"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6;11)
Through the crucifixion of the old man the believer is freed from sin's power and released from sin's dominion. Every claim of sin has been nullified and he has been made dead to sin. Grace has made this an accomplished fact; faith makes it an experimental fact. Through grace the old man was put on the Cross and buried in the tomb; through faith he will be kept there. As the Christian reckons himself "dead unto sin" the Holy Spirit makes it real; as he continues to reckon, the Holy Spirit continues to make real.
(2.) Make no provision for the flesh.
"But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof" (Romans 13:14).
Yet we daily and hourly make provision for the renewal of the life of the flesh by feeding him upon the things that make fat. We provide for the flesh by the books we read, by the pleasures in which we indulge, by the companions we keep, by the pursuits we follow. Do you spend hours in reading novels and then wonder why you have no taste for the Bible? The Holy Spirit lives on spiritual food. Are you starving your spiritual nature by feeding it on husks? Are you trying to feed the Holy Spirit on the theater, the cinema, dancing or bridge? Are you nearest friends such as weaken you spiritually? Is it your aim in life to make money and is all your time and strength bent to attain that goal? Then do not wonder that your spirit is lean.
"For he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting" (Galatians 6:8)
God's law of sowing and reaping in the spiritual realm is as inexorable as it is in the material realm. If we sow to the flesh, we shall reap that which is fleshly. To which are you sowing, the flesh or the Spirit?
"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit" (Romans 8:5).
"Mind" - it is a strong word. Upon what things is your mind fixedly set and with what things is it habitually occupied? Do you "mind" clothes or a bank account? We are responsible for the direction that our thoughts take. What things do you "mind?"
"That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Romans 8:4).
The world judges a Christian very largely by his walk. But what does the world think of the Christian who walks with it six days of the week and separates from it only long enough to go to church on Sunday?
Perhaps you have taken the first step into the Christian life by accepting Christ as your Saviour. You faced the choice of you sin or God's Son, and you chose Christ as your Saviour. But since that time your life has been one long wilderness journey filled with defeat and discouragement. You are tired of it all and your heart cries out for peace, rest and victory. Are you ready then for the second step? God puts before you another choice - self or Christ? Christ is your Saviour. Will you let Him become your Lord?
"Oh! the bitter shame and sorrow,
That a time could ever be,
When I let the Saviour's pity
Plead in vain, and proudly answered -
All of self and none of Thee.
Yet He found me: I beheld Him
Bleeding on the cursed tree;
Heard Him pray, 'Forgive them, Father,'
And my wistful heart said faintly -
Some of self and some of Thee.
"Day by day His tender mercy,
Healing, helping, full and free,
Sweet and strong, and oh! so patient,
Brought me lower while I whispered -
'Less of self and more of Thee.'
"Higher than the highest heavens,
Deeper than the deepest sea;
Lord, thy love at last has conquered:
Grant me now my soul's petition -
'None of self and all of The.' "
[Amen]
~Ruth Paxson~
(the end)
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