"Just do it! That phrase has make the company 'Nike' millions. Actually, Billions. Everybody is trying to live right. But, some times you can, some times you can't. Why, because we are fallen and human. Genesis 2 describes the creation of mankind, and Genesis 3 describes the fall of mankind. Though we were created in God's image, sin has distorted that image. Hence, now we God's masterpiece that is being restored. God's image is being restored in us. That is good news.
When it comes to living right, there is a very important principle. Are you ready? Here it is: 'If you are not thinking right, you are not living right." In fact, Dirty Bibles, lead to dirty lives. If you just take your Bible to church, and then through in the back seat of your car all week long without reading it or opening it, and basically are Biblically illiterate during the whole week, you will not have great thinking, which in turn, will lead you to not having great living.
'If you are not thinking right, you are not living right." Thus, you need to get into the Word of God each day, in a Daily Devotional life. It is non-negotiable. If your thinking is right, your living will be right. Otherwise, you are suffering from what we call, 'Stinking thinking', which will lead to a life of wrong decisions.
In Ephesians 6:14, Paul reminds us that we have been called to duty. We are in a spiritual war. More dramatic that any Star Wars movie. This is the biggest war in the universe. It's a battle for your heart and your mind. So Paul, after reminding us that we need to put on "God's belt of truth', says, "Stand therefore ... having put on the breastplate of righteousness." Righteousness means, the "state of being right" or "living right". The Greek word in the New Testament for "righteousness" is dikaiosynē (δικαιοσύνη), which primarily means "justice, rightness, or living in proper, faithful relationships with God and others.".We can't do it on our own, but with God's breastplate of righteousness, we can be protected from giving our heart to someone that does not deserve it.
Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." In this all out war, your heart is the trophy that both God and Satan want to win. God, since he is gentleman, uses love to woo you and to draw your heart to Him. Satan, since he is a liar, a murdered, and a thief, uses manipulation, deception, and trickery to fool you into giving him you undivided heart. Be very careful. Jesus came so that we "may have life", but Satan comes to "Destroy, steal, and kill".
Satan wants to snatch your heart so that you may serve him by living a reckless, riotous, and prodigal life of sin, vice, unrighteous living.
But God says to you, "My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways" (Proberbs 23:26, NIV).
When you give God your heart, then he gives you His perfect righteousness as a Breastplate, to guard your heart. Then, you can begin to live right, because your thinking will begin to change.
Plus, when you live right, thanks to God's gift of righteousness, then God will keep you from many things that come from poor choices: getting arrested for driving drunk or being high, getting pregnant out of wedlock, killing someone because you were driving under the influence, getting into a fight and killing someone because you were under the influence. You see, God will protect you and keep you from having to face these consequences when you are wearing the "breastplate of Righteousness."
The first step is usually the most difficult. Surrender. You have to surrender yourself to God. Stop trying to be righteous on your own. It's impossible. However, if you surrender your will to God, then He will grant you His righteousness and He will help you to start thinking and living righteously.
Keep spending time each day with God in a daily devotional life. This is where God does His miracles in your life. He helps you to want to abandon sin, and to grow closer to His Son, Jesus Christ.
You are dong a great job. Keep reading and spending time with God each day, and soon, you will be amazed that the war and battle is over. God will welcome you home with music and a large crowd, and say, "Welcome home. The battle is over. You made it. You trusted in My righteousness. Well done, My good and faithful servant ... enter into the joy of Your Lord."
We are going home soon. We are not there yet. So keep being faithful. If you just show up each day to spend time with God, He is responsible for changing your thinking and your living. Your job, and my job, is just to show up. If you show up, God will show out in your life, by restoring His masterpiece in your life.
See you tomorrow for the next piece in God's armor.
Sir Sal Garcia
No comments:
Post a Comment