LEARNING Daily

 

Colossians 3:5-6, So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don’t be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry. God’s terrible anger will come upon those who do such things. (New Living Translation)

 

I still do dumb things – I do things God does not want me to do, things that are sinful. You do too!  An example was given along with a statement in church this weekend that made me stop and meditate on. Dr. Ed Newton said, “If you do not kill sin [within you], it will kill you.” In this blog, I have often encouraged you to confess sin in your life as soon as possible; the promise of God’s faithfulness to forgive and cleanse us from unrighteousness when you do is found in 1 John 1:9.

 

In the verses from Colossians, Paul is urging the Colossians to put to death their old lives and put on the new self or the new life we were meant to live before the fall of Adam and Eve. This is the life that comes through the saving relationship with Jesus Christ; when we ask Him to be our Savior and Lord, we become a new creation. The old person dies and we become a new person because Christ lives within us. If you have walked with Him for very long on the narrow way to His kingdom, you know that the old self does not give up … ever. The struggle for control in you begins at salvation and does not stop. Sin may continue to look “pretty” or “fun” and each of us need to say no when sin raises its ugly head. Or, it might rise up at a time when we are vulnerable or weak. Paul is urging people to make a clean break with the things we have done before being “saved” by Jesus Christ.

 

We must move forward to walking on the narrow way as the Lord demands. This is a constant decision, not a one-time choice. You cannot put the sins listed to death on your own. Read Romans 7 to see the harder we try to put these things to death ourselves, the more they seem to rise up. Every Believer, those new to Christianity or those walking with Him for a long time, must “yield to the work of the Holy Spirit daily to put these things to death in us. This is a daily, on-going work until the day Jesus Christ makes all things finally and forever new” (David Jeremiah Study Bible).

 

The Word of Christ must be put into your heart by daily readying/studying/meditating/praying over it until lives within us. When the word lives within our heart, our thoughts, words, deeds, and motivation will be influenced and controlled by the Lord. When we get off track, the Word draws us back to 1 John 1:9. The Word of God gives us principles to live by an to help Spirit-led Believers determine words spoken or the actions of others to be according to God’s Word or if they are contrary to God’s Word. The Life in the Spirit Study Bible give some questions to help guide what we say, do, think, or enjoy. 1) Can it be done for God’s glory (1 Corinthians 10:31)? 2) Can it be done “in the name of Jesus, “asking His blessing on the activity (John 14:13)? 3) Can it be done while sincerely giving thanks to God?  4) Is it a Christlike action (1 John 2:6)? 5) Will it weaken the sincere convictions of other Christians? 6) Will it weaken my desire for intimate fellowship with Christ, God’s Word and prayer? 7) Will it weaken or hinder my witness for Christ (Matthew 5:13-16)?

 

Be encouraged and strengthened to put to death those things that trouble you, those things that you would just not want others to know about you! Remember, you have been made new by the Son of God taking your place on the cross you deserved. Yield your life to Him and let Him cleanse and purify you as you walk on the narrow way into eternal life in His kingdom!

 

“If you do not kill sin [within you], it will kill you.”