Whom do we serve?
Reading for Saturday, March 13
Romans 6:11-23
Focus: How are we going to live our lives? Will we choose to follow God or will we follow our human desires?
Paul writes that we have to make a choice as to how we are going to live. He gives the example of how an apprentice learns the skills of his master and then applies them to his life. In the same manner, we are to learn the skills (attributes) of our master (Jesus) and use them to control our actions. If we follow our own human desires which are sinful, we will be slaves to sin and follow the devil’s plan. We do not have within ourselves the strength to resist the temptations that the world (Devil) puts in our path. HOWEVER, since Jesus died to redeem us from our sins and through him we have his Holy Spirit to strengthen us. Thus we can resist the sinful temptations and live in accordance to his Word. If we constantly read and study his Word he tells us how to behave in the manner to reflect his love and compassion to us and everyone.
Paul also makes it clear that although we are saved by God’s Grace and not by any of our efforts, we are not free to sin with the attitude that since God has forgiven us, we can flaunt his grace as a blanket of forgiveness. If we fail to behave as Christ tells us, thus committing a sin, but are truly repentant, then God will forgive us and we will once again be under his grace. If however, we are not truly repentant but wrap ourselves in the sinful life, then we have rejected Christ and stand in danger of losing our soul.
Therefore let us read, study and practice the teachings of His Holy Word and so that we can be strong and using the Holy Spirit which Christ gives to us, resist the sinful world and be a light unto the world.
Ed Ratcliff
Reading for Saturday, March 13
Romans 6:11-23
Focus: How are we going to live our lives? Will we choose to follow God or will we follow our human desires?
Paul writes that we have to make a choice as to how we are going to live. He gives the example of how an apprentice learns the skills of his master and then applies them to his life. In the same manner, we are to learn the skills (attributes) of our master (Jesus) and use them to control our actions. If we follow our own human desires which are sinful, we will be slaves to sin and follow the devil’s plan. We do not have within ourselves the strength to resist the temptations that the world (Devil) puts in our path. HOWEVER, since Jesus died to redeem us from our sins and through him we have his Holy Spirit to strengthen us. Thus we can resist the sinful temptations and live in accordance to his Word. If we constantly read and study his Word he tells us how to behave in the manner to reflect his love and compassion to us and everyone.
Paul also makes it clear that although we are saved by God’s Grace and not by any of our efforts, we are not free to sin with the attitude that since God has forgiven us, we can flaunt his grace as a blanket of forgiveness. If we fail to behave as Christ tells us, thus committing a sin, but are truly repentant, then God will forgive us and we will once again be under his grace. If however, we are not truly repentant but wrap ourselves in the sinful life, then we have rejected Christ and stand in danger of losing our soul.
Therefore let us read, study and practice the teachings of His Holy Word and so that we can be strong and using the Holy Spirit which Christ gives to us, resist the sinful world and be a light unto the world.
Ed Ratcliff