by David Brenneman
"What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?" Romans 6:1-2.
"Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another." Galatians 5:19-26.
Satan's deceptions began over 6,000 years ago and his attempts at deceiving people continue to this very moment.
Getting Believers to fail to consider the Word of God by way of their feelings. Getting Believers to give in to personal desires rather than the obedience that the Bible says they ought to walk in.
Then there's the open battlefield of the mind of man where the unbelieving are daily deceived in order to keep them in their present darkness.
Satan's loss at the cross but is both fulfilling his final portion of God’s plan for mankind as well as his own vain thinking that he can still figure out how to defeat God.
Mankind is what's most valuable to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ as well as the Spirit of God.
You and I are what's most valuable to God. Not our possessions nor any other created thing.
"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21.
In our day-to-day life we choose either to practice righteousness or to practice our sin nature. The choice is ours to make.
It's incredibly difficult to continue in sin while focusing on the righteous life that God desires for us. It's incredibly difficult to set our minds on the things that are above and on the things that are of this world at the same time.
I know this isn't a lot of profound thinking this morning but it's the basics of truth, God's truth, for us in Christ Jesus.
We choose to give into emotional responses or to reign them in. To blurt out something inappropriate or to measure our words before speaking or remaining silent.
We choose to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness or we choose to seek our kingdom and our views on what is righteousness.
We choose to walk in a manner worthy of our calling in Christ Jesus or we don't.
We choose to take up our own cross and follow Him or we don't.
What we believe as truth has everything to do with our level of obedience.
All it takes is a pebble, placed just so, to change the course of a mighty river.
All mankind is on a path towards the Final Judgment seat of Christ Jesus. We aren't heading towards something renound or some renaissance awakening that causes Earth to experience some grand awakening of peace and prosperity because of the greatest minds of our time leading the world. We are on the path laid out by the Word of God. Satan's been trying throughout his whole existence to alter one jot or tittle of the word of God. The Word of God says that very near is the Rapture of the Church, the 7 year Great Tribulation, then the thousand year reign of Jesus Christ on this Earth culminating with the Final Judgment of mankind after the so-called battle of Armageddon.
That's a very very distinct future that isn't going to be altered by anyone since it's written in the Word of God.
God's Word says as well that He's not being slow about His promise to come back. He's not willing that any should perish but that all might be saved.
Our walk with Jesus should be a very sober walk. Knowing that the truth of God isn't just what is going to happen globally but in us personally.
We choose to acknowledge His purpose in our lives or we dismiss it in favor of our own.
His purpose may look complicated or completely out of sorts. Ours may look a whole lot better to us. His way is still the right way.
We know not what all He is working together for good for us. Many times it's going to be through things we never thought possible.
We believed God in coming to Christ for salvation...we should believe Him in everything else we live by. Even if it doesn't make sense. It's His plans that are perfect.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6.
"For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11.
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28.
These are some of the truths of God in Christ Jesus. Read it for yourself to glean more.
We should be doing more to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. We should be doing more to learn how to walk in the character of Christ.
So think about these things today before you get going into your routine. God's way or your way. His leads to the righteous life that God desires for you the other does not.
All New American Standard Bible Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. A corporation not for profit.
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