August 21, 2021 REIGNING IN LIFE
Romans 5:17 “For if the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”
Romans 8:31, 37 “What shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?” “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through the One who loved us.”
1 Corinthians 15:57 “But thanks be to be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
God has made provision for His sons and daughters to overcome the ways of the world; He has made us overcomers. Yet, many believers find themselves being overcome and defeated by the ways and the cares of the world instead of being overcomers in this fallen world. Just what is there to overcome? What are the ways of the world? Just to name a few-selfishness, anger, fear, depression, broken relationships, materialism, wars, division, addictions, dishonesty, corruption, immorality, unfaithfulness, hopelessness, pornography, ungodliness-and the list goes on. To overcome implies that there is a battle-there is something to overcome, and this battle is continual. Do we join in with the gossip? Do we tune in to programs on the television that are not fitting for believers or do we use our iPhones for the wrong things? Do we buy in to the idea of ‘self-fulfillment?’ (You get the idea.) What the world calls ‘normal’ is far from what should be ‘normal’ for the believer. If we are to overcome the ways of the world, we must believe that we are who God says we are; we must embrace our position of sons and daughters of God who have been made new creations. Our old nature-who we use to be-would have us revert back to living according to our old nature that was focused on self. God has made us light and salt in this dark world that has lost its way. We have what the world needs; we are not called to join in with the world, but to point them to the One from whom life flows; to the One who fulfills our deepest longings. It is liberating to known that we do not have to live according to the ways of this world-we can live on a higher plane; there is a better way where there is love, joy, peace, hope-even in adverse circumstances. In the kingdom of God we can love our enemies; we become givers; we honor and prefer others over ourselves; we share burdens; we have a gentle spirit and are compassionate; we speak the truth; we are quick to forgive-and a whole lot more. The next time you find yourself thinking and responding as the world would, be reminded that there is a better way-that Jesus has made you an overcomer of anything or anyone that is contrary to His ways. You and I have been set free to live in a way that is pleasing to the Lord, and living in His way has no regrets!
Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 8:37 “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.”
Romans 6:12-13 “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lust, and do not go one presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present your members to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”
Blessings, Buddy
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