2012-11-02
Hi There Dear Ones,
Last week we were reminded, in JN 15: 15-17, that Christ now considers us His friends and not just His servants, has made all that the Father shared with Him known to us, and had chosen us first. At the time we were beginning our look at how God transforms us from being led by our natural desires to being led by the Holy Spirit to holiness, as we consider this subject as a part of these “Our Covenant” messages. We are one with Christ in both His baptism and in dying and being raised, as He was [RO 6: 5-6; COL 2: 11-13; COL 3: 3-4]. How fabulous that we no longer have to be slaves to sin on a one-way path to spiritual death! Today, we must consider some of the changes we must make in our lives in order to live up to the example Christ set for us.
The first passage that comes to mind is one with which we have some familiarity, COL 3: 9-10, “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” We must be honest, and we must be acutely aware of God’s continual efforts to make Himself known to us. This also means for us to recognize that God would never hate anyone created in His own image; this is despite the fact that we deal with challenges to our faith, illness, other difficulties, even physical death. Now, look at what He tells us in COL 3: 12, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” This is far more easily said than it is done. The opposites of all these traits are what affect the thoughts and behavior of a person led by natural desire. So, this means we must shuck off what comes naturally to us in favor of them. However, God will never command us to do something that we can’t do. We understand what each means, and because of our union with Christ Jesus, we are able to go against our natural desires; that is some of the power He gives us. The cord to sin can be cut, but it isn’t easy. Nothing worthwhile does come easily to us.
We need to be aware of a danger that threatens us in our effort to put on good thoughts and wise behavior. It is becoming smugly self-satisfied. I have had the experience of encountering Christians who demonstrate pride in “their accomplishments” and put down other Christians. A young lady my son dated briefly in high school did this, and it affected his decision not to become a Christian when he was older. Last week we looked at GA 3: 26-28, which told us there is no difference between one believer and another, as far as being sons and daughters of God—His adopted children. It doesn’t matter if one was born a Jew or Gentile, male or female, slave or free, for all of us are “one in the body of Christ.” Andrew Murray, in his The Two Covenants, stated, “We are holy in Christ. As we believe it, as receive it, as we yield ourselves to the truth and draw nigh to God to have the holiness drawn forth and revealed in fellowship with Him, we shall know how divinely true it is.” As we read and digest what is being said, we might argue that our flesh sometimes overtakes us. I believe the more spiritually mature a person is, the more practiced he is in working to prevent this. We can remember the what Paul has to say about the conflict between the flesh and the Spirit in RO 7: 14-25. Yes, Dear ones, the sin within us makes us do what we don’t want to do. However, our way out is through faith in Jesus Christ! We should not forget that due to our faith in the Lord Jesus, His Atonement, and our repentance, we now can choose whether or not to give in to the flesh. This is key reconnaissance in the battles we must do against evil. This power we now have is one of the many gifts that has come to us through the Lord Jesus Christ.
It’s going to be important for us to examine ways to overcome temptation. But before we leave the previous subject of what Christ and the Father have given us, we must remember that this power is an integral part of our covenant relationship with the Lord. We have acquired God’s hard work of bringing us knowledge of Himself and the power to overcome temptation. In return, we need to do our part, and it won’t always be easy. Let me share a short story from my own life. By no means have I reached perfection. I, as all believers still on earth, am a work in progress. I’m sorely tempted to lose patience with a relative who brings out the worst in me. I’m sorely tempted to toss off some of my responsibilities and take a vacation I can’t afford. I’m sorely tempted to complain about the constant pain I’m in to whoever will listen. I’m sorely tempted to overeat. I’m sorely tempted to be selfish at times. And so the list goes on. The only thing that is keeping me from those things is the example our Lord has given me. I have been put in a group of people (our congregation) who set the example of godly traits Christ wants all believers to have. That was our Lord’s doing, as was my wonderful marriage to an observant Christian, Peter. The least that I (or anyone so blessed) should do is to work to avoid some temptations and to fend off giving in to all temptations that are in my life.
Consider your own temptations and how you respond to them as partners with God in our covenant relationships with Him.
PRAYER: O Lord, we offer You our thanks and praise for sending Your Son here to convey Your teaching and to die on the cross for us [JN 3: 16; RO 3: 24-25]. His blood shed and our faith in Him are the keys to the Kingdom, if we will use them in a way which pleases You. One key is the power to fend off temptation. This means to think ahead about what dangers are in a situation we can avoid. It’s like the example of a single lady walking alone on dark streets at night. This is avoidable, if she thinks ahead and chooses not to do this. Another key is to make right choices when faced with temptations we can’t avoid. This would be like holding one’s tongue and temper when being spoken to with disrespect, rather than letting the flesh take over. We should never waste a drop of Christ’s blood shed for us, by letting a challenging situation lead us to unfaithfulness. To prevent this, we must understand the need for an active prayer and Scripture study life. JS 1: 8, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” One who studies the Scriptures has Your teaching in mind. PS 1: 1, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is the law of the Lord, and no His law he meditates day and night.” A wise, reverent person will pray for Your guidance, as in PS 25: 4-5, “Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.” Dearest Father, we make You our Hiding Place as we utter PS 32: 7, “You are my Hiding Place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” We submit to You and we listen for Your commands. You love us enough to bear our burdens and to give us the power to choose to be righteous in Your eyes. For this and all You do and have given us, we offer You praise and thanks, and we say this prayer in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: As mentioned above, we will be looking at God’s help in the face of temptations in a new segment of these “Our Covenant” messages called “God’s Help in Temptation.” In the meanwhile, there are have been many issues that fall under the description of being “hidden with Christ in God” [COL 3: 3] that have been brought up in this message. We need to take the time to meditate over them as they apply to our lives. Taking time to think about our covenant relationship with the Lord like this helps us to have a better understanding of the lessons He has for us. Learning first what His teaching is and then, how it applies to our lives will give us a greater chance of real happiness. This is no fairy tale or “feel good” preaching. Instead it is the power to change lives from being led by natural desires to a one-way path of sin and spiritual death to being led by the Holy Spirit on a one-way path to eternal life. This power that Christ gives us is the power to first to understand Him and then, to allow His example to purify us from sin. It affects the head-heart-hands connection in the very best ways, way that bless our lives and those of others, ways that are reverent, wise, and pleasing to the Lord. As for evil, it will one day be destroyed. As for what an observant believer can anticipate. Consider REV 21: 3b, 4, 21b-23, 27, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them…He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away…the great street of the city [the new Jerusalem] was of pure gold, like transparent glass. I did not see a temple in the city because the lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of god gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp…Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of life.” Praise and thanks be to the Lord!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24:15
© Lynn Johnson 2012. All Rights Reserved.
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