So often we humans
cry out to God to free us from the addictions of the flesh, which harass us
continually. However, we are more interested in being free from the effects of
these sins than in living an ethical life.
We have no interest
in being justified from our sins or having a personal relationship with God, we
just want to be free from the consequences of our obsessions.
Then we wonder why
God does not answer our prayers. Our pride and rebellion against God, and our
insistence on living life according to our own plans, prevent God from
showering us with His blessings (Romans 1:18:26).
Actually, sin is not
our problem. A lack of relationship with Jesus Christ is at the root of our sin
and all of our other problems. The cessation of sin can only be accomplished
through the presence of God in our life.
Satan will not
easily give us up; yet, when we receive a new heart of flesh, then we are more
sensitive to the conviction of God's Spirit, and we more readily submit our
flesh to Him for sanctification (Ezekiel 36:26).
Once we fully come
to Christ for our salvation and totally surrender our life to God, we seek Him
rather than His benefits, regardless of the trials and unhappiness we
experience. We live and walk in His Spirit (Romans 8:5).
As we set our mind
on things above, the things of this earth have no more attraction for us. Our
mind is renewed with the mind of Christ (Romans 12:2). God's Spirit crucifies
the desires of our flesh for us (Romans 8:13).
As we submit to the
leading of God's Spirit, He replaces our carnality with the fruit of His Spirit
(Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:22:23). This only occurs once we are children of our
Daddy God (Romans 8:15-17).
Prayer:
Father God, expose
Satan's lies in our life and help us to cast down his arguments and to take
captive every thought, word or deed, which fights against our relationship with
You (2 Corinthians 5:10).
Thank You for
setting us free from sin, so that we can be slaves of righteousness instead.
Now we can reap the blessings of a moral life (Romans 6:18). We are so grateful
also that you sent Christ to purchase our salvation on Calvary's Cross (John
3:16-17).
Thought for the Day:
In Christ, who is
our life, we are forgiven and given the holiness of God in Christ.
- Colossians
3:4; 2 Corinthians 5:21
