Having said that –
let’s look at what do we do when we
fail to “live”
godly. The major difficulty is that we live in an instant society – some of it is not our fault, and not all is bad. I
remember years ago I was returning from a speaking engagement. I was on a train
and the plan was to be picked up by my wife that night. I arrived and waited
for Dee to pick me up. Two hours went by…I
was alone at the station wondering if I had miscommunicated with my wife. I saw
some lights coming into the parking lot, but it was not my wife. It was a state
trooper vehicle. The car stopped and a trooper got out, walked up to me and
asked – “are
you Pastor Nathan Leigh, husband of Armida Leigh?” – my heart dropped…I
figured the next statement would be…”I
am sorry to tell you your wife has been killed.” – What he said was much better – “Pastor,
first ,your wife and kids are okay, but there has been an accident.” What a difference my night would have been if
texting existed at that time! So there are some very positive things about the
technological age we live in. However, it also has created a problem – instant gratification! I want all the benefits of
whatever I want right now and without any of the work. This has trained us to
be impatient for everything, including growth in Christ, and we seek solutions
for everything in quick, formulaic answers.
Wish your love for Him would be as consistent as His love for
you?
Your troubles are over – turn to the “Book of Victory”
to chapter 1 and in 5 easy lessons you will be filled with the spirit of
“Obediomatic.” “Obediomatic” enables you to obey when you want to and when you
don’t want to. Act now and for no extra work or prayers we will throw in
repentamator! If your “will” actually finds a way to disobey – the repentamator
will automatically produce tears of sorrow and vows of change – you will
express repentment!
Most disciplines in our life are not easy to come by. So it is
with obedience. However, I believe that we make it far harder than we need to
and that is because we have not taken the time to understand some very
important Truths that directly affect our walk of obedience
Romans 8:1-17 There
is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. [2] For the
law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin
and of death. [3] For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the
flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an
offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, [4] in order that the
requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to
the flesh, but according to the Spirit. [5] For those who are according to the
flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according
to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. [6] For the mind set on the flesh is
death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, [7] because the mind
set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the
law of God, for it is not even able to do so; [8] and those who are in the
flesh cannot please God. [9] However, you are not in the flesh but in the
Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have
the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. [10] And if Christ is in you,
though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of
righteousness. [11] But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead
dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to
your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you. [12] So then, brethren,
we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh--
[13] for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the
Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. [14] For
all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. [15] For you
have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have
received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba!
Father!" [16] The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are
children of God, [17] and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow
heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be
glorified with Him.
Let’s unpack this!
Romans 8:1 There is
therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
No condemnation – for those that belong to Christ. God looks at us through Christ! He sees His perfection, which has been accounted to us.
This does not say there is no conviction. We will and should
feel remorse over our sin; however, our obedience has nothing to do with God's
love for us. That kind of thinking turns obedience into a great burden. For
some it even makes them believe they lose their salvation. God loves us the
same before, during and after we disobey.
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ
Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. [3] For what the Law
could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in
the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in
the flesh, [4] in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in
us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
That doesn't sound right Nate, you mean I can disobey all I
want and God still loves and accepts me. Yep! Several things here…IF you truly belong to Him and live in rebellion, He
will chastise you for your own good. Sin is rat poison and your heavenly Father
wants to protect you from it! Also, if
you really understand God’s
unconditional love and acceptance in Christ that you have, it won't give you
license to sin…it should give you
incentive to obey!
A preacher brought a wonderful sermon on the depravity
of the human heart. And when he finished his message, someone came to him and
said, 'I want you to know I can't swallow it! No I can't swallow that depraved
heart that you preached about. The preacher smiled and said, 'You don't have to
swallow it. It's already
in you!'"
When we realize that our old heart really is depraved, but
because of Christ we are fully accepted, obedience happens from freedom, not
guilt. From the proper fear of the Lord, not dread of Him.
Meditation Questions: What
do you do when you realize you disobeyed God? Describe what that looks like. Do
you ever ignore the voice inside of you that is encouraging you to live right?
How do you do that? What would it take to make your self stop that habit? Do
you have sins that are habits? What would it take to break that habitual
practice? Do you think God loves you less? Explain.
We will look at the rest of this passage next Devo
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