Ok, so I really don't have a "twin" per say, but when talking to a co-worker this week, she referred to her "carnal nature" as her evil twin, that likes to roar it's head every now and then, and I can definitely relate to the struggle. Working in the secular world has definitely been the greatest challenge in my Christian life to this day. Because when you work for 14 hours straight, people see you not just when you are bubbly, and full of joy and happiness but also when you are frustrated, sad, super stressed out, annoyed etc. I often find myself walking away from work feeling like a disappointment and failure at living out my life for Christ, because I'm ever so sure that my own "evil twin" had reared its ugly twin too many times. This struggle however I know is not a new one. Paul, a fellow brother-in-Christ and inspired author of many New Testament books also wrote about our old self. In Romans I love how Paul writes in chapter 7 verse 24 through 25 "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh, to the law of sin." In chapter 6 verses 10-11 he writes, "For in that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in that He lives, He lives to God. So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires.
I also know that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens." (Eph 6:12) And that feeling defeating, is exactly where the enemy wants me to be. Phillippians 3:13b-14 states "But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus." All I can do is press on and pursue Christ, forgetting what is behind but reaching for what is ahead.
One thing I must remember, because we are human and have "ugly, evil twins" the struggle is never going to end. That is why maintaining my prayer life and earnestly seeking the Lord through private devotion and reading of the word is essential to winning the battle, for we are a work in progress.
Philippians 4:6 "I a sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
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1 comment:
Spring,
Good post. I just want to make the point that we are not impassible. God is not impassible. We have emotions. Thank goodness God saved us, but left us with human emotions and personality. Sure, the flesh is still there with its ugly desires, and sure there is Satan out there around every corner, but there is also the normal human emotions and actions. God gets angry. God laughs. We can do the same. Just because we may get upset and stressed at work does not mean we are any less of a Christian. It just means that we do not let those emotions get out of control or let Satan use them to temp us into sin. Don't worry about getting upset at work or showing some strong leadership abilities. Just do all for the glory of God. That's the best you can do!
Love ya,
Paul
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