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| ALAS I DID IT AGAIN |
All men from Adam till tomorrow have the propensity to sin,
Christians not excluded. Some will try
to disagree with that truth but they will have a hard time even convincing
themselves. The old timey folks called the base problem, “Self” which meant the
desire to rebel against everything that doesn’t please us. Argumentatively we
try to defend our position by showing it to be just and superior to common
acceptance.
And again some define this malady as a sin nature acquired
from father Adam which may bear some measure of truth but then try to blame him
for their shortcomings. This exercise is called blame shifting which I have
found a very convenient cop out and have often used it for my peace of mind
“when I did it again.”
The weakness of this proposition is, we are told once we are
in Christ and we are spiritually no longer in Adam; Everything we did while in
Adam, we no longer are obligated to continue to do. And yet Satan’s stain that we acquired
through Adam while he was in the garden remains and is easily called forth by
the one who goes about as a roaring lion.
"Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" is a Christian
hymn written by the 18th century pastor and hymnist Robert Robinson. In the
midst of this song of praise these words are penned; “Let Thy goodness like a
fetter, Bind my wandering heart to Thee,” which sounds rather nice but continuing on… “Prone
to wander, Lord, I feel it Prone to leave the God I love.” Those are the damnable urges that will break
your fellowship with GOD if acted upon.
This is one of the greatest hymns ever written. The words,
“Prone to wander Lord I feel it” has been criticized for not being in reality
but in the time of severe testing believers can be pushed to their limits.
Lusts appear that they were not aware of being part of their makeup. Is it
saying too much that every Christian has had to face this reality to one degree
or another when being tested by the enemy of our soul/spirit, revealing things
we didn’t know about ourselves?
Why is it that being tempted feels almost like you have
sinned? Is it because temptation is shrouded with the nature of its father and
anyone who is touched by it feels the need to be cleansed. This is the weapon
of choice Satan uses to trip up the believer to render him ineffective for the
gospel’s sake. Even worse; along with
the temptation comes condemnation.
While temptation originates from the master deceiver it
effectively seeks out a kindred place within our own desires, which entice us
and drag us away. The song Cleanse Me sets forth a good prayer to pray;
Search me, O God, and know my heart today, Try me, O Savior,
know my thoughts, I pray;
See if there be some wicked way in me; Cleanse me from every
sin, and set me free.
James 1:14-15 These desires give birth to sinful actions.
And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. This form of death is
multifaceted and impairs the total being. Our faith, our effectiveness for God, the
respect of others, the whole of you.
Most of life’s issues are the matter of choice. While you
are not always in control of who or what makes the choice as a rule you
do. Perhaps a circumstance where you
might not be in charge, is the solider that is sent into battle. It was someone
else who sent him but you have control of most of the decisions that affect
your life: Who you date, who you marry,
your friends, your job. You may not like your options but still the choices are
yours. You are a product of what the choices you have made. Right and wrong
choices are the result of “Right and wrong thinking.”
If you are getting the wrong result and sinning you need to
change your thought life.
Psalms 37:4-5 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD; And
He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust
also in Him, and He will do it.…
"Those
who are certain of the outcome can afford to wait and wait without
anxiety." Take this message with you and allow your faithfulness to guide
you into the belief that what you desire is on the way”. Gabrielle Bernstein
Or as the scripture puts it; Mark
11:24 Therefore I say unto you, what things so-ever ye desire, when ye pray,
believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
This post is
shared at “Tell Me a True
Story.”
Thank you Robert for your honest and true post about how we lean at times to do wrong. It is good that God is ready to forgive when we honestly repent. Thank you for sharing with us here at Tell me a Story.
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