|
We know that those who have become part
of God's family do not make a practice of sinning, for
God's Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot
get his hands on them. We know that we are children of
God and that the world around us is under the power and
control of the evil one.
??“ 1 John 5:18-19 (NLT)
We Christians continually struggle with the two
different forces pulling us to their side. On the one
hand, we have a completely new nature given to us
through our trust relationship with Jesus Christ. It is
this nature that does not sin and does not give into the
enticement of the world. Yet the nature that has been
eradicated ??“ our sinful nature ??“ still has a way of
drawing us to itself, and ultimately, to rebellion
against God.
When we do give into the old sinful nature, it is
not because that nature truly has power over us. It is
because we have decided, at least for the moment, to
cease trusting in the Christ who has promised us His
protection and security from the evil one. It is as if
God has built a fence around us, and rather than the old
nature breaking in and attacking us, we have crawled
under the fence and sought the old nature out. In other
words, God has given us the ability to not sin, yet sometimes we choose to disable ourselves because we
desire what the old nature has to offer us. But there is
nothing better on the other side! Quite to the contrary,
God has already offered us everything we could ever
desire in His Son, Jesus Christ.
PRAYER THOUGHT:
Father, I thank You for Your protection
from the forces that would do me harm.
|
