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With Celta Kirkland
Friday, November 06, 2009
GALATIANS 2:19b and 20a: "I have been crucified with Christ. I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me." When we become true disciples of Jesus Christ, and are led by the Spirit, we are then children of God and we belong to Him. Sin no longer has dominion over us; it is not a question of giving up sin but rather giving up the right to ourselves.
We have now become completely dependent on God. However, the battle is being fought between the natural and the spiritual. Our natural virtues debate with the spiritual purpose of God. The higher up we get on the scale of natural virtues, the more we become opposed to Jesus Christ and His purpose. The danger here is that we tend to become self-reliant and self-justified by our natural goodness, which hates the "best" that God offers - it then becomes "good versus best".
The natural life is not spiritual nor does it understand the things of the Spirit. It can only become spiritual by resolving to sacrifice self, and allowing God to be dominant in every area of our lives. This decision is entirely an individual one. There is no gold-paved road there - it is a matter of choosing God's best and our natural goodness. Jesus said, "If any man will be My disciple, let him deny himself." This simply means we must give up the right to ourselves. Are we willing to attend the funeral of our own independence? It is a matter of good versus best!
Eternal Father, today as a nation we commit ourselves to You and resolve to acknowledge You as Lord of our lives. We will not depend on any natural virtues of our own, but will be completely dependent on You so that we may receive Your best, which exceeds all we could ever think or ask for.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
celtakirk@yahoo.com
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