Greetings sisters!
How are each of you doing?
As these days come and go, although they may all have some similar aspects to them, they are each different aren't they. Every one. And we know our days are numbered...so they will run out. But we only have today, or this moment right now actually, don't we. Let us be trusting the Lord in it and watching and waiting at all times. We are to be vigilant and on guard for many things aren't we; satan our enemy and our flesh and others out to deceive which is ultimately satan. But God gives us the power doesn't He sisters!
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:12-13
He gives us power! He gives us His Spirit and a new heart. We are set on following after God and living for His kingdom. We love light and good and hate evil and darkness.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Galatians 5:22-24
We can see the fruit in our lives (and others good or bad). It also says...they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh. Amen sisters and we have to keep up the battle against it don't we. That reminds me actually...of all the fleshly affections and lusts we have crucified. We know our world is filled with all manner of such things don't we; tv, movies, sports, music, games, and books, covetousness and idolatrous ways. And such like things with all the lasciviousness and pride and vanity, and every temptation and distraction possible away from God abounding. In Christ we crucify these things, as well as those things of the flesh like misplaced sadness and anger and such like.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1 John 2:15-16
And also in our Titus 2 works of keeping the home, whether we have one of our own or not, we learn to not do things just out of our fleshly desires. Because really we see how little all this down here matters and we are to be storing up treasures in heaven anyway. This life is then pretty simple really focused on the Lord and in needs of food and clothing in order to live for and glorify Him. And of course bearing witness to Him in our life and in sharing His precious truth of the gospel with the lost.
All this about the flesh reminds me of Christmass actually. That's all about the flesh and fulfilling it's lusts with food and material things abounding. I've heard it said it's about love and appreciation for Jesus...but last I read it says to keep His commandments is to love Him. It's if we have a high and right view of our great God then we never want to do our own ways do we sisters.
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
John 14:21
We have this warning sisters...
For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
2 Peter 2:18-21
Those who have the flesh ruling are in bondage to it aren't they. Aren't you glad sisters to be free to serve our Saviour instead of our flesh and satan? I am! And we keep pressing on because we aren't at the end yet! Keep your eyes on Christ sisters!
And I share a few of God's peaceful creations...
He is our strength in this changing world isn't He sisters. A rock gives a picture of something immovable doesn't it. Our God is mighty...and holy!
Amen we give Him thanks and strive to bring Him honour and glory by our lives lived in His ways.
May your day be fruitful in the works you all have to do sister saints! Let us press on in the Spirit and not the flesh!
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 12:28-29
Love in Christ,
Sister Michaela
Find the gospel explained here.