Living an Abundant Life

 

As long as we are human, Satan will try to tempt us to sin. The first thought, which infiltrates our mind, encouraging us to sin, is from the world, the flesh or the devil. The temporary temptation is not the sin; and we should not entertain any guilt for the number of times Satan tempts us. We are only responsible if we entertain those thoughts, even if we do not act on them (Matthew 5:28). When the first thought goes through your mind, let it go immediately.

Do not give the devil a place in your life by entertaining these notions, or letting them bear fruit in your thoughts, words or actions (Ephesians 4:27). Some temptation is greater than our resolve to live a pure life before God. If we do sin, however, Jesus is our advocate with the Father, and He is faithful and just and forgives every sin we confess (1 John 1:9). There is no penance, which we can perform to absolve us of sin; only the sacrifice of Christ on the cross can free us from the penalty of sin (Romans 3:23, 6:23).

The good news is that Christ in us is greater than anything Satan has to offer us (1 John 4:4). With each fall, we learn to walk straighter, with more spiritual purpose and humility. Selfishness is at the root of every sin. Sin is dead works, which deny the life of Christ within us. When the temptation comes, submit to God, resist the temptation and Satan has to flee from us (James 4:7). Christ always comes to our rescue, if we call on Him.

Our flesh may not have the power to resist sin, but Christ in us will resist through us (2 Thessalonians 3:3). We learn from our failings to take one step closer to total union with Christ each moment of the day (Galatians 2:20). Since we are dead, and our life is now hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3), we no longer have any need to cater to our flesh or to give in to temptation (Galatians 5:24; Romans 7:5, 8:8-9). We soon learn to resist temptation, until sin no longer holds any value for us at all (2 Peter 2:9). We live an abundant life in Christ.

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for sending Jesus to take the power away from Satan and his demons (1 John 5:18). We will keep our eyes on Jesus and submit to the leading of Your Spirit in our life (Hebrews 12:2). Thank You for always providing a way of escape from every temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). Once Christ abides in us as our whole life, then sin does not interest us any more (Colossians 3:4). We are always kept by Your power (Hebrews 2:18; 1 Peter 1:5). For this, we thank You and give You all the praise, honor and glory.

Thought for the Day:

When we make no provision for the flesh, Satan cannot tempt us. - Galatians 5:16,25

 

Our True Inheritance

Read: Luke 15:11-32

“In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents." - Luke 15:10

The parable of the prodigal son is really a message about our Heavenly Father who watches for our homecoming to Him. He rejoices every time a sinner turns his/her heart to Him and repents (Luke 15:10).

We all know this story. One son rebels against his father’s rules and despised the need to work for his living. In his selfish state of mind, he demanded and squandered his inheritance before his father even died. Yet, upon his repentant return home, he received a party, a ring of authority (like a credit card) and a new robe and shoes from his father.

Now, the second son faithfully served his father with respect and deference, never causing him any heartache or distress. Then, when his errant brother returns home, we detect jealousy and resentfulness in this young man because of his father’s mercy and grace toward his brother. He said, "All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat" (Luke 15:29).

This dear son walked in obedience and service to his father for his whole life. He felt slapped in the face by his father’s apparent disregard for his wayward brother’s reckless behavior. We do this too. We see other people who have more material blessings than we do, and we accuse God of loving them more than He cares for us. The faithful son focused on the meager offering the father gave his rebellious son and forgot the immense treasure that lay in wait for him. We forget too. These people are receiving their meager blessings now, but our immense treasure awaits us in heaven (2 Corinthians 4:7).

The father had to remind his faithful son, "‘My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours’" (Luke 15:31). Everything our Heavenly Father has belongs to us as well. No matter how much or how little of their life a person squanders, when they come to Christ they receive His equal inheritance (Luke 23: 32-43). If this bothers us, we have to go to our Father for an attitude adjustment, just like the jealous son did.

We are joint heirs with Jesus (Romans 8:17) and all that is His belongs to us as well. He freely shares his treasure with those in His Body. We too should freely share our treasure – physical, spiritual and emotional – with all of those God places in our life. We reach out to everyone in order to win those that Jesus is calling to Himself.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, only in You do we find the true riches of righteousness, peace and joy (Romans 14:17). You gave us the opportunity to follow You all the days of our life and to reap the benefits of righteous living and the inheritance we share with You from our Heavenly Father. Keep us on the narrow road of Truth. We submit our lives to You and resist the world, our flesh and the devil. Thank You that when we do, Satan must flee from us (James 4:7).

Thought for the Day:

Bitterness and gratefulness cannot coexist, because negative emotions blind us from seeing God’s true gifts in our life.




Thank you, Elisa Hall, for the use of your photo.