Do you experience that inner
struggle between the 'right' and the 'wrong' in your life? I do. There are moments when I
know what I should do, but part of me has no real desire for ‘the right.’
For example, there are mornings I know I should pray, but I feel no inclination
to seek God's Presence. I would rather
read the timeline on Facebook!
I sometimes feel anger rising
with some growing frustration and I know that I should master it with
self-control. Yet, another part of me wants to continue to let the stormy
emotions off their leash! Sometimes I am
not thankful though I know I should be. Like a stubborn toddler, I resist
saying the words – “Thank you!”
But I do not confuse what is ‘natural’ with what is ‘right.’
The Bible teaches us that "the sinful nature desires what is contrary
to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are
in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want."
(Galatians 5:17, NIV) There is a
beautiful, whole way of life available to us who are ‘in Christ.’ In obedience to the Lord, we find the safety
of His embrace. In rebellion, we leave ourselves open to evil’s assault! There
is this warning, first given to Cain in the first book of the Scripture, that
we are wise to understand: "If you
do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right,
sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”
(Genesis 4:7, NIV)
Some Christians chase a mystical
experience hoping it will take away the inclination to sin. Others seek a
formula for life with the expectation that doing the program will eliminate
temptation. The truth is that temptation tests us all. We choose to live in God’s grace and each choice
either strengthens us or another compromise weakens us. The Word says, "we must not live to satisfy our
desires. If you do, you will die. But you will live, if by the help of God's
Spirit you say "No" to your desires. Only those people who are led by
God's Spirit are his children. God's Spirit doesn't make us slaves who are
afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father." (Romans 8:12-15, CEV) Through the work of the Holy Spirit we enter
into a supernatural way of life; not as supermen but as people submitted to God’s
Holy Spirit.
Let’s be clear. Sin is never overcome
by strength of human will alone! When we
turn to Christ, accepting Him as Savior in faith, the Spirit comes to live in
us. But, that is not the end of the matter!
At that moment of rebirth, a struggle commences. The Scripture calls the
Christian life "a race set before
us...” and urges us to “run with
endurance." (Heb. 12) We never stand still. Each day we are either
moving toward the Lord or away from Him.
When we face Him and choose life, we grow stronger.
Too many Christians resort to
rationalizations for sins, explaining away the gaps in their spirituality as 'natural' choosing to surrender to what they know is
wrong because 'everybody does it.' Others
allows themselves to slip into a kind of religiosity, content to go through the
motions, but allowing their inner thoughts and attitudes to remain unchanged. That kind of duplicity makes hypocrites and
leaves the person vulnerable to the sin that crouches at the door.
It’s a daily walk! It is
possible to start well and then become prideful, losing ground. Paul led people
in the city of Galatia into a right relationship with God, teaching them about
the Cross and faith. They believed and
were filled with goodness and grace. Then, they became proud of their
righteousness and morality. They turned from faith in Christ to faith in Self,
and an ugly parody of Christian life took over.
Paul challenged them with strong words:
“You stupid Galatians! I told you
exactly how Jesus Christ was nailed to a cross. Has someone now put an evil
spell on you? I want to know only one thing. How were you given God's Spirit?
Was it by obeying the Law of Moses or by hearing about Christ and having faith
in him? How can you be so stupid? Do you think that by yourself you can
complete what God's Spirit started in you? Have you gone through all of this
for nothing? Is it all really for nothing? God gives you his Spirit and works
miracles in you. But does he do this because you obey the Law of Moses or
because you have heard about Christ and have faith in him?" (Galatians
3:1-6, CEV)
Are you struggling with some
temptation? You’re not alone. We all deal with it. We are taught this - "If you think you are standing strong,
be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin. But remember that the
temptations that come into your life are no different from what others
experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong
that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a
way out so that you will not give in to it." (1 Corinthians 10:12-13,
NLT) Do not become over confident in
your own strength. Do not despair if temptation keeps showing up. Instead, go
to Jesus and ask Him to guide you to safety.
But, remember: you choose to
follow!
Here’s the sweet assurance
that God gives. Silence the Accuser with the Truth.
"With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that
fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no
longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is
in operation. The Spirit of life in
Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from
a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. God went
for the jugular when he sent his own Son. He didn’t deal with the problem as
something remote and unimportant. In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the
human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to
set it right once and for all.
The law code, weakened as it always was by fractured
human nature, could never have done that. The law always ended up being used as
a Band-Aid on sin instead of a deep healing of it. And now what the law code asked for but we couldn’t deliver is accomplished
as we, instead of redoubling our own efforts, simply embrace what the Spirit is
doing in us." (Romans 8:1-4,
The Message)
___________________________________
Take Time To Be Holy
Take time to be holy,
Speak oft with thy Lord.
Abide in Him always
And feed on His Word.
Make friends with God's children,
Help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing
His blessing to seek.
Take time to be holy
The world rushes on.
Spend much time in secret
With Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus
Like Him thou shalt be,
Thy friends, in thy conduct,
His likeness shall see.
Take time to be holy,
Be calm in thy soul;
Each tho't and each motive
Beneath His control.
Thus, led by His Spirit,
To fountains of love,
Thou soon shall be fitted
For service above.
George Coles Stebbins |
William Dunn Longstaff
© Words: Public Domain
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