When we sin, we miss the mark of perfection modeled by
Jesus and His sinless life. As unbelievers we have no choice but to walk in
sin, because Satan is our father and he is the father of lies (John 8:44).
However, once we come to Christ for forgiveness of our
sins and for His redemption of our life as a sinner, we no longer live in
habitual sin. We may miss the mark now and then and sin; but it is no longer
our lifestyle.
If we continue to live in habitual sin, we are still dead
in sin and do not have the Holy Spirit within us (Romans 8:9). We are not Born
Again by the Spirit of God, but we continue to live as slaves of
unrighteousness and we reap its destruction (Romans 6:15-23).
Maybe we were convicted and we called out to God for
salvation; yet we were never converted. Salvation is a two-sided coin: The
prayer of faith on one side, but the repentance of sin is on the other side
(Mark 1:14-15).
If we are Born Again, we are embodied by God's Spirit and
we are no longer a sinner. We are a Saint. At first this is only true
positionally in our eternal standing with God, because we are still in need of
sanctification in our soul.
As we pray without ceasing, allow God's Spirit to do His
sanctifying work in our soul - our thoughts, choices and emotions - and walk
according to the Spirit's direction for each moment of our day, we are
literally free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).
We grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ and our
flesh decreases as He increases within us (2 Peter 3:18; John 3:30). He fills
us through all of our being with all the fullness of God. We have the richest
measure of His presence and we are a body wholly filled with God (Ephesians
3:16-19).
Christ is our whole life (Colossians 3:4), and we live to
do His will with each moment of our day. We enjoy our times alone with God -
even the silent moments when He is just enjoying our company. We walk in His
truth and spread His peace every place we go.
We are amazed at the divine appointments that God sets up
for us along the way. People are encouraged and blessed by the presence of
Christ in us, and we are blessed to watch Him work in and through us.
Prayer:
Father God, let there be peace in the world, and let it
begin with Your Saints. Remind us that we are free from the law of sin and
death by the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1-2). We no
longer live a lifestyle of sin, although we do miss the mark of Your perfection
once in a while.
As long as we humble our self, admit our failings and
desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:12), we remain in Your Spirit
and follow His guidance to live in Your will each moment of our day. Thank You
for empowering us by Your Spirit to live as Your ambassadors while we remain on
this earth.
Thought for the Day:
God wants to use us for His Kingdom: He may lead us to
fill a physical need for someone in the name of Jesus; a tear-filled face gives
us the opportunity to share the compassion of Christ; a blank stare or faraway
look in someone's eye allows us to infuse His love and joy into a frustrating or
perplexing situation - be ready, willing and able to serve in Jesus' name. - Matthew
10:41
