"So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 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." Galatians 5:15-17
The enemy knows your weaknesses. He is aware of the very things he can use to get you fixated on "it" rather than on God. His goal is that you sear your conscience so you are no longer sensitive to what God has laid out in His Word for how you are to live as a follower of Christ. Keep in mind, he isn't going to tempt you with something that doesn't appeal to your fleshly appetite.
"Satan, like a fisher, baits his hook according to the appetite of the fish." Thomas Adams
What is more important? Doing the will of your Father or pleasing man and self? You will reap from whatever it is you sow into. Sow to the flesh and you will reap that which does not last; that which does not have eternal reward; a wall of separation between you and God. Sowing to the flesh blocks God from blessing that area of your life. God cannot bless sin.
Sow to the spirit and you will be like Jesus, who looked past the temporary pain of surrendering to the will of God to the reward that was set before Him...
Immediate gratification is not the answer. There is a price to be paid and there is a blessing to be lost.
Lord, please shine a light on those areas we are living apart from You. Show us where we are missing the mark. We open our hearts to hear You speak to us about how we are living contrary to Your Word. Pleasing you and knowing that "you and I" are okay is more important than anything else in this life. We want our actions and lifestyle to prove just that.
"If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands." John 14:15
"Do you not know that if you continually surrender yourselves to anyone to do his will, you are the slaves of him whom you obey, whether that be to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience which leads to righteousness (right doing and right standing with God)?" Romans 6:16
"Then Peter and the apostles replied, We must obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29
"And we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we [watchfully] obey His orders [observe His suggestions and injunctions, follow His plan for us] and [habitually] practice what is pleasing to Him." 1 John 3:22
"Whoever says, I know Him [I perceive, recognize, understand, and am acquainted with Him] but fails to keep and obey His commandments (teachings) is a liar, and the Truth [of the Gospel] is not in him." 1 John 2:4
"[Live] as children of obedience [to God]; do not conform yourselves to the evil desires [that governed you] in your former ignorance [when you did not know the requirements of the Gospel]." 1 Peter 1:14
"If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity and their years in pleasantness and joy." Job 36:11
No comments:
Post a Comment