JESUS LOVES YOU TOO MUCH TO LEAVE YOU STUCK IN YOUR SIN
Ashley Ulino
Today’s Scripture: “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.” Ephesians 4:21-22, NLT
Theme: Cut off the things that grieve God.
GOD’S TRUTH SETS US FREE
The day you accepted Jesus as your personal savior was the day you recognized your sinful nature and God's holy nature. You recognized the gap between God and you and that Jesus was meant to bridge that gap, save us from our sins, and reconcile us to the Father. Accepting God's gift of salvation is the first step for us as Christians, however the sanctification process continues as we surrender our lives to him. We accept Jesus as our savior and learn to make Him Lord over our lives.
WALKING IN TRUTH
Our natural way of thinking is broken. Our deceitful desires color the way we look at life. Since our perspective is blind, the way we live our lives leads us further from God and His calling. To avoid deception, it’s important to be grounded, built up, and walking in the truth – the Word of God. When we immerse ourselves into God’s word, allow Him to saturate our hearts and minds, then God’s word changes us. God will change our perspective and the way we operate our lives. The closer we get to Him, the more we see things the way He does. We will begin to hate sin, the things that grieve Him, and that keep us separate from Him. We will want more of the good, pure and holy. We can refocus our gaze onto God and His way of acting and reacting will become our natural way of operating. From the second we wake up, every choice we make will either lead us closer to God and allow us to walk in sync with his spirit or we can be governed by our flesh and be led astray. Let us make choices today that show God we love Him, honor and respect Him and the sacrifice Jesus made by surrendering and allowing him to be the Lord of our lives.
Make It Personal: Maybe you, like me, have an area of your life where you’ve allowed your flesh to lead and rule over you. It could be the way you reacted to your spouse, child or someone else... Could you have been kinder, more gracious, understanding and slow to anger? Maybe it's your speech in general – Are your words kind and sweet to the soul, turning away wrath, or are your words hurtful and harmful to others? Thank God that whatever we may be struggling with this week, no sin can outweigh the cross of Jesus and the love and grace He has for us. We can seek Him. When we do, He will help us throw off our sin and help us live a holy, abundant life.
Pray: Lord, thank you for the opportunity I have to refocus and put my gaze on you. Forgive me for the ways I have allowed my flesh to rule over me and for the sins that have kept me from living in sync with you. Thank you for your grace, mercy and love. Your voice calls me out of my sin. Help me to accept your invitation and return to your loving embrace. Help me to dig into your Word and allow your Truth to interrupt, change, and satisfy me. Lord, I pray your teaching will seep into my heart and mind, allowing me to connect and live more authentically with You. Grant me the wisdom and strength to be more like you. Please reveal your character through the way I live my life. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Read: Hebrews 12:1-2, Philippians 3:13-14, Colossians 2:13-15
Weekly Memory Verse: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30, ESV