You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness
Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)
If we're being honest with ourselves, living a godly life is a daily battle. It's the fight between the old self (the flesh) and the new life in Christ. Dying to the old habits, forgetting the former ways, striving to be holy - It sounds exhausting. But when we look at the heart of the matter, that is where the change comes in. If I'm striving to be holy, as Christ calls us to be, but doing it because I live out of a place of shame and regret, it will drain me.
It's when I draw my attention to the reason why God calls us to pure and holy lives when I understand and see His vision for my life, that I gladly want to follow because I know that He has the best intentions for my life. I like how Paul compares the old and new life to garments. What we dress ourselves with makes a statement to others. They perceive us differently when we dress neat and formal than in filthy rags. The way we feel about ourselves and the respect that we have for our bodies are also influenced by what we wear and how we feel when we wear those clothes. So then, when we enter the new life in Christ, Paul encourages us to take of the old self. To lay down our old ways of living. The bad habits, the old ways of thinking, and to clothe ourselves with Christ, with fresh and neat clothes.
It's the deliberate turning away, or as Paul says, "Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
2 Timothy 2:22 (NIV)
We live in a world where temptations creep around every corner, but that doesn't justify why we can submerge ourselves into the world's culture. It's like a boat on the water, floating on the water, but not letting the water in. As soon as we create holes in our boats or allow the water of this world to get in, we start sinking and missing out on what is still in store for us. Rather than trying our best to withstand sin or temptation, avoid sinful situations overall. "Flee from it."
Another important thing to consider is to redirect our cravings to feeding our souls instead. Something that makes us different from animals, is the fact that we can say "No". We can perceive when something is wrong and put on the brakes. Animals feed on instinct. It's like the way the native Americans use what is called the Blood Knife. They cover a knife with blood, let it freeze and apply a few more layers, then they put it outside in the snow. By the smell of fresh blood, the wolf cannot withstand the instinct of licking the knife, at the end cutting his tongue, but not knowing that the blood he is licking is his own and not the blood that was applied. Crucifying your cravings can be the turning point between falling into a trap that you create for yourself or finding out that you can redirect your cravings to something more purposeful. When we look at the life of Samson, we see how he gave up his convictions to prove his love to someone else, and that cost him his life and the mission for which God had planned for him.
Community plays such an important role in our walk with Christ. We sometimes get so offended at fellow believers that we'd rather spend time with people of the world because they don't hurt us as much. Sad to think that we would rather choose friends who would distract us from God's truth than accept criticism, taking it to Christ and asking Him what He has to say about it. Surround yourself with a community that pursues righteousness with you and cheers you on to live according to God's will for your life.
"If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised by the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling around with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
C.S. Lewis (The Weight of Glory, 1949).
I think it is true that we want our bread buttered on both sides, but then again it comes down to what we value as important and how important we value what God promises for the life of a righteous believer.
“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
Matthew 9:16 (NIV)
Turning away from the old, and embracing the new. Not seeing it as one or the other or even both lives at the same time but rather seeing it as there is no other option, than going His way. What stood out for me as I pondered on these few verses, the more you seek, the more you find. The more your soul is being fed, the less cravings of the flesh. What we feed, dominates us. Where we invest our time and money, is a good indication of what or who we permit to have front-row seats in our lives.
This is a lot to take in and in a way, I sometimes feel like I won't be able to measure up to this. How can I pursue holiness and purity when Christ knows I'm only human? But that's where we have it wrong. We are human, but it is the power of Christ inside of us that enables us to conquer temptations and strive toward a holy life in Christ. Just as He is (1 John 4:17), so are we in this world. We can turn away from darkness and pursue His truth with a glad heart, knowing that the Father loves us and that His Spirit wants to help us.
I've Witnessed It -Bethel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHYpWwTJ0Ug)
Comments