What’s up Church! Man, it’s a great day to be alive! Let us always remember who we are in Christ as we awake and lay down to sleep: kings and priests, a CHOSEN people—justified, sanctified, and glorified.
So there’s a dilemma that I know everyone struggles with, a question… Why are we told to deny or overcome the things that we enjoy so much—the things that please our senses; sensuality? The things that sometimes even make us feel great?
Well, this is because we are spiritual beings that have a soul (mind, will, and emotions) that live in a body. Our spirit is connected to God, our body is connected to the world, and our soul is connected to both. So there will always be a constant battle between the Spirit and the flesh (Galatians 5:17).
We were created perfect in the beginning, but ever since Adam and Eve chose to sin and defy God by eating from the forbidden tree (Genesis 3:6), humanity has been cursed, and sin has been appealing to us—our senses.
Even the Apostle Paul speaks of his struggle with the flesh and how he cannot do the good that he wants to do. In Romans chapter 7, he breaks it down clearly and even goes as far as saying, “Who shall deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24).
Now here’s a man called by God to plant churches and spread the Gospel to the Gentile people (us)—and he even struggles with it!
The good news is that Christ, on the cross, bore our sins and endured the punishment that we deserved—once and for all! So, as we struggle, just know that when you accept Jesus into your heart, you are forgiven once and for all—but it will be a struggle because we are still in the world.
The Holy Bible says to choose to enter at the narrow path—but it also says that its way is hard (Matthew 7:13–14). It also says, “Be ye holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).
But what is holy?
Holy is doing the right thing even when no one is looking. It is choosing to be at peace even when the world around you is chaotic. Holy is trusting Him to provide all of your needs. Holy is loving those who may not love you back. It is forgiving those who may have abused or abandoned you. Holy is breaking free from addictions, habits, and unhealthy desires.
Simply put, we must make a choice when we feel tempted to ________. A choice to conquer—because we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37).
We are called to love because God is love (1 John 4:8) and because love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). And with that, we must learn to love ourselves first and let all of that old guilt, shame, and defeat go.
We are told to think on these things (Philippians 4:8). Stop living in the past. Look forward to the life that God has in store for all of us who are His—a life of victory, abundance, and peace. A life where old things have passed away and all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). A life filled with a higher purpose that overcomes the wicked one and our wicked, fleshly desires. A holy life with a calling that fulfills us more than any fleshly desire ever could.
Press forward to the end, Church. Keep fighting the good fight—and hey, don’t forget your armor (Ephesians 6:11), you will need it!
Be blessed, Church!
We love y’all.
—Apostle K