by David Brenneman
"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:9-21.
What's the will of God for you and I?
First is our sanctification. 1 Thessalonians 4:3a "This is the will of God for your sanctification".
Then, Paul mentions putting off the old self with its practices and putting on the new self in Christ. "that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth." Ephesians 4:22-24.
There are things to be doing in Christ that are the practices of one who is growing in Christ. That's what we read in the opening passages today.
A transformed life is going to see aspects and attributes going away and having them be replaced with the attributes of God in Christ Jesus.
You shouldn't think that you are losing out on the things that used to make you feel good or maybe even happy. There's absolutely no doubt that our sin nature's deeds of darkness play on our emotions.
It takes intentionality to leave off the old self and to keep the new self put on in Christ.
You and I, because of the cross of Jesus Christ, are given the opportunity called choice.
Paul taught us all that we can and must choose who it is who's going to reign in our mortal bodies.
"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace." Romans 6:12-14.
You and I must choose to be holy as He is holy.
It's going to hurt. It's going to get us mocked and scorned. It's going to bring persecutions and tribulations to us.
In the same way they treated our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said if they hated Him they would hate us as well for we represent Christ to the world.
The world loves their deeds of darkness that exemplify their selfish desires. They love calling evil good and good evil.
Then they die and wake up in Hell 1 moment later to only then realize all who warned them in Christ weren't wrong after all.
All who die in Christ 1 moment after they die realize indeed that everything they knew about Jesus and then some from the Bible and teachings of the Spirit were right after all.
Are you showing the characteristics of Jesus in your life? Are what's important to Jesus important to you? Are you justifying practices in your life that shouldn't be there? Are you intentionally setting aside the new self in Christ because of something you desire and then afterwards pick up the new self again and see nothing wrong with it?
My Dear Reader this must not be so!
We aren't to keep putting off what we have in Christ to go enjoy the world and put Christ back on when we're done! This isn't a job. This decision to follow Jesus after we've come to Christ is a forever priesthood. Once the priestly garments are on they are to stay on.
In no way am I insinuating that I have arrived. This is much a convicting thought to me as it probably is to you.
We are in Christ now and forever.
We do not retire from service to our God until we are called home to Heaven or the Rapture of the Church takes place.
We're to pursue righteousness.
"But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6:11-12.
We can't know all that God has prepared for those who are in Christ Jesus if we aren't pursuing what we are called to pursue.
It's something that I have been working on is to remove something that's been idle time and add a book reading time. Reading my Bible in the morning right now as well as a different reading plan in the evening. Adding devotionals that are going to help me understand written by known men of God.
We must choose to have the mind of Christ.
If our actions are not showing Christ then we ought to question our salvation.
Satan is a liar and the father of lies as Jesus said. He will twist and distort our thoughts to allow a foothold in our lives.
Pray for the character of Christ to be seen in you.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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