learning DAILY

Galatians 5:16-17, I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things you wish.

The game of tug-of-war has been a game of strength, coordination, and the ability of a team to work together.  It is fun to see two teams pulling against each other to see who can pull the other team to a designated point for a win.  It has been even more fun when there is a mud puddle in the middle of the rope. 

I have often felt I was the rope in a tug-of-war; with the Spirit of God pulling against flesh.  On the one side the desire to please God and be the person He desires me to be pulling against the lusts that the flesh (sin) has so deeply rooted within me.  Do you remember the old cartoons where an angel would be talking into one ear of the cartoon character and a devil was talking into the other ear?  That seems to be what happens so often in our spiritual walk with the Lord.

One must remember that struggles do not stop when one gives their life to Christ.  One is saved through Christ’s death on the cross; this person is regenerated, born again.  But the person is not perfected – that happens when one gets to heaven.  I know how God expects me to act and talk; I do not always do it.  However, I am no longer a slave to sin.  When I sin, I ask for forgiveness, knowing that the Lord is faithful and He forgives me.  That does not give me a license to sin.  Confession of sin is so important! God’s grace is certainly amazing.

You and I must recognize when that struggle is occurring.  Actually, we just need to know it occurs daily!  It is warfare!  We must decide that we are going to walk according to the way God desires us to live. We know what is right and what is wrong. We stand against the deceptive ways of the devil.  When we stand the devil has to flees from us.  That is a promise in God’s Word.

It is with a heavy heart that I write this morning.  Charlotte’s precious mother passed away early this morning.  I ask you to pray for the family as plans are being made. 

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