Wanna Get Hammered?

I shared this the other day with my co-workers as the Lord is really emphasizing this in my heart and throughout all of my devotions lately. Now, I am sharing it with all of you!

I have been thinking and praying a lot about how ever-changing our world is, yet how the fact that our flesh is fickle is something that has always been a constant. It’s a huge theme of what Paul, wrote about as the Lord inspired him to do, and it’s a common topic throughout the whole of scripture.

But so is redemption through Jesus Christ.

Our flesh is weak, but our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the ROCK. HE never changes. We are finicky and fickle little creatures, but our Lord and Savior is firm! Thank HIM that HE never changes!

God has really been working on me about how in order to die to self and live for Christ, it really is an intentional and day to day commitment and battle we must wage along with His divine grace and intervention. Crucifying the flesh is a daily and painful endeavor. Fact is, God’s not going to do it all for us – we have to take action – our part is important too. That’s why it’s painful.

Anyway, I decided to try to go back to how we used to do things when we were kids – you know? Keep it simple!

Here is what I am doing every morning and throughout the day and it’s beginning to help a little:

· “Jesus, help me remember that you are living inside of me and it’s YOUR life.”

· “Jesus, can you fight the devil if he comes near us today?”

· “Jesus, please tell me what to do and help me remember to ask you stuff throughout the day.”

· “Jesus, thank you for loving me and wanting to live in my heart.”

Oh friends, it is not easy to walk through this life with all of our responsibilities and tasks and remember it’s not our own. It’s hard to get the things done we need to and “take ownership” of it without taking ownership of our own lives and taking over at the wheel. Wouldn’t it be easier to just crawl up into a cave or go out into the mission field where there aren’t any distractions and live for Jesus there? Of course, there are lots of other hardships to endure there, but the distractions? What about them?

I don’t think that even in the mission field, immersed in God’s work amongst those who are lost is “safe” either. I think the flesh is strong and it will follow us wherever we go. There’s nowhere to run and nowhere to hide.

We can’t get out of this “nailing it to the cross” thing, guys. It’s part of the deal.

The battle of the flesh is going to remain – but so is Christ Jesus, living in us!!!! Let’s help each other remember who we are in Christ but emphasize how important it is to let HIM be in charge, let HIM shine through, let HIM make the decisions, and let HIM guide our every action, thought, deed.

Let’s help each other!!! Anyone got a hammer and a nail? (Tee Hee)

And if you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, won’t you come to Him today? Don’t let this flesh battle thing scare you out of it. Fact is, you are battling it either way  you go. At least with Christ on our side, we know the battle is already won and we will reign with Him for all eternity.

Look to the cross – what He has done for us. And place yourself at the foot of it. Turn your face upward and focus upon HIM, and He will be with you forever. He will live in and through us and help us to fight these earthly battles. But most importantly, because He sacrificed everything for us, we have the peace and the joy of knowing that this is just a blip on the radar screen of eternity.

He endured far more than we ever will here on this planet; here in this life…so that we can have a real and blessed life with Him one day in which suffering will be non-existent, and we will sing His praises and revel in His presence.

Not even a sledgehammer is going to prevent that day from coming if we know, follow after, and love our Christ Jesus with all our heart, mind, and soul.

BAM!

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 ESV

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