My old nature’s desires go deeper than skin. My mind wants to know answers, the bottom line of things. This results in impatience with God's timing and lack of trust that He even hears me. This is how my flesh thinks — too often.
Emotions factor in too, all the negative ones like sinful anger, fear, envy, hurt feelings, etc. As much as my old nature might want to be happy, that emotion is based on circumstances so I might be praying for all sorts of things that would make me happy.
Human desires to be noticed, praised, put first, have all I want (even call them needs), and that hunger to win prizes, perform perfectly, and get an A on everything comes from that fleshy nature too. The only way to overcome this me, me, me stuff is to be filled with the Holy Spirit and yielded to His control.
It is a daily thing, a moment by moment thing. If my cup is upright and He is poured in, the only thing that ruins it is sin, not mere outward actions (“But I’ve never murdered anyone”) but inner attitudes, expressed or not.
Piper writes about the importance of meditation on Scripture that stress the supernatural reality of my Christian life. He begins with: “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:12) My mind argues that there are degrees of persecution but I cannot fool myself. If I were more public about faith, I could be a target.
Piper also says the Spirit-filled life is joyful with meaningful labor in the cause of Christ. “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58) This requires more than I can do. At my age, the flesh is too weak and tired to imitate it (some people try to do it in the flesh) so I can use that as an excuse to avoid the menial tasks and leave them to the younger people rather than seek the energy of the Spirit and do anything that requires more than my flesh can give.
The Apostle Paul puts my excuses where they belong. He said:
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)All this reminds me that Moses was eighty when God put him to his most serious work. This link lists more who changed the world in their later life. My excuses need to be replaced by God's specific instructions. I’m not called to be a pastor or an evangelist, or anything that I’m not doing, only to daily walk in the Spirit and obey Him, whatever He asks me to do. No excuses or “yea, but” responses. I can confess my sin, but better to obey in the first place. As Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22)
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12–13)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. (Ephesians 6:10)
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10)
PRAY: Lord, You whisper that making excuses can be a pride thing that addresses a selfish ambition to be more than I am and an attempt to explain why I’m not, but that dishonors You also. Your will for me is not the same as my prideful will for me. Instead of excusing it, I admit that I can want more for my own glory than wanting it for Your glory. Duh. Forgive all discontent and enable me to want only your will — so that You are glorified. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment