OUR SPIRITUAL WEAPONS The world will pass away, together with all that is in it. All men will die, and at last stand before the Creator to give an account of themselves. It is in view of these things that the people of God are consistently admonished to refuse to allow natural appetites, inclinations, and relationships to dominate them. Anything and everything that is "natural" must be made subordinate to the higher considerations of the world to come and the time when we will stand before the Lord of glory. Some of the admonitions include the following, which are representative of a staggering number of similar statements. -- Tomorrow:
"Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled." (2 Cor 10:1-6)
Devotion 2 of 44
1. "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Rom 12:2)
2. "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry" (Col 3:5).
3. "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul" (1 Pet 2:11).
4. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15).
Graciously, we are reminded that the Holy Spirit Himself assists us in accomplishing this demanding requirement. "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live" (Rom 8:13). We are also taught that the grace of God will instruct in the various details of this requirement. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13).
In addition to this, there are certain advantages realized in Christ Jesus that cannot possibly be experienced apart from union with Him.
1. We have peace with God (Rom 5:1).
2. We have been reconciled to God (Rom 5:9).
3. We have been forgiven "all trespasses" (Col 2:13).
4. We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous One (1 John 2:1).
5. The Lord Jesus ever lives to make intercession for us (Heb 7:25).
6. The Holy Spirit helps our infirmities, interceding for us with groanings that cannot be expressed by humanity (Rom 8:26-27).
7. An enumerable company of angels have been dispatched to minister to those who are the heirs of salvation (Heb 2:13-14).
8. We have access to God, and to the throne of grace (Rom 5:2; Eph 2:18; 3:12).
Now, in view of these remarkable advantages, what valid explanation can be adduced for involvement in sin. Is there really a satisfactory rationale for one who is in Christ committing sin? How can one who has known the Lord account before God for a return to the world? What can be said to the Lord about the loss of one's "first love?" What about the person or church who becomes lukewarm, carnal, unwise, or disinterested? What of the professing believer who loses an interest in the Word of Lord, or ceases to prepare to give a strict account to the Lord on the day of judgment? Is there a single soul of sound mind in all of the world that could present a satisfactory answer to such things?
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, help me to live in view of reality, not imagination.