“So put to death the
sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual
immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires.” “Put on your new nature, and be
renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.” Colossians
3:5a, 10 (NLT)
We are to offer ourselves as a living
sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1). The only
problem with a living sacrifice is that it keeps climbing off the alter. We need to put to death once and for all time
the sinful, evil desires that lurk within us. I used the New Living Translation again today
because I like their use of the word ‘lurk’. To lurk is to move stealthily. It’s
like someone lying in wait to ambush you.
As true believers in Christ we must not allow this to take place. Satan will send his demons to trip us up and
will succeed if we allow them to.
What is your focal point? What do you spend the most time doing in your
life? Do you pay God any mind? Do you commune with Him at all during your
day? When you gave your life to Christ
you received a new nature. The old
nature was given a deathblow on that day.
However, depending on where we place our allegiance, it might just
experience a resurrection. Renew your
heart and mind daily by knowing your Creator a little bit more. Seek to become like Christ in all you think,
say and do.
Too many believers flirt with unsavory
things. They go to websites they
shouldn’t go to, read what they shouldn’t read and watch on the tube those
things that tear down rather than build up.
Who are you feeding when you do such things? Oh you can do them, make no mistake about
that. No one is going to stop you. But always remember Paul’s words to the
Corinthians in response to their declaration that they can do whatever they
like. Paul says that is true but not all
things are constructive or beneficial to our lives (1 Corinthians 6:12;
10:23).
God knows what’s best for us. We are supposed to strive to be more like
Christ in our thoughts, speech and actions each day. How is that going? Or have we allowed ourselves to become caught
up in earthly things. It happens but the
trend isn’t irreversible. Shake off that
which encumbers you and follow the Lord’s lead each day. Until next time, walk with the King and be a
blessing!
