Based on “Living from Bad to Worse” by Pastor Dave Folkerts;
8/21-22/10, Message #DF150; Daily Devotional #5 - “Character Flaws”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): When you ask God to search your heart and bring to light what needs to be changed, He has no problem answering this request! The sermon this week revealed to me character flaws that needed adjusting and refining; character flaws that I knew were there, but really didn’t want to admit. However, if I want to make God look good, especially in the workplace, where I believe our true attitudes come out under pressure, I need a renewed mind to be more like Christ. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2, NLT).
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): We often think of ways to indulge our evil desires instead of just fleeing from them. Even when we know we want to do the right thing, the desire to do wrong is in our sinful nature. Desire + opportunity = conception of sin. Our sinful nature wants to twist the Truth just enough to justify what we want, which is always a self-centered focus. Even when we know we should be fleeing, our sinful nature wants to “flirt” with our desires. The Apostle Paul was not exempt, as he stated: I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. (Romans 7:21-23, NLT). For this very reason, we must rely on the power of the Holy Spirit living within us to overcome the old sinful nature that enslaves us to “flirt” with desire. Jesus conquered sin at the cross when He became a living, blameless sacrifice and overcame death, death that was the result of our sin (Romans 6:23). As Christ followers, we are no longer subject to our sin nature. Christ paid the debt, and we now have the power of God’s Holy Spirit living within us. Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. (Romans 8:12-13, NLT).
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): We are going to be tempted and are going to have to face our character flaws. But as Christ followers, we have no obligation to give into our self-centered desires, since Christ was already victorious. If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace. (Romans 8:6, NLT) Life tends to be a combination of mountains and valleys, and our success in maintaining a joyful attitude through the valleys depends on our focus and goal. If we are living self-centered, instead of God centered, our focus will be on pleasing our sin nature. When self is not pleased because it’s not getting its way, we become bitter or angry. When we put our own desires above God or others, we get an ugly attitude and are not a good reflection of a Christ-like character. To maintain a joyful attitude in any circumstance or trial, focus must be on putting Jesus first, other’s second and yourselves last (J-O-Y). Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. (James 1:2, NLT).
Cultivating (Additional Reading): Romans 7:14-25; Romans 8
JE
Calvary Chapel of Melbourne; 2955 Minton Road; W. Melbourne, FL 32904; 321-952-9673
All Bible references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.
New Living Translation = NLT.