Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of ManWeekly
Devotional 3-2-20 Hey, Did You Know?
Did you know that there is a description of you In the Bible? Well, you and I are described in chapter eight of the Book of Romans, Consider,
“1There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit” (Romans 8:1-5).
Walking, according to the Spirit, describes those who are in Christ Jesus, who live by and are under His authority. Walking according to the flesh, describes those that do not recognize the authority of Christ, who live according to the appetites of their unregenerate natures. One of these descriptions fits you perfectly as it does each one of us. The question is which one fits you, which one fits me?
Paul, the inspired writer of this letter to the church at Rome, wrote in another letter (his letter to the Galatians) that those who are in Christ (those who are under Christ’s authority) have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts (Galatians 5:24). He contrasted their lives with the lives of those who live according to their unregenerate natures. He wrote:
“19Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21). And in contrast, he wrote of what the Holy Spirit produces in the life of the one who is surrendered to Jesus Christ. “22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithful-ness, 23gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23)
We should each look at these passages and ask ourselves, by which one am I described? Is it the former or the latter? You should consider what delights your soul, and I should consider what it is that delights my soul. You and I either live to honor and serve our Triune God (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit), or we live to serve the lusts and desires of our flesh.
In our determination we should take to heart Jesus’ words spoken to Nicodemus, “18He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:18-21).
Believing in Jesus is not to just believe facts about Him, but is a committing to, and reliance on, His transforming power. Each person stands either condemned or un-condemned, depending on whether or not they have trusted in Jesus for their salvation. Un-condemned, they will enter into eternal bliss. Condemned, they will be cast forever out of the presence of Holy God.
Consider what Jesus said to His disciples:
“24If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works” (Matthew 16:24-26). His words were not just meant for them, but was meant for you and me.
You and I are described by our commitment to the authority of Jesus over our lives, or the lack thereof.
So I ask, do you find your identification in these passages?
stevelampman@comcast.net
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Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man