We are Christians in the resistance
We resist the mediocrity of operating in the grey area
We resist doing whatever it takes to succeed
We resist knowledge that raises itself above Godly wisdom
Instead, we embrace integrity,
We embrace doing the right thing even when no one is looking
We embrace God’s foolishness which is wiser than any man’s and
We embrace the end that is justified by the means
Did you really hear that? I did NOT say the end justifies the means. I said – we embrace the end that is justified by the means. In other words, as Christians, how we get to the end matters. The means, the way we go, the things we do, matter in our lives.
In our personal walk with Christ, we are in a constant state of sanctification. The process is not complete until the day we die. Some of us are further along than others. Some of us revisit the same issues over and over again, struggling to overcome and walk free of those things that bind us. God walks us through sanctification. He will point out things that are not pleasing to him – those things that do not reflect His character, His traits, so that we will grow in our Christianity becoming a reflection of Christ in us.
Unlike school, these sanctification “classes” are not taken in a particular order. As we walk the path of sanctification, we must remember that not every Christian has taken the “classes” we have taken; and similarly, there are “classes” others have taken that we have not. We are all imperfect Christians with our shortcomings manifesting in different ways. As the Lord points out those things in our lives he wants us to leave behind, he gives us a level of conviction – of knowing what and when something needs to change. Left unchecked or unacted upon, that loving conviction can fester into condemnation. Once condemnation settles in, we may try to run from God, not only in that area, but also with our entire lives. If you find yourself not wanting to read the Word, spend time with God, go to your church home or socialize with other believers, you may want to ask yourself if there is a conviction that you have not dealt with in your life that has possibly turned into condemnation.
Read Romans 8:1-14
The first verse is often quoted in part – “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,” but the second half is left off… “who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” We are told by Paul in this passage that we received the Spirit when we believed in Christ, but we must also act in that Spirit – making Spirit led choices – and not act according to the desires of our flesh. If we do act according to our flesh, he says we will die. Conviction and sanctification go hand in hand.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Am I experiencing conviction – a knowing – that I must change something I am doing or not doing in my life?
- What are the steps I need to take to act upon that conviction?
- Am I experiencing condemnation about something that is causing me to run from God?
- What can I do to be restored to a right relationship with the Lord?
- Do I need help with these steps?
- Where can I find help? A friend, a pastor, a counselor?
- Will I commit to change?
Lord, help us know when we need to change, give us the wisdom to know how to proceed, the stamina to act and the perseverance to stick to it. Thank you for your faithfulness – help us to remain faithful! In Jesus name, Amen!