We are saved from our sins,
and given eternal life with God, not just so we can escape hell and have the
promise of heaven as our eternal home. When we believe in Jesus Christ to be
Lord and Savior of our lives, our new lives in Christ Jesus have only begun. He
has so much he wants to do in and through our lives for his purpose and for his
glory. So, we need to yield our lives to his will, and allow him to work his
will and purposes in our lives.
The Lord Jesus led me to read
Colossians 1 (Select vv. NASB).
For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we
have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the
knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you
will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects,
bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining
of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who
has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. Vv. 9-12
So, how are we filled with
the knowledge of his will? How do we know what all God has for us to do and to
be while we live our lives on this earth?
Well, when we trust in Jesus
Christ, his Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us. And, he speaks God’s words to
our hearts, and he teaches us all we need for godliness and for holy living.
And, he empowers us to walk in the ways of the Lord, too, for we can’t do this
in our flesh. But, we also need to be in the Word (the Bible) daily, listening
to the Lord speak his truth to our hearts, and then, empowered by his Spirit,
we must obey what his Word teaches us.
There are those who would
tell you that God is pleased with us no matter what we do, but the Bible
teaches that we must walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please him in all
respects. This means we must walk in the truth he has given to us, yielding our
lives over to him, submitted to his will, and we must leave our old lives of
living in sinful pleasure behind us.
For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and
transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption,
the forgiveness of sins. Vv. 13-14
And although you were formerly alienated and hostile
in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly
body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and
beyond reproach— if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and
steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which
was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a
minister. Vv. 21-23
Jesus died on that cross that
we might die to sin and live to righteousness. Yet, it seems not many people
are teaching that these days. He died to transform us and to conform us to his
will, not just to forgive us our sins. He delivered us out of slavery
(addiction, bondage) to sin so that we can walk in freedom and please him in
every respect. He is not ok with us continuing in willful sinful habits, and he
does not take pleasure in us when we are engaged in continual willful sin
against him.
If we claim to have
fellowship with God, but we walk (in practice) in sin, the Bible says we are
liars. If we walk (in lifestyle) according to our sinful flesh, the Bible says we
will die in our sins, not have the hope of eternal life with God, even if we
profess faith in Jesus Christ. So, don’t be fooled! We must continue with
Christ in the faith we profess, not moved from the hope of the gospel, which is
freedom, not just from the punishment of sin, but freedom from addiction to
sin.
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in
my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling
up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions… We proclaim Him, admonishing every
man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man
complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His
power, which mightily works within me. Vv. 24, 28-29
As believers in Jesus Christ,
although we are now set free from the power sin had over our lives, because we
still live in flesh bodies, we will still be tempted to sin, but we don’t have
to give in to temptation. Jesus provided the way of escape for us out from
underneath temptation, so that we can say “No” to sin and “Yes” to Jesus. He
has given us everything we need to resist Satan, to flee temptation, and to
draw near to God in full assurance of faith. We just have to take the way out
which he provided.
Temptation can be a trial for
us, but our Lord will lead us to victory if we will just follow his lead and do
what he says. Yes, if we get serious about our walks of faith, we will face
rejection and persecution and ridicule from friends, relatives, neighbors and
even church people. But, we must not let them intimidate us or lead us astray.
We must not fear them and what they might do to us if we choose to walk in the
freedom God has given us. But, we must press on in our faith to maturity, and
live to please our Lord.
What the Lord Says / An Original Work
February 24, 2014 / Based off Isaiah 43:1-44:5
This is what the Lord says to
you:
Fear not, for I have chosen
you.
I have summoned you by your
name.
You are mine. I died, you to
save.
When you go through your
trials, so deep,
I will be with you; you will
not sink.
You are so precious always to
me.
Trust in your Lord, Savior
and King.
This is what the Lord says to
you:
He who gave salvation to you;
Who delivered you from your
sin;
Takes your burdens now upon
Him:
Forget the former things of
your life.
Give of your heart not now up
to strife.
See all the new things I have
for you.
Walk in vict’ry. Trust in
what’s true.
This is what the Lord says to
you:
He who made you; who will
help you:
Do not fear what humans may
do.
Walk in freedom. Follow
what’s true.
Drink of my Spirit given for
you.
Trust in my mercy, for I love
you.
I have a plan for all of your
life.
Follow my ways. Do what is
right.
Friday, December 22, 2017,
11:44 p.m. – Thank you, Jesus, for this teaching from your word. I pray we
would all walk in victory. Amen!
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