May 1999 - Verse of the Week

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want."

(Galatians 5:16-17)

The avoidance of falling into the sinful nature. It's a simple formula. Keep your eyes focused upon Christ and allow yourself to be open to the leading, guidance, and prompting of the Holy Spirit. But the only problem to this is... it's not that easy.

Of course it's not easy, Paul didn't tell us it would be. But the solution is also just as simple as the formula. Discipline and obedience.

We must discipline ourselves daily to continuously keep our minds focused on above and to be in constant tune with the leading, guidance, and direction of the Holy Spirit. Start off by waking up and spending quiet time with God every morning. This quiet time should consist of prayer and reading of the Scriptures.

Additionally, we must obey what the Lord communicates to us through both the Spirit and the Scriptures. Let your mind be absorbed with the very Scriptures you've just read that morning and live by it. Ask God to allow the Spirit to lead you and guide you throughout every hour of the day.

The minute we discontinue this vertical focus, is the very minute we become vulnerable to falling back into our old horizontal ways, our sinful nature, which is always contrary to that of Christ's ways.

The key to a victorious Christian life is contained in this simple verse, "live by the Spirit". If we each live by the Spirit and keep our thoughts focused upon Christ, then we will not have the overwhelming desire to fulfill our old sinful ways, or be so easily led astray by unwholesome or impure thoughts or actions of the flesh, but rather to glorify God and do what is good. By diverting our attention away from the Father and shutting ourselves off from the Spirit, we immediately allow Satan to grab a foothold of our lives and will immediately begin to "gratify the desires of the sinful nature".

Keep the focus. Discipline yourself in maintaining a continuous communication link to above. Be obedient to God's Word and the prompting of the Spirit which is from God.

Gregory B. Dill

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me."

(John 14:1)

When we set our alarm clocks we trust that it will wake us the following morning. When we arrive for work we trust that we still have a job. When we sit down in a chair we trust that the chair will sustain our weight for us to sit in it. When we arrive home we trust that our posessions are still there. We don't think twice about these things we put our trust in. We don't worry day-to-day about whether or not a chair will hold us or if the alarm clock will go off.

Jesus told us to do the same about trusting in Him and his Father. We are not to worry about anything but instead place our trust in Him who knows everything. He knows that your concerned about a bill not being paid. He knows that you might be laid off work soon. He knows that your back is persistently hurting you. He knows that your best friend just wronged you. He knows these things.

This verse says it all. The answer to our endless worries and concerns are all contained in these comforting words of our Savior. Like the chair and the alarm clock, we too should not think twice about placing our trust in God. We know for certain that God is consistent, He is unchanging. If He helped us at the moment we placed our trust in Him, He'll certainly help us from that moment on everyday of our lives.

Are you worried or concerned about something right now? Does your life seem so uncertain at this point, you just don't know what's going to happen next? Are you afraid, scared, sad, or hurt? More than likely it's probably beyond your control, so why not give it to God right now who is in control? Right this minute place your issue at the foot of the cross and let God handle it and from that moment on, simply trust in Him.

Gregory B. Dill

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."

(Colossians 3:23)

When we were all children and when our parents told us to do something we really didn't want to do, we often showed our dissatisfaction with our heads downcast and our bottom lip stuck out as we sulked and pouted about, just hoping our parents would relent of their demanding orders. In a sense, as adults we all do the same thing only not as visibly obvious. I have yet to see a full grown adult stick out their bottom lip as a sign of dissatisfaction when told to do something, although my wife might say otherwise!

There are numerous times when my boss might demand something of me that I do not necessarily desire to do. There might even be times when our family members or our church might expect us to do something likewise. However, the apostle Paul clearly tells us in this passage to do it, "as working for the Lord, not for men." That is, as long as it does not compromise or defy God's Word and His standard of living. The work chore or duty takes on a whole new meaning or perspective when we do it as unto the Lord. Our focus is no longer attempting to please the worldy boss at home or at work, but rather the Big Big Boss - Our Heavenly Father.

Even within the ministry there might be something required of you either by the church, a charity, a family, etc. that might not necessarily be the most glamorous or enjoyable chore. But if you truly do it from the heart, suddenly the job doesn't seem so horrible as you seek to please the Lord and to make others happy and content. The flesh might moan and groan but the spirit is well pleased and fulfilled. Just remember, when asked to do something, do it as if the Lord Himself asked you to do it, and do it with all of your heart into it.

Gregory B. Dill