Message from Scripture: 4/24/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is Gal. 5:24. “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

 

Somewhere along the way, in our age enamored with ease and convenience, we’ve decided that living the Christian life is pretty easy, requiring little to no effort. For many people, being a Christian is no different than how people apart from Christ live. An hour or so of worship a week, or not, is really all that might be different than before. We truly have invented a Christianity of convenience.

 

However, this isn’t what Scripture says about living the Christian life. We’re in a battle for our souls, as Satan is at work against us. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12).  To allow God to accomplish His purposes in our lives means we must apply ourselves to growing and living by spiritual principles.

 

There is a world of difference in seeking to be like Christ, and in using Christ as a crutch to justify a sinful lifestyle. Each of us must ask ourselves whether we are sincere Christians. Is prayer a daily part of your life? Study of God’s word? Are you active in serving as part of the Lord’s church? “For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life” (Eph. 2:10). If God loved us enough to sacrifice His only Son on our behalf, and if Christ was willing to die on the cross on our behalf, should we feel we can live any way we please? Listen again to the words of our Lord, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Today, serve Christ as your Lord and Savior. God bless.

 

Robert