Freedom from Sin

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

God's Involvement in Our Life

Jesus died to pay the penalty of our sins and to reconcile us to God (2 Corinthians 5:18). He desires intimate union with each of His Saints, both now and throughout eternity. This cherished bond with our Daddy God and Jesus Christ His Son, as well as His Holy Spirit is what it means to have eternal life (John 17:3).

Knowing the Trinity intimately provides us with cherished fellowship and their involvement in our life on a daily basis. Authentic Christians, who walk in the Spirit, greet each new morning under the direction, encouragement and protection of the Trinity (Galatians 1:10). They are always with us, throughout our entire lifetime, even until the end of this world (Matthew 28:20).

Since Christ dwells within us by His Spirit, we do not make our plans and invite God to join us. We join Him in doing what He already planned for our day prior to our birth (Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:10). We no longer dwell only in an earthly time frame, but we make our choices by considering eternal consequences and the leading of God’s Spirit.

God looks deeply within our soul and knows all about us. His Spirit, rather than our self-effort, accomplishes the sanctifying changes occurring in our life (2 Corinthians 3:18). Our burden of negative attitudes and emotions are gradually replaced by His fruit, which continually infiltrate our thoughts, choices and emotions (Galatians 5:22-23). God’s hand protects and cares for our every need (Psalm 139:1-12).

Prayer:

Father God, we have liberty through Your Spirit, but not freedom to sin (2 Corinthians 3:17). As You sanctify us, we gradually lose our desire to fulfill the lusts of the flesh, which used to control our life. You call us to be separate, and the world hates us for it, because this causes conviction in their heart (2 Corinthians 6:17).

However, Your laws, from which humanity seeks freedom, are actually protecting rather than restricting. The counterfeit freedom of the world is actually bondage to sin, and we want no part of that any more (Galatians 5:1). Thank You for giving us the daily opportunity to walk in Your promises and to put on Your divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).

Thought for the Day:

Authored by God, our works will last for eternity, because they are not devised by the human will or accomplished by personal effort.