Many
people say they want to clean up their act before they give their life to
Christ, because they do not want to be a hypocrite. Not wanting to be a
hypocrite is commendable, because there are hypocrites in every walk of life
and they disgust and discourage us.
However,
cleaning up our own act without the aid of God's Spirit is impossible. We can
develop new habits and desert bad habits, but it takes much time and great
effort; and we usually do not find lasting success and true change.
God
does recommend that we work out our own salvation; but He also reminds us that
this is accomplished only as He gives us both the desire and the ability to do
so (Philippians 2:12-13).
We
have lived a lifetime full of people letting us down, disappointing us,
breaking their promises and commitments to us and some even abandoning us.
Therefore,
only God's Spirit can break down our walls of fear and mistrust to allow us to
fully embrace this relationship with God through the work of Jesus on the
cross.
God
demonstrated His great love for us by sending Jesus to die for us while we were
still sinners (Romans 5:8). This allows us to step over the boundaries, which
we erected to keep our self safe, into the freedom of faith and trust in God
alone.
This
new life does not consist of rules and regulations in order to please God, but
He does give us His Word to direct our paths and to keep us safe from a
destructive lifestyle.
Prayer:
Father
God, Your ways are perfect. Your Son is the God of truth and there is no
iniquity in Him (Deuteronomy 32:4). Yet, He suffered the persecution and death
of a common criminal to set us free from bondage to sin and death (Romans 6:23),
and to raise us up to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).
Our
old way of life is gone forever and now everything is completely new (2
Corinthians 5:17). Thank You for ordering our days and blessing us in every
area of our life as we trust in You (Psalm 139:16; 2 Corinthians 9:8). Our
lasting success in our spiritual maturity is accomplished only through Your
power within us.
Thought
for the Day:
“Lord
I believe. Help my unbelief.” – Mark 9:24
