A HEALTHY SOUL

.Rom. 12:3  As God's messenger, I give each of you this warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you.  NLT

      When was the last time you took an honest look at yourself to see how your faith was doing?  I suspect it has been awhile.  We so often assume all is well with us and the Lord instead of knowing for sure whether it is or not.  We assume that because we are not doing bad things, saying bad things, or dwelling on bad things, that all is well.  We assume that because we get along with others and are responsible citizens that all is well.  We assume that because we go to church and occasionally read our Bibles and pray that all is well.  But, is it well with your soul?

       We can easily fall into the trap of going through the motions of faith and not be living in the faith.  We ought to be more like Christ than the world.  We ought not to be participating in evil things.  But, all of our goodness is nothing apart from Christ.  It is impossible to be right with God apart from a saving knowledge of Christ and a living knowledge of Him as Lord.

       When looking at yourself in the mirror of Christ's righteousness, forget about how good you think you are.  Forget about what others think of you.  Forget about a confession you may have mouthed in the past.  Look at Christ and see yourself in comparison to Him.  He alone can make us holy before God.  He alone determines the value of our faith.  If you are living submissively and obediently to Christ, then all is well with your soul.  If you are not, then you need to repent and get right with Him while you can.

LIKE JESUS OR THE WORLD?

Rom. 12:2  Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will is.  NLT

       There are far too many copycats in the Church today.  Far too many people bring into the Church worldly behavior and customs.  Some people hide what they do and seemingly get away with it, while others are exposed and brought to public shame.  No one gets away with anything because the Lord knows and judges the soul according to their deeds.  We need to wake up now before we are lulled to sleep spiritually and lose out on salvation.  We cannot be like the world and like Christ at the same time.  We must choose what we are going to be like, the world or Christ.

       We need to humble ourselves before God and let Him transform the way we think about who we are and how we ought to behave and think.  What is going on in the name of Christ today is not working very well.  We are slipping farther and farther away from holy living.  We are not loving each other like we should be.  We need a blood transfusion and mind transformation that we might be who God created us to be in Christ Jesus.

       When we are aligned with God, we will know what His will is and how we must live in order to be pleasing and acceptable to Him.  I fear that there are a lot of people in the Church today who do not please God at all.  Many people go through the motions of salvation, but do not know Christ as their Savior and Lord.  We desperately need to be a people after God's own heart and not like the world.  Let the Lord make you anew into a person after His own heart, holy and acceptable to God.

GIVE HIM YOUR ALL

Rom. 12:1-2 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice---the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.  NLT

       God wants all of us. He wants not only our hearts, but our minds and bodies as well. He wants to have control of all of our living. We can't compartmentalize God and give Him access to only part of us. How we apply this truth varies with each of us. The Spirit of God convicts us in different ways. The important thing is that we not withhold from God any part of who we are. His love for us is unconditional and we should not put conditions on our love for Him.

God wants all of us so that we will not conform ourselves to the ways of the world. The things the world thinks are important are not pleasing or acceptable to God. We are not to value the things the world values. Rather, we must learn to value the things of God. Until we do, we will never know what it is God wants us to do or the peace that comes from knowing His will for us.

       There is no greater joy than to know what God wants for us in life. Don't miss out on that joy by withholding from Him that which is rightfully His as the Lord of life.

HEART AND MIND SALVATION

Rom. 10:9-10 For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.  NLT

       Salvation is rooted in both the heart and mind. Why both? It is one thing to believe the truthfulness of the Gospel and it's another thing to believe it to the point where the Gospel is allowed to change us. True salvation changes the heart. It changes the desires of the heart to sin to a desire not to sin. A change of heart changes what we think about things. Our thinking goes from an earthly focus to a godly focus. We become more interested in the things of God than we do the things of earth.

Salvation moves us from what we believe about God to a belief in God. We personalize the Gospel. Knowing what is true moves to knowing Truth. Lip service becomes heart service.

       Anyone can claim to be a Christian, but not everyone who professes to be one is one. Words spoken must be backed up by a heart change. We must act on what we profess. We must let Jesus become Lord of our hearts.

       Merely mouthing words will not save you. Such an approach cheapens what Christ did for us. He came to take away our sin, not condone it. He doesn't enter our hearts to co-habit with sin. He makes us right with God so we won't sin. He lives in us to help us overcome sin and when we do fall to help us deal with it so it won't linger in our hearts any longer than necessary.

        Do you have any unconfessed sin in your heart today you need to get rid of?  Give them to the Lord right now so you can live in victory and enjoy the peace that only He can give.

NOTHING IN ALL CREATION

Rom. 8:39 Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.  NLT

      Hear what Paul is saying here.  NOTHING IN ALL CREATION will ever be able to separate us from the love of God.  NOTHING.  It is impossible for us to ever go anywhere or do anything that will keep us away from God's love.  God loves us.  Period.  It's hard to wrap ourselves around this wonderful truth.  God loves everyone equally the same.  He is not capable of not loving us.  He will always love us.

      Now, we can spurn His love and not know His love.  It doesn't mean we aren't loved; it means that we have chosen not to be loved by Him.  What a tragic way to live.  So many go through life not knowing the love of God because of their decision to live in sin.  It's always there, but unless one repents and chooses to live life in Christ, they do not know what the love of God is all about. 

       How do we know that God loves everyone?  He showed it to us at Calvary.  Jesus did not die for just a select few.  He died so that whosoever would want to be saved can be saved.  He died for the whole world with no strings attached.  It is possible for every human being ever born to be saved.  There is no greater proof of one's love than to die in the place of another.  Jesus did that for us.  Not only did He die for us, He went face-to-face with Satan and defeated him and his death grip over us.  We no longer have to die in our sins; we can now die in Christ's righteousness and go to heaven when we die.

      The greatest news man has ever heard is that God loves him just the way he is.  God opens up His heart to anyone who desires a relationship with Him.  He turns no one away.  Yet, He loves us so much that He does not make us love Him.  We can spurn His love and make our eternal bed in hell.  The choice is ours to make.  Do you know what it is to be loved by God and to love Him?                       

GOD'S HOLY LOVE

Rom. 8:38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels can’t, and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away.  NLT

       First of all, are you convinced that nothing can separate you from the love of Christ for you?  Do you know for a fact that Jesus can never stop loving you?  It is impossible for God to stop loving you.  He loves you no matter what.  No matter how you treat Him or how little attention you may give to Him, He loves you.  You can do nothing to keep God from loving you.  Nothing.

      Now, just because God loves you, it doesn’t mean that He will condone your lifestyle or how you respond to Him.  God’s love does not negate His holiness.  God loves you, but He will never overlook sin.  He always will hold you responsible for sin in your life.  You will have to answer to Him for your sin. 

      There are a lot of people today who deny the reality of God’s judgment on sin since God is love.  They deny the reality of hell since a loving God would never send a soul to a godless place of eternal torment.  What they fail to accept is that God’s love is balanced by His holiness.  He does not send anyone to hell who has not chosen to go there.  God extends His love to all and invites them to accept Him as their Savior and Lord, but most will not accept His offer of love.  He loves them and longs for their fellowship, but will not force himself on anyone.  All who will be in hell will be there because they chose to reject God’s offer of himself to them.

      There is a huge difference between knowing about God’s love for us and knowing the love of God for us.  Are you living in the overflow of God’s love?  Do you know the wondrous truth that nothing in all of creation can stop the Lord from loving you? 

       Dear friend, I want you to know that God loves you.  His love for you never stops or changes.  He longs for you to live in the bountiful richness and fullness of His love. 

GOD REALLY LOVES YOU

Rom. 8:38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away.   NLT

      How convinced are you that this verse is really true?  Be honest.  How many times have you wondered if God really loved you and was for you?  Maybe you still wonder.  Satan is very good at casting doubt on our being loved by God.  We think we have done or said things that would cause God to love us no more.  We think that God doesn't love us because we aren't loving Him.  We come up with all kinds of reasons to believe that we are not loved by God, but we are.

       God loves us regardless of any conditions or circumstances we may come up with.  We don't even have to be His child in order for God to love us.  God is love.  But, just because we are loved by God doesn't mean that we can do what we want and be found acceptable to God.  God can only accept us as His children on the basis of Christ's righteousness within us.  We will not make it to heaven just because God loves us; we need Jesus.

       Dear child of God, don't listen to Satan's lies.  You cannot stop God from loving you.  You may mess up royally and need to be taken to the wood shed, but if you do, be assured that God loves you and is doing it for your good.  Life may be very difficult and seemingly hopeless, but be assured, God loves you and is nearby to help you through whatever you are facing.  You may have been abused by others or judged wrongly, but God loves you.  God loves you, always has and always will.

       There is one thing you can always count on, God loves you.  No matter what you may have done or find yourself now doing, God loves you.

NEVER ALONE

Rom. 8:31 What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?  NLT

       Maybe you have never known what it is like to have people against you, but I have.  It’s not a very pleasant experience.  No one wants others to create pain and suffering against them.  No one wants to be on the receiving end of someone else’s wrath.  No one wants to be accused of things that are demeaning or that might be hurtful.  It just isn’t a good time of life.

       Yet, today’s verse helps to put things into perspective.  Jesus was on the receiving end of much persecution, both verbally and physically.  He was constantly under scrutiny from His enemies.  He rarely faced a day in which He wasn’t under fire.  He knew what it was like and He wants us to know as well that when God is on our side, we can overcome the worst of satanic attacks.

       When you go through life’s adversities, just try to remember that you are not alone in your battles.  The Lord is on our side at all times.  So in reality, who can ever be truly against us?  The Lord makes available to us all the resources of heaven to help, so what can overpower us? 

      Whenever you come under fire, look to the Lord and all He has done.  Whatever you may face in life, the Lord is on your side.  Dwell in His presence and on His Word and you will have the resolve to not buckle underneath it all.  Victory is certain for all who keep Christ as their shield and protector.

IF GOD IS FOR US

Rom. 8:31 What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?  NLT

      What can we say?  If God be for us, who can be against us?  What does it really matter who is against us if God is for us?  Think about it.  God is the absolute creator and authority over everything.  He is the one who gives and sustains life.  He is absolute power and there is nothing that can ever come close to withstanding Him.  He is God and if He is for us, we are safe and secure.  There is nothing to fear when God is with us.

       The real issue then is how do we know for sure that God is for us?  There is only one way that we can count on God being for us, and that is for us to be living in Christ.  We must not only proclaim our allegiance to Him, we must live like He is our Savior and Lord.  God is with those who are with Christ and He is not with those who do not know Christ.  It's as simple as that.

     There is so much God wants to do in us.  There is so much He wants to show us.  There is so much power He wants to display through us.  There is so much He wants to give us of His goodness and love.  But, He will not do anything for us if we don't seek Christ and His forgiveness.  What Jesus did at Calvary is the key to know that God is us. 

       If God is not for us, then He is against us.  We must choose which way it is.  Do you know for a fact that God is for you?  If so, thank Him and praise Him today for your salvation and the life you live in Christ.  If you don't know that God is for you, you can know it for a fact right now.  Call on the name of Jesus, confess your sins, ask Him to forgive you, and accept what He has done for you at Calvary and you will be saved and you will know God is for you. 

CHOSEN TO BE LIKE CHRIST

Rom. 8:29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn with many brothers and sisters.  NLT

       God chooses us in Christ to be like Christ so that Christ would always be first in our lives.  We are chosen to be like Christ.  Paul tells us in Phil. 2:5 that we need to have the same attitude that is in Christ.  So, we need to measure ourselves in light of how well we are living like Christ did.

       Christ was a servant-leader.  Everything He did He did according to God's will for Him.  He came to us for no other reason than to do God's will.  If we are not doing God's will for our lives, we are not right with God.  We need to prayerfully evaluate what we are living for and if we are not living to do God's will for us, we need to change our ways.  If we don't, we are living in sin.

       Christ was a loving servant.  He did not do what He did to draw attention to himself. He did what He did because He loved those He was with and tried to help them understand and know God on a personal level.  His whole life on earth was to help others to be who God created them to be, children of God.  If we aren't living as servants to help others know God and know Him better, we are living in sin.

        Christ was a sacrificial servant.  He often set aside His own needs for the sake of others.  He did not pass up an opportunity to help someone who genuinely wanted His help.  He showed us by example that we ought to sometimes go out of our way in order to help those in need.  If we aren't willing to reach out to others in need, we are living in sin.

        Jesus was a righteous servant.  He did the right thing at the right time all the time.  He lived close to the heart of God and knew the mind of God.  He never failed to not do God’s will for His life.  In fact, doing God’s will was the only thing that mattered to Him and He would not stop until He had done it.  We, too, should always discern God’s will for us and do what is right in God’s eyes while doing it.

         Everything we do should be to bring Christ honor and glory amongst men.  We have been saved to not hoard our salvation, but to pass it on.  We are saved to be difference-makers in the world.  We are to be so like Christ that others can readily see Him in us.  Our lives should be focused on one thing, to lift Him up so that all will see that indeed He is the Son of God, the firstborn of all creation, the Lord of life and the church.

GOD'S GOOD WORK IN US

Rom. 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.  NLT

      The emphasis is on God. God causes everything to work together for our good. It is God who does the work and everything God does is done right. God does everything perfectly and in love. Nothing that God works out in our lives is a mistake. He has perfect knowledge and does what is best for us. We may not see it or understand it, but nevertheless it is true. God alone knows what we need to experience and know in order for our lives to become all that He has planned for us to be.

      God's work in us is like pieces of a puzzle. Individually the events of life may not seem to be good for us, but when put together with the rest of our lives, they fit perfectly and make perfect sense. We cannot see the completed picture because of the seemingly chaotic mess of the pieces strewn all over the place. But, God sees the whole picture and knows where each piece goes.

      These truths apply to all who love the Lord and are living in relationship to Him. Don't let the events of life throw you. God is in control and will complete the puzzle of your life. When He is done putting all the pieces together, it will be a beautiful picture indeed. Let the Lord do all He desires to do with your life and you will be amazed at how beautiful of a person you will become. You will be like a bride fit for a King.

IT'S ALL GOOD

Rom. 8:28  And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.  NLT

      This verse speaks volumes about God and His involvement in our lives.  He stays involved because He loves us and wants only what is best for us.  He longs to see us be a holy people who are fit for heaven when we die.  Therefore, He is always at work to help make it happen in us.

      We have a hard time seeing the good in many of the events of our lives.  We struggle and look for ways to make our struggles stop.  We see our struggles as a bad thing, not pausing very often to consider that what we may perceive to be bad might indeed be good.

       God declares that He is working all things out in our lives for our good.  We must know that this is true, because to believe otherwise means that we question God's character.  God cannot lie and since He declares that all things work together for our good, they do.

      God knows what is going on in our lives.  He knows what we need in order to be who we need to be in our walk with Him.  He knows how to make all things that happen to us good for us.  Trust in God.  Do not look at things from a negative perspective and doubt the goodness of God because life is not easy for you.  You may not see the good in what is happening now, but God is in control and it is good for you.

      God does not abandon His children and let them deal with life without Him.  He is always at work making their lives better.  Let the Lord help you and teach you more about how to live in Him.  Let Him teach you about himself.  Let Him teach you about yourself.  God loves you more than you love Him.  Yield to Him and He will fulfill His purpose in your life for His honor and glory.

WORDLESS PRAYING

Rom. 8:26-27 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will.  NLT

      One of the great blessings from God is His ability to know our hearts and pray for us when we can't pray for ourselves. Often we get confused even as to how to pray. Yet, the Spirit knows what we need and intercedes on our behalf. And sometimes we pray and it's not enough, so the Spirit takes it to the next level and goes to the Father in ways that we can't on our behalf.

      I don't know if you have been there or not, but there have been times in which I had to pray and didn't even know how to pray. All I could do was to call out Jesus' name, and it was enough. I didn't know how to unload my burden. I didn't know anything else to do. So I prayed, "Jesus, Jesus, oh Lord Jesus," and He gave me the peace I needed and longed for. The Spirit is there always to help us as we pray. He prays for us in heaven's language and always in line with God's will. And when we can't pray, it's okay. The Spirit takes the groanings of our hearts and takes them to our Father. What a comfort and joy this wonderful truth is for us who believe!

      Our Father knows the heart of every believer and moves in response to our needs as expressed by His Spirit. Dear brother and sister, rejoice today! Praise Him from whom all blessings flow! Praise Him for His Spirit who is with us always when we pray, even when praying seems like an impossibility, even when praying seems like the last thing we want to do.

NO COMPULSION TO SIN

Rom. 8:12-14 So, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you keep on following it, you will perish. But if through the power of the Holy Spirit you turn from it and its evil deeds, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.  NLT

      As a child of God, you do not have to sin. No one is making you sin. No matter how compelling the urge may be to sin, you do not have to do it. When the Lord takes up residence in your heart, He overpowers your sinful nature and takes control over it. Therefore, if we sin it is because of choice not compulsion. We are no longer driven by our sinful nature and we can't make the claim any longer that "the devil made me do it."

       Sinful choices lead to spiritual death. If we insist on living in sin, we will be held accountable for it. If however, we choose to let the Holy Spirit control us and lead us away from the urges of our sinful desires, we will live. We will not be perfectly pure, but we will win far more battles with sin than we will lose. The more we immerse ourselves in the life of the Spirit, the more we will live in victory. The Spirit has all the power we need to be overcomers. He guides us into all truth and teaches us the ways of God.

      If you are a child of God you have the Spirit of God within you and you will be influenced by His presence. You will noticeably change from being a slave to sin to being a slave to righteousness. You will notice a change in your desires. You will notice a change in how you react when you do sin. The Spirit will not let you get away with it. There will be guilt and shame that will lead you to repentance. You will be moving closer to God instead of away from Him.

GETTING OUT OF SIN

Rom. 8:12-14 So, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you keep on following it, you will perish. But if through the power of the Holy Spirit you turn from it and its evil deeds, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.  NLT

       One of the things that sets apart true believers from the rest is how they are affected by sin.  A child of God is not under obligation to sin when tempted.  Without Christ, the natural thing to do is not resist the temptation and plunge right into sin.  As believers, we are to stand up against Satan and not give in to sinful urges.  With Christ's help, we are able to do that.

       The reality of it is, if we keep falling into sin, we will fall so deep into it that we will not be able to find our way out of it and into fellowship with God.  The end result of all sin is eternal separation from God.  Hell awaits those who live in sin and stay there.  The only hope we have is to let the Holy Spirit take us by the hand and lead us out of sin to Calvary.

      When we turn to Christ for the forgiveness of sin, we turn away from sinful living.  We do not continue to live like we have lived.  We stand up to Satan and say no to sin.  We seek instead to live holy lives before God.  God's children do not seek to sin against God.  We are not perfect and will sin, but it is not what we normally do.  Instead, we seek to do what we know is right before God and please Him.  Pleasing Him becomes the desire of our hearts instead of pleasing ourselves or others.

       If you are not being led by the Holy Spirit away from a life of sin, you are not a child of God.

WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND?

  Rom. 8:5-6  Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.  If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death.  But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.  NLT

       What do you think about the most?  Whatever it is, it's a good indicator of where you are at spiritually.  If you are always thinking about things that are not holy, then your heart is not right with God and you are heading for certain spiritual death.  If your thoughts are more geared to godly things, then you are more apt to be right with God.

       Now, I know that it's not possible to always avoid sinful thoughts and always focus on godly things.  We life in the flesh in a very sinful world and our minds do pick up on our surroundings and sinful thoughts do come.  However, if your soul is healthy, you will not dwell on those things.  You will redirect your thoughts away from those things so that you can be more focused on godly things. 

       When we make the conscious choice to dismiss evil thoughts, we discover that there is reassurance of our salvation and peace with God.  Only the Spirit of Christ can set us free from the bondage of sinful thoughts.  He pulls us away from them so that they do not become fixtures in our minds.  We gain victory over their hold on us when we let go of them and let the Spirit have His place in us instead.

       If you are struggling and can't seem to enjoy peace in your relationship with God, check your thought life.  Do not linger on those things which are sinful.  Do not let yourself be entertained by them.  Do not stay around where those things prevail.  Protect your mind and you are protecting your soul.

THE THOUGHT LIFE

Rom. 8:5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.  NLT

      One of the ways in which we can gage the wellness of our souls is to consider what we think about most in life. If our thoughts are mainly in the gutter, focused on self, or focused on the wrong doings of others, then we are not living right with God. If our thoughts are captivated by the momentary pleasures of the world, the things of the world, the accomplishments of the world, or our status in the world, we are not living right with God.

      Those who are controlled by the Spirit of God think mainly about the things that please Him. They dwell on getting to know Christ better and how to live in ways that please and honor Him. They seek to live how and where the Lord wants them to. Their ambition is in heaven and not on earth.

       Where is your mind? What captivates your thoughts? We think about what we feast on. Our minds are not empty vacuums that are unaffected by what we dwell on. What we read, watch, and listen to do affect our thought lives. We are responsible for who we are. You cannot excuse yourself or blame anyone else for what goes on in your mind. What goes in stays there.

      If you have a problem with your thought life, it's not too late to do something about it. You can take control of your thought life. Repent of your sinful thinking and begin today to dwell on those things that will build up your soul instead of tearing it down.

CONSEQUENCES FOR SIN

CONSEQUENCES FOR SIN

Rom. 8:1-2 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death.  NLT

      Here is a message that should be proclaimed loud and clear.  If you are living in relationship with Christ, there is no longer any condemnation of your heart because of sin.  No matter what Satan may do to try and convince you otherwise, Jesus sets us free from sin’s condemnation.  When Jesus forgives us for our sins, they are forever forgotten by Him.  He purifies the soul and fills it with His righteousness.  We are brought into the presence of God to live forever.

      We often are plagued with memories of what we have done.  We cannot escape the memories of how we brought shame to ourselves, others and God.  It is hard to erase from our memories things we wish to forget because Satan won’t let us forget them.  He often brings them up at inappropriate times to harass us.  He is the master exploiter and he will not let us forget.

      There is no condemnation for those who belong to Jesus, but often there are consequences we must live with.  We can’t undo what has been done.  Sometimes our sinful behavior causes us to live in painful physical, mental or emotional circumstances.  Sometimes what we have done affects others in similar fashion.  Jesus does not undo what we have done.  We are forgiven for them, but have to live with the consequences of them.  There is much to learn from past mistakes.  Instead of bemoaning what we have done, consider the good that has come from it.  If we allow the Lord to do it, He will make us a much better person of character because of it.

      Don’t let Satan hang you up because of your past.  Jesus doesn’t condemn you for it and neither should you.  Fix your eyes on Jesus and live for what is ahead of you.  He has the power to set you free if you will let Him.

NO CONDEMNATION

NO CONDEMNATION

Rom. 8:1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. NLT

      We struggle with sin. Sometimes we win the victory over it, and sometimes we lose the battle. We look back on our failures with guilt, shame, and regrets. If we are not careful, we may even question how God can love us because of what we have done. Instead of bringing it to Christ and seeking His forgiveness, we dwell in the affect our sin has had on us or others. We begin to think that we are not worthy of forgiveness and may even question the validity of our relationship with Christ.

       If this sounds too familiar to you, hear the Word of God today: So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. If you are a child of God, the gracious love of Christ forgives you! He will not walk away from you because of what you do or think. He will chastise you to get you to repent, but He will not forsake you. You may deserve judgment, but you find mercy and grace in Him. Don't wallow around in the negative consequences of sin, go to Jesus and you will be loved and forgiven, no matter what you may have done. He will help you to overcome your sin problem if you will only let him. You don't have to live in spiritual misery. There is hope, peace, and victory in Jesus.

      The next time you are tempted to think that somehow you have driven Christ away from your heart, think on today’s verse. The Lord doesn't condemn you, and neither should you.

INTERNAL WARFARE

Rom. 7:21-25 It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.  NLT

      Are you at war? Do you know the tension and weariness of fighting spiritual battles? Do you ever want it to just stop? It is impossible to live in relationship with Christ and not have a constant war going on in your soul. No matter how mature in faith we may be, we will always be bombarded with the temptations to sin. There will always be a desire within us to yield. We will always want to enjoy the momentary pleasures of sin. We will never be so strong that we can't sin against God. When we shore up one area of weakness, another area weakens. We must always remain vigilant over our souls and strive to protect them from sinning against God.

      Don't kid yourself. You are capable of sinning against God! No one can live a sin- free life in the flesh. And no one is so close to God that he does not live in the flesh. It is no fun fighting the spiritual war that rages within us. It makes for a miserable time in our lives when we stumble and fall. We are most vulnerable when we believe too strongly in ourselves and think we can get by on our own. It is when we begin to slack off on our relationship with the Lord through his Word, prayer, and fellowship that we really begin to get into trouble.

      The good news is that it doesn't have to be the way it often is. We do have all the help we need to win the battle over our sins. We have a Savior! We have one who will help us and enable us to live in victory. All we have to do is stay tightly connected to Him. The victory is ours in Christ Jesus! 

THE LAW IS GOOD

Rom. 7:14 The law is good then. The trouble is not with the law but with me, because I am sold into slavery, with sin as my master.  NLT

       There is nothing wrong with God's law.  It is very useful for our spiritual lives.  It shows us what kind of behavior is acceptable to God and what isn't.  It shows us our sins so that we might turn to God for His forgiveness.  It raises the bar of our expectation on how we ought to live.  It shows us how to be holy.

       The law is good; it's us that are the problem.  We are by nature sinners.  We are not capable on our own of living by God's law.  We all fail to perfectly walk by the law.  If we stumble on just one little point, we are guilty of breaking the whole law.  Jesus even took it a step further; He said that if our motive for keeping the law was wrong, we were guilty of breaking the law.  Like it or not, we are slaves to sin from the day we are born until we die, unless we repent and ask the Lord to forgive us for our sins.

      Repentance is our only hope for escaping the demands of the law.  We cannot be righteous without it.  When we acknowledge our sins before God, ask the Lord to forgive us with a sincere heart, embrace our forgiveness by changing our behavior so that we live by God's standards and not our own, we will be declared righteous by God and accepted by Him. 

      Only in Christ is there no condemnation for sin.  Only in His righteousness and holiness are we able to have peace with God.  Only in Him can we be assured that we will go to heaven when we die.  Only in Christ are we set free from a life to sin to live for God.

I AM THE PROBLEM

Rom. 7:14 The law is good then. The trouble is not with the law but with me, because I am sold into slavery, with sin as my master.  NLT

      The law shows me how to be holy before God.  It is good for my soul to know how to live to please God.  It is good that I don’t have to wonder what does or does not please God.  It is good for me to understand why I need a Savior.

      There is nothing wrong with the law, but there is plenty wrong with me.  I see myself in light of God’s standards and my heart is broken, for I quickly recognize the mess I have made of my life and the consequences that await me.  I see myself as guilty of sin and I have no one to blame but myself.  The law makes it very clear what is sin and I know I do it.  Sin darkens my soul and I am powerless to do anything about it.  No matter how hard I may try, I cannot live by the law of God.

      The law is good because it drives me to the Savior.  Jesus came and fulfilled all the demands of the law.  Human effort cannot make one righteous through the keeping of the law, but Jesus is able to make us righteous before God.  What I cannot do, Jesus did.  My acceptance by God is not based on whether or not I can live by the law; it is based on whether or not I live in relationship with Christ.  In the law I am found guilty by God.  In Christ, I am found to be pleasing and acceptable to God. 

      The law is good because it reveals my sin and my need for Christ.  It makes me realize just how helpless I am to overcome it on my own.  It helps me to know just how much I need Jesus.

NO EXCUSE FOR SIN

Rom. 6:15-16 So since God's grace has set us free from the law, does this mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don't you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval.  NLT

      God's grace never justifies or excuses sin. Never. We will either become masters over our sinful nature or slaves to it. It can never be both ways. We choose our destiny. We choose whether we will become masters or slaves. Christ came to set us free, but He does not free those who don't want to be free.

       If we choose to become masters over sin, we must choose to live as close to Christ as we possibly can. It is not our righteousness that will enable us to prevail. Only the righteousness of Christ can defeat sin in us. Only in Christ can we gain the upper hand and say no to sin. Only in Christ do we find the desire and willpower to overcome sin.

      Never forget, it was sin that put Jesus on the cross.  It is sin that has brought down the wrath of God on earth.  It is sin that will bring life as we now know it to an end.  Sin is cancer to the soul.  It is your enemy, not your friend.

      The choice is yours to make today. Are you going to be an overcomer or a slave to sin?