Remembering that Jesus
suffered and died to forgive our sins is the most important thought we have to
inspire us to make godly choices today and to make our lives count for
eternity.
The Scripture reference encourages us to “stop indulging in
fleeting pleasures and instead exhaust” our lives on what pleases God:
1 Peter 4:1-8, (KJV)
Forasmuch
then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with
the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
2
That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the
flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
3
For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought
the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of
wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
4
Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to
the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
5
Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the
quick and the dead.
6
For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that
are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live
according to God in the spirit.
7
But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober,
and watch unto prayer.
8
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves:
for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Last night’s
God at Eventide (http://twolisteners.org/Mar%20Eventide.htm#March
20) devotional also mentioned that the “treasures and joys” of God’s kingdom
should have First Place in our hearts and lives, while today’s My Utmost for His Highest says, in part,
that:
The inescapable spiritual need each of us has
is the need to sign the death certificate of our sin nature. I must take my
emotional opinions and intellectual beliefs and be willing to turn them into a
moral verdict against the nature of sin; that is, against any claim I have to
my right to myself. Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ . . . .” [Galatians
2:20] He did not say, “I have made a
determination to imitate Jesus Christ,” or, “I will really make an effort to
follow Him”-but-”I have been identified
with Him in His death.” Once I reach this moral decision and act on it, all
that Christ accomplished for
me on the Cross is accomplished in
me. My unrestrained commitment of myself to God gives the Holy Spirit the
opportunity to grant to me the holiness of Jesus Christ.
“. . . it is no longer I who live . . . .”
My individuality remains, but my primary motivation for living and the nature
that rules me are radically changed. I have the same human body, but the old
satanic right to myself has been destroyed.
The My Utmost for His
Highest devotional selection is entitled, “Identified or Simply Interested?” This makes me think of a show I’ve seen based
on Kyle Idleman’s book, Not A Fan,
which calls us to examine ourselves as to our motivations, and the way we live
our lives.
2 Corinthians 13:5 (NCV)
5
Look closely at yourselves. Test yourselves to see if you
are living in the faith. You know that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you fail
the test.
LORD, my
hope is in You, that as You work in me to will and to do of Your good pleasure,
I will pass the test as You complete what You have begun in me through Jesus
Christ, to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
… and my
journey with Him continues …
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