Word of Encouragement (10/19/2020)
Starting today, let’s go over some applications in our struggle against sin.
“1. Take the greatest comfort from your union with Christ, for this flower is more full of holy nectar than you will ever be able to draw out. Consider it everything that you are united to Christ, that you are in Him, and that you are hid with Christ in God, for Christ will not suffer any to perish who are engrafted into Him (John 6:37-40; 17:22-26).
“2. When you feel discouraged by the little strength you have to master your besetting corruptions, apply to yourself those promises in which the Lord Himself undertakes the work. For example, take refuge in the promise of Micah 7:19, ‘He will subdue our iniquities,’ and that of Isa. 1:25, ‘I will turn my hand against you and will smelt away your dross...” [ESV]. What the Lord has promised to do, He will surely perform.
“3. If a strong and importunate lust is so natural and habitual to you that you despair of ever being able to conquer it, remember that God has promised to break the dominion of every sin. Not a single sin in your life can challenge Romans 6:6, ‘We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin,’ [ESV] or Galatians 5:24, ‘And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires’ [ESV]. Do you believe this? You must! Therefore, challenge every sin, especially a besetting sin, with God’s words of truth.”
The spiritual reality of our freedom from the bondage of sin is tricky because it is not something we can see with our eyes. It is a spiritual reality, not a physical reality. And keep in mind that we don’t perceive all aspects/dimensions of reality in the same way. We don’t feel the reality of what is going on in other parts of the world in the same way as we feel what is going on in my immediate surrounding. The spiritual reality we are talking about may be likened to an orphan adopted by a loving couple from another country but must wait until all the adoption processes are completed. Her life at the moment seems to be no different from the days before: she is still at the same orphanage, doing the same things as before. But the fact/reality that she has been adopted cannot be disputed. She has two choices: to live like she is still an unadopted orphan because that’s what it looks like to her or to live in anticipation of soon joining her new adopted parents.
When we think about it, this spiritual reality is not just an idea. Our sensitivity to our sins, the increased conviction of sin (which we used to commit without any compunction), the desire to be free from its dominion over our life, etc., are all indications that God has begun His work in us. So, let us accept the reality of our freedom from the bondage of sin in the power of the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ and “challenge every sin, especially a besetting sin, with God’s words and truth”!