1 Timothy 6:11-12 “But as for you, O man of God, flee from
all these things; aim at and pursue righteousness for a right standing
with God and true goodness, godliness (which is the loving fear of God in
reverential adoration and being Christ-like), faith, love, patience, and
gentleness of heart. Fight the good fight of the faith; lay
hold of the eternal life to which you were summoned and for which you confessed
the good confession of faith before many witnesses.”
I came across a devotional which
explained that a Christian disciple may be tempted by the fallen sinful flesh,
but has no desire for their past life of sin and rebellion against the just and
holy almighty Creator God of earth and heaven. Walking in the Spirit, we flee
from sin, aim for and pursue a godly life here, and lay hold on our salvation
and eternal life in Christ; “putting off” the old sinful flesh nature and “putting
on” the new godly nature ... moving to holy higher ground.
Ephesians
4:22-24 “You were
taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which
is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true
righteousness and holiness.”
In the old church hymn “Higher Ground” by
Johnson Oatman, Jr. in 1898, one verse says: “My heart has no desire to
stay where doubts arise and fear dismay; though some may dwell where those
abound, my prayer, my aim, is higher ground.” I read that one of the most precious
promises of Christianity can be found in 2
Corinthians 5:17, where it says that “if any man or woman is in Christ,
they are a new creation: the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” We
are told that standing on the promises of God, we can put our old habits of sin
behind us and live a new life in victory over sin, death and hell. No longer
can sin bind and reign over us – we can live in victory of the cross!
Colossians 2:11-12 “In Him you were also circumcised with the
circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of
Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you
also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who
raised Him from the dead.”
There is no need to be
anywhere else. Our prayer and our aim is to walk where the Lord and Savior of the
world leads, be where God want us to be, and do what He wants and has equipped
us to do; to be salt and light for the glory of God. Only while there can be
assured of higher ground with Him.
Philippians
3:14 “Press on
toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in
Christ Jesus.”
In Christ, Brian
2 comments:
Amen, Brian!
I find my best days are those which I begin in heart-filled prayer asking Him to show me His path for the day, to set me apart to shine His light. Thanks for your timely reminder that I am His new creation. Happy Sunday!
Great point Larri and becoming more and more evident today as our culture and society is being further distracted from the presence and reality of their Creator (Father, Son & Holy Spirit). Aligning our will and walk with His holy word and way in the indwelling Spirit daily and asking Him to reveal His path and purpose for the day in prayer is the perfect way to begin the day. Great tip sister! Thank you for dropping by and commenting.
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