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Your Spiritual Disposition #348 - October 15, 2006
When I get up in the morning, I'd just as soon be left alone. I have my little morning routine and I like it just fine. If you upset that routine, I'm liable to get upset. I guess I just can't stand too much change. This is true with many of us. Change threatens us. And we react! The same thing is true when we start talking about God. You see, the God of the Bible demands change! We are told that God loves us just the way we are. But I take exception to that line of thinking. God may love sinners. Christ may have died for sinners. But the Bible tells us that Christ came into the world to "save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). This means that Christians are called to leave old sinful lifestyles and form new habits which are pleasing to God. This is a real challenge. But it is part of what it means to be a Christian. "Well," you say, 'If being a Christian means giving up my drinking and the little affair I've been having with my neighbor's wife, I'm not interested.' That's right, you are not interested. But listen. You cannot continue in your sin and expect to experience the love of God. When I get up in the morning, I sometimes have an ugly disposition. But that is nothing compared to a disposition which is opposed to God. That needs to be changed. Why? "The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:6). Let me reword this verse so it makes more sense, "The disposition of the flesh is death, but the disposition of the spirit is life and peace." The disposition of the flesh is opposed to God. But the disposition of the spirit loves God.
For a free audiotape on this subject, call 1-800-777-0389
email: [email protected]; or visit: Word for the Week
When I get up in the morning, I'd just as soon be left alone. I have my little morning routine and I like it just fine. If you upset that routine, I'm liable to get upset. I guess I just can't stand too much change. This is true with many of us. Change threatens us. And we react! The same thing is true when we start talking about God. You see, the God of the Bible demands change! We are told that God loves us just the way we are. But I take exception to that line of thinking. God may love sinners. Christ may have died for sinners. But the Bible tells us that Christ came into the world to "save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). This means that Christians are called to leave old sinful lifestyles and form new habits which are pleasing to God. This is a real challenge. But it is part of what it means to be a Christian. "Well," you say, 'If being a Christian means giving up my drinking and the little affair I've been having with my neighbor's wife, I'm not interested.' That's right, you are not interested. But listen. You cannot continue in your sin and expect to experience the love of God. When I get up in the morning, I sometimes have an ugly disposition. But that is nothing compared to a disposition which is opposed to God. That needs to be changed. Why? "The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:6). Let me reword this verse so it makes more sense, "The disposition of the flesh is death, but the disposition of the spirit is life and peace." The disposition of the flesh is opposed to God. But the disposition of the spirit loves God.
For a free audiotape on this subject, call 1-800-777-0389
email: [email protected]; or visit: Word for the Week
