Desire…

Desire…

If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” ~ Genesis 4:7

Desire…. It permeates our thoughts. It is the motivator of all human effort and activity. It is ever-present in our consciousness and directs our will. As God cautioned Cain, if your desire leads to sin, it is ready and waiting at the door of your heart. Sin has a desire of its own to enslave you. Yet, the text here indicates that sin can be mastered. The Lord has provided the way for us:

1 Corinthians 10:12-14 (NIV)

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation (test) has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted (tested) beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted (tested), He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

King David advised his son, Solomon, to honor God and to serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind because the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. (1 Chronicles 28:9) Indeed, God knows the desire of our hearts whether for good or evil. It was with great faith and discretion that King Solomon asked God for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding instead of the temporal desires of this world within the human heart. (2 Chronicles 1:10-12)

Solomon discovered that wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you or I ever desire can compare with her. (Proverbs 8:11) He would advise: “Desire without knowledge is not good— how much more will hasty feet miss the Way!” (Proverbs 19:2) And later, he would conclude: “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” (Proverbs 24:3-4)

The thoughts and desires of the human heart are manifested in everything we say and do. But what are the desires of the heart of God? Here are some answers revealed for us in His Word:

The Lord desires faithfulness … even in the womb…. ~ Psalm 51:6

The Lord desires mercy, not sacrifice; knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. ~ Hosea 6:6

The Lord desires intimacy with those who belong to Him. ~ Song of Songs 7:10

The Lord desires His Word to accomplish the purpose for which it is sent forth. ~ Isaiah 55:11

The Lord desires His dwelling place to be Jerusalem. ~ Psalm 132:13

My friends, the desires of God are revealed in His commandments, laws, statutes, and precepts. He desires holiness and righteousness … mercy and justice … to be displayed in our lives. Indeed, God desires us to believe in His Son and to love one another as He commanded us! (1 John 3:23) Therefore, I pray this verse be our resolve this coming year: “I desire to do your will, my God; your Law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8) Yes, “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

Have a Blessed Day!

Take Up Your Cross…

Luke 9:23-24 (NIV)

Then Jesus said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”

Our Verse of the Day challenges us to evaluate our response to Jesus! Jesus taught a key principle of discipleship; namely, whoever wants to be His disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Him. Notice the spiritual application for us is a daily action item – “take up your cross daily.” In essence, Jesus is telling us that self-denial … no longer living for ourselves but for Him … is the conviction and transformation that should occur within us. This is what it truly means to believe and abide in Jesus! We are called each day to put our sinful nature to death (Cf. Colossians 3:5); bring every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ (Cf. 2 Corinthians 10:5); and to serve Jesus by following wherever He goes. (Cf. John 12:26)

As we have studied over the past several days, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Cf. Romans 3:23) It is the redemption accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus that requires a response from every human being. That response is repentance! That response is faith in His blood atonement! That response is a love for God demonstrated through obedience:

1 John 2:4-6 (NIV)

Whoever says, “I know Him,” but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.But if anyone obeys His word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in Him:Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.

1 John 5:1-3 (NIV)

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves His Son as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

So let us pray and resolve this morning to deny ourselves and to be obedient to the life of Jesus within us. Let us take to heart these words that Paul penned: “For if we have been united with Jesus in a death like His, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.” (Cf. Romans 6:5-7) “For those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Cf. Galatians 5:24) This is what is means to deny ourselves and to pick up our own cross each day and to follow Jesus! Let us encourage each other to do so as we see the Day approaching…. Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. ~ Matthew 10:37-39

Dying To Sin…

1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)

“He Himself bore our sins” in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by His wounds you have been healed.”

In our Verse of the Day, Peter reminds us of the reason that Jesus died a physical death upon the cross. Jesus bore the punishment for our sins! He received in His body our penalty … the payment due for our sins … which is death. (Cf. Romans 6:23) His gracious, merciful act atoned for us. His high priestly sacrifice satisfied the righteousness of Father God … our Holy Creator.

But closer examination of this verse also reveals the purpose for which Jesus died as well. Peter draws our attention to the application of our response to the unmerited mercy and forgiveness of Jesus; namely, “that we might die to sin and live for righteousness.” In disarming the power of sin through His sacrificial atonement (Cf. Colossians 2:15), Jesus sets us free from the law of sin and death. (Cf. Romans 8:2) So, I believe this verse affirms what Paul asserted when he wrote: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Cf. Galatians 2:20)

Romans 6:1-7; 11-14 (NIV)

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to Him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

I realize that my biblical text selections for commentaries have become repetitive the past few days, but I am convinced this is what the Holy Spirit wants us to embrace: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (Cf. Leviticus 44-45; 19:2; 20:7; 20:26; 22:32; 1 Peter 1:16) Indeed, it is Jesus alone who makes us holy through His blood atonement. He has separated us from the world and sanctified us to serve God the Father! Oh, how I pray the power of the blood of Jesus would so penetrate our consciousness that we would wholly consecrate ourselves to Him; that we would deny ourselves and pick up our cross daily and follow Him! (Cf. Luke 9:23)

My friends, it is my prayer that we will spend some time before the Lord Jesus today and thank Him for all He has done for us! Yes, praise Him for the forgiveness and salvation He purchased for us! Worship Him for sending His Holy Spirit to indwell us … to comfort us and guide us into all truth! Indeed, a very costly ransom was paid for our sins and transgressions. Through Jesus, we have been renewed, returned, and restored to fellowship with God! Through Jesus our relationship with the Father has been healed! Therefore, we should not deliberately keep on sinning and dishonor the purpose of the cross … that we might die to sins and live for righteousness.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

For if we willfully persist in sin after having received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sin but a fearful prospect of judgment and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has violated the law of Moses dies without mercy “on the testimony of two or three witnesses.” How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by those who have spurned the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant by which they were sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace? ~ Hebrews 10:26-29

Crucified With Christ…

Galatians 2:20 (NIV)

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Our Verse of the Day comes to challenge us on this Good Friday! Whenever I read this passage, the weight of its message always challenges my heart. Too often, I believe, our thoughts are consumed with ourselves … our own plans and desires … and sometimes we lose focus on the purposes of God for our lives. Paul makes a very profound, experiential statement of faith; yet I wonder if we truly understand its significance for our own walk of faith. We have talked about the purpose of the crucifixion and the blood atonement for our sin that Jesus suffered for us, but do we see and identify with the death of sin that took place the cross in our personal lives?

Paul gives us is a powerful thought to embrace for ourselves. We are to personally identify with the crucifixion as though we ourselves (along with Christ Jesus) were nailed to that cross and put to death our own sin. As Paul wrote: “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” (Cf. Colossians 3:5) And, “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” (Cf. Romans 8:13) Putting our sinful natures to death IS our personal identification with the cross of Christ! Moreover, our identity remains forever in Christ Jesus!

Romans 6:3-5 (NIV)

Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His.

My friends, not only do we need to identify with the death to sin (buried in baptism), we need to see our resurrection to new life IN Christ. Just as we identify with His death, we can identify with His resurrection. We have been raised to new life in Him. And as we abide in Him and He is us, it is no longer we ourselves who live but Christ in us. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation. The old has gone, the new is here!” (Cf. 2 Corinthians 5:17) That new person is one who surrenders to live as Jesus did. (Cf. 1 John 2:6) Yes, the will of God is for our sanctification (Cf. John 17:17; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; 1 Thessalonians 5:23); that is, we should be separate or set apart for service unto God.

Romans 8:29 reminds us that God predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son. If we want to be like Jesus, we have to be crucified with Him. We have to put to death our sinful nature on the cross. It requires the sacrifice of our own wills. It demands self-discipline and sanctification out of reverence for God. The Apostles have communicated what Jesus clearly taught them. And so, perhaps it would be best to see how Jesus challenged His disciples. It still applies to us today:

Luke 9:18-25 (NIV)

And it happened, as Jesus was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” So, they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.” And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.” Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his crossdaily, and follow Me.For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?

This is the life of faith in Jesus that we are called to attain! And Paul has provided a practical perspective for me to apply to my life; namely, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” If I would but proclaim this one truth to my heart each morning when I awake, I would truly experience the sanctification God has made possible for my life. If I am dead to sin … if I no longer live but Christ lives in me (through His Holy Spirit) … then the desires of the flesh … my personal agendas … will all be nailed to the cross with Christ. I will no longer live for myself, but I will live in Christ and for Him. I cannot change who I was before I encountered Christ. I cannot undo the offenses, transgressions, and sins committed. I can only receive His gracious forgiveness … His merciful atonement for my rebellious spirit. Indeed, all those who belong to Christ Jesus have no other option.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

So, I say walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ~ Galatians 5:16-25