BY LARALOVE
“And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Mt. 6:13
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.” Mt. 5:6
“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” James 1:12-15
I started to do it. Then came God’s voice. The Spirit of God living inside me. Telling me NO. Telling me what would be the negative consequences of the action I was about to take. Then my flesh responded. I would do it anyway. I wanted to. I had the right to make up my own mind. I could handle the consequences. But no sooner than I started in the direction the Lord told me not to go than I felt His hand from heaven restrain me. Hold me back. Keep me from going where I was headed. In the wrong direction.
He rescued me. He saved me. He delivered me from my pride. From my flesh. From my self. From darkness. From wrongdoing. From my sin. He kept me from going any further than I had gone. Oh, thank the Lord! He had warned me. And when I was willing to submit to His lordship, He was right there ready and waiting to deliver me from evil. And so He did.
And so He will when we submit ourselves to Jesus Christ as Lord. But how often do we do what I did for years? I would hear His voice. I would sense His warning. I would feel Him close by. I would experience His nearness. I knew in my heart it was wrong. And I would do it anyway. Calling Him Lord but not living my life accordingly. Playing lord of my own life.
My friend, if you’re headed in the wrong direction right now, if you’re about to do something you know is sin against God, or you’ve already begun, turn to the Lord and submit yourself to His lordship. God will deliver us from evil. But we need to be willing to be delivered. We need to desire to do right. We need to long to please Him. We need to hunger for righteousness. We need to live to love and honor Him. We need to acknowledge Him as LORD. And live our lives as such!
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD FOREVER. Sin against God comes with consequences. Choosing the way of the Lord comes with consequences too. Believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and living for God according to God’s ways comes with blessings. With rewards. With the greatest reward of all. With being in His fellowship forevermore and drawing closer and closer to Him and experiencing more and more of Him and loving and enjoying Him more and more – and more! Oh, worship the Lord! Love the Lord! Obey the Lord! Serve the Lord! Praise the Lord! Oh, praise the Lord! Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice in Christ, yes, yes, AMEN!
Courtesy of DAILY INSPIRATION
