Monday, October 10, 2016

Do You Do the Very Things You Hate?


Paul said, “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.  For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me” (Rom. 7:18-20). 

Hey Gang: Notice Paul does not leave it there.  Keep in mind that when Paul wrote these words there were no paragraphs in his letter to the Romans. He, went on to say, ”Yes, I do the very things I hate, BUT.  “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law, of sin and death” (Rom. 8:1-2).

 Did you know that the Bible is filled with very effective road maps to living truly effective lives?  For instance, look at Colossians three and note that Paul gives us a formula for change.

 But - before giving us the formula- he sets the prerequisites for implementation and success of this formula in verse one: “Therefore, if,” notice the ‘if’ if you have been raised with Christ” (Col. 3:1).  The principles in the Word are many, but keep in mind there are prerequisites to receiving God’s blessings. Obviously, first to gain the blessings of God, we must first plug our plug into God’s power supply. 

 Paul goes on with the key to success: “Keep seeking” and follows this chunk of advice by giving us the “rest of the story -“Keep seeking the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth”. (vs. 1b-2).

He then gives us step one to the change process: “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (v. 3).  What a joy there is in knowing that, when we have surrendered our lives to Christ, we are literally hidden with Him and when He is revealed, then we also will be revealed with Him in glory.”  Wow!, Just plain wow!

Now Paul goes on with the prerequisites to being hidden with Him: “Consider your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry” (v.5).
Is Paul saying “God would like you to die to these things?”.  I believe it goes a lot deeper.   Notice Paul’s next words, “For it is because of these things the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience” (v.6). 

So, young folks, remember the hillbilly adage “Your gonna get what ya always got,! if ya do what ya always did!’  Paul put it this way: “Be not deceived, you are going to reap what you sow” (Gal. 6:7). You will make choices today – to “put off” those things that offend God, or to “put on” those things that bring honor and glory to Abba Father.  The toughest part of the change process then kicks in -“We must let God have total control of your all.

If you we asked how much have you committed to your Saviour and Lord, what would your meter read?


Blessings,

Gramps

No comments:

Post a Comment