Galatians 5:24 – ‘Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.’
Imagine getting married to a spouse whom you find has no intention of forsaking their previous boyfriends or girlfriends. They say they love you and are committed to you but want to continue to date old flames and continue to keep them in their thoughts as well. Would you consider that spouse to truly belong to you?
When we come to Jesus Christ, we need to come with the understanding of repentance. Jesus Christ wants us to reciprocate His single-minded love. As with any marriage, life with Christ takes time to fully understand living together in ways that bless Him as opposed to grieving Him. To truly belong to Christ, one thing that must be settled is a single-minded devotion towards forsaking our old pursuits. By God’s grace, our passions and desires must pivot from pursuing the lusts of the flesh to pursuing God’s righteous ways.
Do you truly belong to Jesus Christ? Have you forsaken the pursuit of the lusts of the flesh to pursue obedience to Christ and service to others?
Isaiah 55:7 – ‘Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, our God will abundantly pardon.’ See Also: John 14:23; Romans 6:14; Colossians 3:5-6; 1 John 2:29
Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus Christ to destroy the works of the devil in my life. Help me to fight the good fight of faith today and overcome the temptations of satan. I thank you that your grace is sufficient and that I have been set free from satan, sin, and death. Amen.