Month: July 2020

ARE YOU A DEAD MAN WALKING?

“Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.”

I recently started using a new Bible study tool that is totally awesome. It’s called the Scribe Bible Journal.  It’s based on psychology and is specifically designed for busy people with the goal of helping people be more consistent in the quiet time with God every day. It’s a simple, structured, journaling format that helps you drill down into God’s word to meditate on what God is trying to teach us, how we can apply it to our lives every day and includes prayer, memory verses, walking in gratitude and setting SMART goals. I’ve only been using it for a couple days but I really like it.  If you want to know more about it, check out this link here: https://lyfebooks.co/products/scribe-bible-journal

So what did God show me today?

“All of us also lived among them at one time (those who are spiritually dead), gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts.  Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2: 3-5

So, what do I observe in this scripture?  When we live apart from God, we are spiritually dead and we live a sinful life that is controlled by our fleshly desires. We often give in to these desires and allow our thoughts to follow suit. Yes, this could mean sexual sins, but it could also apply to many other areas of our lives.  Galations 5:16-19 says it plain enough:

  • The flesh desires what is contrary to the Holy Spirit (God)
  • The flesh and the Holy Spirit are in conflict with each other, so if you desire to be in right standing with God, you are not to do whatever you want – you need to exercise self-control
  • The acts of the flesh are obvious:
    • Sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery (excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures)
    • Idolatry and witchcraft
      • Idolatry is defined as the worship of an idol or cult image, being a physical image, such as a statue, or a person in place of God.
    • Hatred
    • Discord (seeking disagreement between people rather than reconciliation)
    • Jealousy
    • Fits of rage
    • Selfish ambition
    • Dissensions, factions and envy
    • Drunkenness, orgies, “and the like”

When we live this way Ephesians 2 verse 3 tells us we are deserving of God’s wrath. Galations tells us in verse 21 that “those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

BUT – and this is a really big BUT – because God loves us so very much, he desires to extend his mercy towards us  – EVEN WHEN WE ARE SPIRITUALLY DEAD AND LIVING THIS WAY – in order to save us from his wrath.

So how are we saved from wrath?  God sent us his son, Jesus Christ, as an atonement for our great sin. So, when you acknowledge that you are a sinner and accept the gracious gift of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, something miraculous happens in your heart.  You are transformed on the inside from being spiritually dead to being made alive in Christ. The Holy Spirit actually comes to live inside of you and to empower you to exercise self-control over your flesh and to live a life that is pleasing to God.  That is not to say that this is always an easy process.  Sometimes it is, but many times it is a daily struggle that needs your constant attention. However, I have found that God is faithful to help us if we only ask him to, and the Bible assures us that this is true.  The key is to accept God’s gracious gift in Jesus Christ AND THEN TURN from a life of living to fulfill your fleshly desires to a life that is pleasing to God. In other words, we need to try to stop doing those things we know are contrary to the way God wants us to live.

I can’t tell you how excited this scripture makes me! Because of his love for us – FOR YOU and his abundant grace TOWARDS YOU (defined as undeserved favor or generosity) God has made a way for YOU to escape his wrath and to be reconciled back into right relationship with him! Isn’t that totally awesome?! The Creator of the whole universe didn’t sit around waiting for you to make yourself perfect before giving you a precious gift in return. He didn’t even wait for you to acknowledge that you need his help before he rushed to your defense and made a way for you to overcome.  Christ Jesus willingly went to the cross, laid down his life and died a humiliating and tortuous death on your behalf – while you are/were still wallowing away in your sin – in order to make a way for you to conquer death, hell and the grave and to gain eternal life.

I don’t know about you, but I am, and will continue to be, eternally grateful beyond my wildest dreams that as a Believer I don’t have to worry about experiencing God’s wrath or judgment and I can look forward to inheriting God’s kingdom and his blessings. Through union with Christ we will receive new life that reverses the effects of death – it is a promise and an assurance we can stand on. Now that’s something to be happy about and to thank God for!

Until next time friends, be abundantly blessed!