Skip to main content

Know Yourself


"But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed."  James 1:14 
What is it that motivates you?
What is your deepest desire?
What is your own way?

Tragically, it has been my experience, that many Christians today are more prone to just go their own way, with no thought of what God desires of them.  Those are not the target of my blog today.  More than likely, unless the Holy Spirit is at least beginning to change their heart, they will not have a desire to read on.  And chances are, they are not truly saved anyway.  A real Christian isn't just playing church, but has the Holy Spirit of God living within them, guiding and convicting them to do right.  They are not my target audience.  You, however, that are not being drawn by temptation, but by God's grace, desire to change--YOU are my target audience!

As I said, if you are truly saved, the Holy Spirit of God lives within you, guiding and convicting you to do right.  He will give you the desire to do what's right.  What's more, He will give you the power to do what's right.  (that is God's wondrous grace at work in you!)  The changes that God desires to make in you, however, can only be possible with God.  You (and I) cannot make the changes ourselves--not without the power of the Holy Spirit.  

Notice again my initial three questions.  If you truly have a desire to follow God (and yet, feel overwhelmingly drawn by temptation), then the first thing you must do is answer those three questions--all of which overlap each other.  One problem Christians have is they don't take the time to ask themselves pointed questions such as these.  Hey, be certain, Christian, Satan knows you very well…and he knows your "weakest link."  Don't allow him to get the upper hand!  Know yourself!--and then allow the Holy Spirit to take charge of those weakest areas.

The following are key areas of motivation, desire, and what constitutes our "own way."  Read them, think through them, and then try to identify which area or areas you are most prone to:
  1. Materialism--the desire for more & more money or things
  2. Achievement--the high ranking of name because of who or what you are--based upon ability or looks 
  3. Love & Acceptance--Family & Friends
  4. Good Times--wrapped up in food, alcohol, drugs, or sex 

Okay, that was the first step.  As I said, the next thing you need to do is allow the Holy Spirit to take charge of those areas.  Don't allow pride take the upper hand.  Pride says, "I want it my way."  However, if you really mean business with God, humility says, "I know God's way is best.  Please help me, Lord, to follow you and do what's right."  God promises in James 4:6-8 to give grace to the humble.  He will give you the desire and power to do His will, if you will just endeavor to follow Him one step at a time! 

What's next, you say?  The most important part!-- Get into the Word!  God's Word is power-- power to change, power to encourage, power to direct us in the right way.  Ephesians 4 says we're to "put off…the old man" (again, that was Step One--putting aside the behavior of our old nature).  Step Two: " be renewed in the spirit of your mind." (Eph. 4:23).  God is able to work in you as you read His Word!  So we need to saturate ourselves with the Word of God so that He can not only work in our hearts, but give us the power to continue on for Him.  Step Three: "put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Eph. 4:24).  We need to follow hard after God, obey His Word and His Holy Spirit, that we might produce lives that are pleasing to Him.     Why?--that we might glorify God.  That is the reason we are here on this earth… and that is the reason we are saved, that we might glorify God!  God is the reason for it all!

I'll leave you with this thought: "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."  (Romans 12: 2)

    May we follow hard
    after God for His glory!
       Merle
      

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What Christmas Is

Christmas is not just a holiday.  Nor is Christmas just about a baby being born in a manger.  Yes,  we celebrate Jesus being born--and don't minimize this--if Jesus hadn't been born of a virgin, He would not have been God!  Jesus Christ is God Incarnate, God in the flesh!  And wonder of wonders that God would come to this earth--why? to die for mankind!  How precious, how wonderful that is!  That is the truth of Christmas--Jesus Christ was born so that He might die for us!!  That is the wonder of Christmas-- Jesus coming to earth to provide salvation to lowly sinners like you and I.  But that really is only the beginning.  Christmas is all about Christ and the gospel--His death, burial, and resurrection.  Once you start to tell about God Incarnate, you just must tell the whole story!  John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlast...
2 comments
Read more

Soldiers of Christ, Arise!

Let me turn your attention to our military for a moment.  (It doesn't have to be American, although I am especially partial!)…any military will do for my illustration.  What are some characteristics you can think of?  Feel free to leave your comments!  Here are some I thought of: looks sharp disciplined works hard defends a cause not focused on selfish desires  Now, there's no doubt a number of other characteristics that could be added to this; but this gives us a good start.  This is an excellent comparison for us, Christian!  There are so many countless people today who call themselves "Christians," and yet really have no desire to follow the Savior.  (perhaps I'll save that for another post!)  At any rate, God calls us to have all of those characteristics, and yet too many Christians today would rather just do their own thing.  What a shame!  I think our military today would call that going "AWOL," (meaning Abse...
Post a Comment
Read more

It's Not about You!

Do you know what your biggest problem is?  [yours and mine!]  Our biggest problem is a heart that wants it's own way.  I've heard it said that pride is our number one problem… but I think selfish desires is the thing ruling our hearts.  You can picture it this way--either Christ is on the throne of your heart or self is.  Either you're serving God or you're serving self.  And that's true for every decision or choice you make throughout each day.       Galatians 2:20 says, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." "yet not I, but Christ"  If you're growing and maturing in Christ at all, you should have realized, "It's not about me…It's all about Christ!"  He is the reason for our living.  He is the reason for it all.  And we are to be...
Post a Comment
Read more