kingdom of God, to be people of compassion, to revere life, to care for all that God created and put in our care. We must, if necessary, give our lives to bring peace, to defend the weak, to call others to love and serve our God. It will be costly!
Sometimes the process will not make much sense. Don't race to the conclusion. God's pace and plans are often not ours. So trust Him. As Paul reminds the Corinthians, "judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God." (1 Corinthians 4:5, NIV)
Thanks, John McCain, for a great lesson in courage, both in recent months and in your earlier years when you survived the horrors of a prison of war camp in Hanoi!
______________________
My faith has found a resting place,
not in device nor creed.
I trust the Ever Living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.
I need no other argument,
I need no other plea.
It is enough that Jesus died,
and that He died for me.
My heart is standing on the Word,
the living Word of God.
Salvation by my Savior's Name,
Salvation by His blood.
I need no other argument,
I need no other plea.
It is enough that Jesus died,
and that He died for me.
- Lidie Edmunds, public domain
Only God knows why life sometimes slides into reverse! But, it does! Problems start to outnumber solutions. Opponents gather to tell us we're wrong. Health problems show up. Expenses are bigger than income. Friends turn on us. Ever been there? I have and I do not like it, not even a little. Even more troubling than the external problems are the self-doubts that starts to nag at the edges of our minds in those times. They tell us that we're yesterday's news, that it's time to step aside and let somebody with new ideas take over, or that God has sidelined us. When I find myself there, I naturally want to pray that God will smooth out the bumps. "Give me a miracle!" I cry. He can, sometimes does, but usually He asks me to keep going, straight into the struggles! He says, "Pray for courage. Ask for strength. See it through." "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:21, NIV)
Read the book of the Acts of the Apostles without the triumphal filter that is so often laid over it by preachers! You will find a story of gritty determination, of men and women with a steely faith, who would not quit. Paul and his companions were thrown out of city after city, sometimes imprisoned, more than once left for dead. In one city this was the message they preached: "strengthening the disciples (they) encouraged them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said." (Acts 14:22, NIV)
Believer, let's get a new grasp on what God wants done. Many around us have functionally if not intellectually adopted Nietzsche's declaration that "God is dead!" They live without moral compass, at the mercy of their emotions, serving no higher purpose than momentary happiness. "If it feels good, do it" reigns as the philosophy of this age. Those of us who claim to love God, to be disciples of Jesus Christ, and who are filled with His Spirit must have none of that! We are called to build the Kingdom of God, to be people of compassion, to revere life, to care for all that God created and put in our care. We must, if necessary, give our lives to bring peace, to defend the weak, to call others to love and serve our God. It will be costly!
Sometimes the process will not make much sense. Don't race to the conclusion. God's pace and plans are often not ours. So trust Him. As Paul reminds the Corinthians, "judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God." (1 Corinthians 4:5, NIV)
Thanks, John McCain, for a great lesson in courage, both in recent months and in your earlier years when you survived the horrors of a prison of war camp in Hanoi!
______________________
My faith has found a resting place,
not in device nor creed.
I trust the Ever Living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.
I need no other argument,
I need no other plea.
It is enough that Jesus died,
and that He died for me.
My heart is standing on the Word,
the living Word of God.
Salvation by my Savior's Name,
Salvation by His blood.
I need no other argument,
I need no other plea.
It is enough that Jesus died,
and that He died for me.
- Lidie Edmunds, public domain
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
All He wants me to be
Americans are a competitive lot, always comparing! We create all kinds of lists of winners and losers: The 100 richest people, the worst-dressed, the best-dressed, who's hot, who's not. So, what's the matter with that? All that comparing and measuring is a source of great anxiety, and worse, the cause of many sins. Core characteristics of Christ-followers are humility and contentment, traits that cannot flourish in the life of someone who is constantly calculating his wins and losses while striving to improve his social status! I see this competition for status even among Pastors. When we get together we ask, "so how's your church doing?" Almost always that is code for "how many people are attending your services these days?" The guy who is preaching to a thousand instantly enjoys more status than the guy who is preaching to 100. We seldom stop to consider that even a circus can attract a big crowd. We ought to be concerned with spiritual growth, with deepening devotion, with fidelity to the Truth of the Word as measures of success in ministry, but instead, we look at crowds - the most most superficial measure of success. I believe it was Richard Foster who observed that many of us 'buy things we do not need to impress people we do not like!' Such is the seduction of image and status.
When we are driven by a need for the approval of others to validate our personal worth, we will certainly concern ourselves less about being authentically good and more about 'looking good.' Let me illustrate what I mean in this way. A young man decides that he will start going to the gym to improve his health. He starts working out with the best of motives - being healthy. Then, he sees some great bodies, sharp muscle definition, appearing amazingly fit; and he learns that with some help from chemicals and steroids he can have a body like that with much less effort on his part. With injections and pills, he achieves the look, but actually destroys his health in the process. Stupid, right? Sure is, but people do that in every area of life. A person marries another because they are beautiful not because they will be a great life partner. A person takes a job because it pays a great salary, not because it provides an opportunity to use their abilities in the best way.
Believer, do you realize that your spiritual life can be co-opted in the same way? It is possible to do all the right things for all the wrong reasons. You can attend worship regularly in order to build a strong relationship with the Body of Christ, or you can do it because it causes others to admire your dedication. Prayer, Bible Study, Christian service can be done to please God and enhance spiritual vitality; or they can be done to gain status in a spiritual community. Spiritual acts done in the service of self are corrupt and soon develop the stench of all things rotten!
In Matthew 6, Jesus spoke to prayer, giving, and fasting illustrating the importance of keeping God as the focus of our spiritual service. He reminds us that if we do our spiritual disciplines to gain the approval of others, the sole benefit will be their applause!
"When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself. You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure—‘playactors’ I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that’s all they get. ...
And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? "Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. ...
When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to better concentrate on God, don’t make a production out of it. It might turn you into a small-time celebrity but it won’t make you a saint." (Matthew 6:2, 5-6, 16, The Message)
I have known many who live to impress others, who desperately needs that applause and approval. Those who chose that way of life turn the world into their stage and, day after day, write a script that allows them to be the star in their own little production. It is a pathetic thing to behold. As that person ages, as he reaches the limits of accomplishment, others who are younger, stronger; who can do the dance better and faster, will take center stage. What then, for the one who lives on the praise of the audience? Only tragic sadness, only bitterness!
Here's the most wonderfully amazing truth - God loves you completely just as you are! There is nothing you can do that will make Him love you more than He does at this moment. Your significance as a person, your worth, is secure in His love. Settle that for yourself, then begin to live for the approval of just One Person. Make it your goal to be all He wants you to be, no more, no less. That, dear Believer, is genuine humility and leads to sweet contentment.
Here's a word from the Word. Think on it today - "A devout life does bring wealth, but it’s the rich simplicity of being yourself before God." (1 Timothy 6:6, The Message)
When we are driven by a need for the approval of others to validate our personal worth, we will certainly concern ourselves less about being authentically good and more about 'looking good.' Let me illustrate what I mean in this way. A young man decides that he will start going to the gym to improve his health. He starts working out with the best of motives - being healthy. Then, he sees some great bodies, sharp muscle definition, appearing amazingly fit; and he learns that with some help from chemicals and steroids he can have a body like that with much less effort on his part. With injections and pills, he achieves the look, but actually destroys his health in the process. Stupid, right? Sure is, but people do that in every area of life. A person marries another because they are beautiful not because they will be a great life partner. A person takes a job because it pays a great salary, not because it provides an opportunity to use their abilities in the best way.
Believer, do you realize that your spiritual life can be co-opted in the same way? It is possible to do all the right things for all the wrong reasons. You can attend worship regularly in order to build a strong relationship with the Body of Christ, or you can do it because it causes others to admire your dedication. Prayer, Bible Study, Christian service can be done to please God and enhance spiritual vitality; or they can be done to gain status in a spiritual community. Spiritual acts done in the service of self are corrupt and soon develop the stench of all things rotten!
In Matthew 6, Jesus spoke to prayer, giving, and fasting illustrating the importance of keeping God as the focus of our spiritual service. He reminds us that if we do our spiritual disciplines to gain the approval of others, the sole benefit will be their applause!
"When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself. You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure—‘playactors’ I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that’s all they get. ...
And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? "Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. ...
When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to better concentrate on God, don’t make a production out of it. It might turn you into a small-time celebrity but it won’t make you a saint." (Matthew 6:2, 5-6, 16, The Message)
I have known many who live to impress others, who desperately needs that applause and approval. Those who chose that way of life turn the world into their stage and, day after day, write a script that allows them to be the star in their own little production. It is a pathetic thing to behold. As that person ages, as he reaches the limits of accomplishment, others who are younger, stronger; who can do the dance better and faster, will take center stage. What then, for the one who lives on the praise of the audience? Only tragic sadness, only bitterness!
Here's the most wonderfully amazing truth - God loves you completely just as you are! There is nothing you can do that will make Him love you more than He does at this moment. Your significance as a person, your worth, is secure in His love. Settle that for yourself, then begin to live for the approval of just One Person. Make it your goal to be all He wants you to be, no more, no less. That, dear Believer, is genuine humility and leads to sweet contentment.
Here's a word from the Word. Think on it today - "A devout life does bring wealth, but it’s the rich simplicity of being yourself before God." (1 Timothy 6:6, The Message)
Monday, January 07, 2008
Safe in the Rock
Temptation is common to us all!
Sometimes temptation arrives like a tornado: quick, violent, then gone.
Sometimes it sidles up to us seductively, whispering invitations to illicit behaviors into our ear.
Sometimes it comes at us like a tidal wave threatening to engulf us and sweep us away.
Sometimes it wraps itself in the gleam of a new idea, offering us 'wisdom' that seems so right at that moment.
And, sometimes it sets up camp like a besieging army, attempting to hold us captive until we acquiesce to its demands.
Yes, I have experienced temptation in all these ways. A few days ago, a temptation to rage suddenly blew into my mind with such force that I felt physically nauseated! I had to leave my office for a while until I could find a place in prayer where I found God's power to overcome it. I have heard greed whisper to my soul. When dealing with situations that defy my control, more than once in my life I have felt the icy water of fear rising in me trying to choke me with terror. My mind occasionally becomes intrigued with a rebel idea that would, given even a bit of attention, draw me from the Truth of Jesus. The battle is sometimes fierce!
Where does temptation come from? The Scripture teaches us that there are three sources: the World, the Sinful Nature, and the Devil!
The systems that surround us that are not centered in God and good (the world!) become a rich source of thoughts that can potentially lead us into temptation. For example, next time you're watching television, consciously note the messages woven into the program content and the commercials. You will not need deep insight to find themes of greed, sensuality, materialism, and selfishness packaged quite attractively! When we are immersed too long in the 'world' the lure of temptation will inevitably increase. That is why the Word tells us "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15, NIV)
The sinful nature remains a part of us even after the Spirit of God brings us new life in Christ! Writing to Believers about the two kinds of ways to live, Paul says, "The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. ... Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives." (Galatians 5:17, 25, NLT) In older translations of the Bible in place of 'sinful nature,' we read 'the flesh.' Why? Because we experience most of the temptations of the sinful nature in terms of our natural body's appetites and desires. Lust, gluttony, craving for pleasure, ease, laziness - are some of the ways that we experience temptation of the sinful nature.
Need I write much about the Devil? Many Believers give the Evil One too much power, by fearing him too greatly, or by attributing too many temptations that come from other sources to him. Yes, he is a fearsome foe. He hates God and good and exploits any and every situation where he finds an opening to do his devilish work. But after warning of his activity, Peter also tells us that we can drive him away. Take a look. "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith." (1 Peter 5:8-9, NLT)
Here's the good news! In Christ, we are victors, not victims. "If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." (1 Corinthians 10:12-13, NLT)
Take your stand; not in your own goodness, not in your own determination, not even in your own intelligence. Religious rules, self-help, and behavioral modification techniques are limited in what they offer us as Believers to overcome temptation. Our true source of strength is found in the Presence of Christ who died to free us from the tyranny of temptation and the Spirit of God who gives us life. Here's a word from the Word. Trust the truth and be an overcomer. "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. ... You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. ... those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." (Romans 8: 1-2, 9, 14, NIV)
______________________
A mighty Fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our Helper He, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing,
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, ( meaning - General of Heaven's Armies!) His name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
And though this world,
With devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear,
For God hath willed,
His will to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
We tremble not for him.
His rage we can endure,
For, lo,
his doom is sure;
One little word shall fell him.
A Mighty Fortress is Our God
Martin Luther © Public Domain
Sometimes temptation arrives like a tornado: quick, violent, then gone.
Sometimes it sidles up to us seductively, whispering invitations to illicit behaviors into our ear.
Sometimes it comes at us like a tidal wave threatening to engulf us and sweep us away.
Sometimes it wraps itself in the gleam of a new idea, offering us 'wisdom' that seems so right at that moment.
And, sometimes it sets up camp like a besieging army, attempting to hold us captive until we acquiesce to its demands.
Yes, I have experienced temptation in all these ways. A few days ago, a temptation to rage suddenly blew into my mind with such force that I felt physically nauseated! I had to leave my office for a while until I could find a place in prayer where I found God's power to overcome it. I have heard greed whisper to my soul. When dealing with situations that defy my control, more than once in my life I have felt the icy water of fear rising in me trying to choke me with terror. My mind occasionally becomes intrigued with a rebel idea that would, given even a bit of attention, draw me from the Truth of Jesus. The battle is sometimes fierce!
Where does temptation come from? The Scripture teaches us that there are three sources: the World, the Sinful Nature, and the Devil!
The systems that surround us that are not centered in God and good (the world!) become a rich source of thoughts that can potentially lead us into temptation. For example, next time you're watching television, consciously note the messages woven into the program content and the commercials. You will not need deep insight to find themes of greed, sensuality, materialism, and selfishness packaged quite attractively! When we are immersed too long in the 'world' the lure of temptation will inevitably increase. That is why the Word tells us "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15, NIV)
The sinful nature remains a part of us even after the Spirit of God brings us new life in Christ! Writing to Believers about the two kinds of ways to live, Paul says, "The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. ... Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives." (Galatians 5:17, 25, NLT) In older translations of the Bible in place of 'sinful nature,' we read 'the flesh.' Why? Because we experience most of the temptations of the sinful nature in terms of our natural body's appetites and desires. Lust, gluttony, craving for pleasure, ease, laziness - are some of the ways that we experience temptation of the sinful nature.
Need I write much about the Devil? Many Believers give the Evil One too much power, by fearing him too greatly, or by attributing too many temptations that come from other sources to him. Yes, he is a fearsome foe. He hates God and good and exploits any and every situation where he finds an opening to do his devilish work. But after warning of his activity, Peter also tells us that we can drive him away. Take a look. "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith." (1 Peter 5:8-9, NLT)
Here's the good news! In Christ, we are victors, not victims. "If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." (1 Corinthians 10:12-13, NLT)
Take your stand; not in your own goodness, not in your own determination, not even in your own intelligence. Religious rules, self-help, and behavioral modification techniques are limited in what they offer us as Believers to overcome temptation. Our true source of strength is found in the Presence of Christ who died to free us from the tyranny of temptation and the Spirit of God who gives us life. Here's a word from the Word. Trust the truth and be an overcomer. "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. ... You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. ... those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." (Romans 8: 1-2, 9, 14, NIV)
______________________
A mighty Fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our Helper He, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing,
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, ( meaning - General of Heaven's Armies!) His name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
And though this world,
With devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear,
For God hath willed,
His will to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
We tremble not for him.
His rage we can endure,
For, lo,
his doom is sure;
One little word shall fell him.
A Mighty Fortress is Our God
Martin Luther © Public Domain
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)