Killing My Old Man

Romans 13:13-14

Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

Lord, you don't just want me to live a decent life for all to see. Lots of people who don't even know you do that. You expect more from me because I am your child and I have your Holy Spirit living in me. You want me to live a holy thought life as well.

Those evil thoughts will come. I'm so glad that having those thoughts is not the sin. It's when I indulge them that is the sin.

Even last night I found myself thinking thoughts that to a non-Christian would probably be considered tame. But for me they were starting to get a bit racy. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit helped me to see what was happening and derail that thought process. I blamed it on my "stupid sinful nature" which really wanted to indulge that evil desire. With your help, I was able to put to death the deeds of my sinful nature and move on to purer thoughts. 

I'm thrilled that I am gaining more and more victory in this area. You are training me. I'm finding that it is easier to recognize those little foxes and to catch them when I am spending time in your word, digging deep for the treasures. I love having your word memorized too. That gives me yet more ammunition in my battle to put to death the deeds of my sinful nature.

I love that this says, "And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires." That tells me that there is a choice to be made. I can't help when or if the thoughts come. But it is totally my choice to indulge them or not.

Thank you, Lord, that you love me so much that you train me to be holy. That is the only way I can have a relationship with you because you can not abide any evil in your presence. Please keep on teaching me! In Jesus' name, amen.

MEMORY VERSES

God Has a Purpose

John 10:10

The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.

John 10:10

God Has a Purpose

God Has a Purpose

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Philippians 4:6-7
God Has a Purpose

Write Your Laws in my Heart

Matthew 23:5-7

"Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels. And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in seats of honor in the synagogues. They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called 'Rabbi'."

This picture is from Redeemer of Israel blogspot.com. Please see my disclaimer below.

Lord, I want my worship of you to be a sincere outward reflection of the change you are accomplishing inside me. I want to worship you in spirit and in truth.

John 4:24

For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.

I don't want to be prideful or hypocritical.

Lord, you told the Israelites to bind your word to their foreheads and hands. You told them to put tassels on their clothing. The purpose of both these commands was so that they would be reminded to do what you said.

Numbers 15:37-11

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: Throughout the generations to come you must make tassels for the hems of your clothing and attach them with a blue cord. When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the LORD instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do. The tassels will help you remember that you must obey all my commands and be holy to your God. I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt that I might be your God. I am the LORD your God!"

Now we have the Holy Spirit to remind us to obey you, although it doesn't hurt for us to display scripture around our homes to help us remember.

Holy Spirit, please show me when I am being a hypocrite or being prideful. Remind me to follow God's ways in all I do.

Hebrews 10:16

"This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds."

Lord, please put your laws in my heart, and write them on my mind. Indeed, by memorizing scripture, I am allowing you to do just that. Help me to think about your word throughout my day. You know how prone I am to follow my own desires and defile myself. Please tap me on the shoulder and catch my attention before I do this. I want to stay pure in my thoughts and actions. In Jesus' name, amen.

In my research for this post I found this blog post by Daniel Smith: Redeemer of Israel. I must give the disclaimer that Daniel is a Mormon. I am in no way advocating the Mormon faith. However, he does give a great explanation of the prayer boxes and tassels that Jesus speaks of in Matthew 23:5-7

This Week's Memory Verses

Jeremiah 17:5

This is what the LORD says: "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts from the LORD."

Hosea 6:6

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

I am Clothed in the Righteousness of Jesus

Matthew 22:11-14

"But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn't wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. 'Friend,' he asked, 'how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?' But the man had no reply. Then the king said to his aides, 'bind his hands and feed and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

"For many are called, but few are chosen."

According to the commentary in my Bible, it was customary for the person in charge of the wedding banquet to give special clothes to each guest to wear to the banquet. It was a major insult to the host to not wear these clothes to the banquet.

We have been provided with the clothes of righteousness and salvation when we accepted Jesus Christ as the Lord over our lives.

Revelation 16:15

"Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed."

There are those who take this verse literally. I think the Mormons never allow themselves to be completely naked because of this verse. They even bathe with a t-shirt or something to cover themselves. I believe that this verse has a much deeper meaning than just the literal. I believe that it is referring to our spiritual clothing.

We cannot enter the Wedding Supper of the Lamb without the proper attire which Jesus provided for all in his death and resurrection.

Isaiah 61:10

I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me in the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels.

Revelation 3:4-5

"Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.

Lord, help me to keep my clothes unsoiled by evil! I want to walk with you in white. I want my name to remain in the Book of Life and have you announce to your Father and his angels that I am yours. In Jesus' name, amen.

In my study for this post I found a very interesting website: Wildolive - Jewish Weddings. This site give some very interesting insights into the customs practiced in ancient Jewish weddings and how they correlate to New Testament teaching. You may also be interested in the book "Here Comes the Bride" by Richard Booker.

This Week's Memory Verses

Jeremiah 17:5

This is what the LORD says: "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts from the LORD."

Hosea 6:6

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.