Be intentional
by Ruth Olsen
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Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules (1 Peter 2:16).
Yesterday we considered Paul’s admonition to ‘Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature’ (Galatians 5:16–21). Our spiritual enemy has had centuries of practise observing and targeting human weaknesses for his purposes of turning people against God. His purpose is to rob, kill and destroy (John 10:10). He doesn’t care how it happens, but he will promote it any way he can, appealing to human cravings, lustful eyes and proud boasting (1 John 3:15–17). He specialises in deception, falsehood and truth distorted to his purposes (see Genesis 3:1–13; John 8:44 etc).
None of us is immune to our enemy’s guile. But the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s works (1 John 3:8)! Jesus paid a huge price for us! His Spirit now lives within his followers (John 14:15–21), and the One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4).
Peter learned the hard way that his human nature was not sufficient to withstand the enemy. He urges us to abstain from desires that wage war against our soul – our mind, will and emotions (1 Peter 2:11). These are strong words. But strong words are needed for us to take notice and be alert to our giving way to self-focus because sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit (Galatians 5:16–21).
We all have our blind spots. But we can ask the Holy Spirit, our Helper, to enable us to recognise what we are blind to. We can ask him to reveal to us the truth that sets us free to increasingly walk in the freedom of Jesus (John 8:32,36). This requires us to be honest with God and ourselves – to be intentional in living honourably in all that we are and do. In the process, we glorify God. That’s amazing!
Holy Spirit, continually reveal to us our freedom in Jesus, to serve the Lord and others wherever we are. Help us exercise in our lives the authority Jesus gives us. Amen.
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