* All Natural

I need to emphasize, friends, that our natural, earthy lives don’t in themselves lead us by their very nature into the kingdom of God. Their very “nature” is to die, so how could they “naturally” end up in the Life kingdom?
1st Corinthians 15:50 The Message

Organic. All-natural. These are the leading buzz words in the retail world today. Previously, they were used to define food. Now we have organic shampoos and all-natural soaps. Go figure.

For the last 40-plus years, we have been encouraged to live free, to 'do it if it feels good' because we were 'born to be wild.' When the consequences of those actions started to catch up with us, then it was changed to the all-natural, organic theme. What I'm about to say may be a little "too Texan" for some of you - Not everything that is all natural and organic is a good choice. I remind you that dung is all natural and definitely organic...

As far as born to be wild? Left to grow wild, kudzu vines would swallow Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, and their neighboring states. Left to their own devices to do whatever feels good, children would never bathe or sleep or eat nutritionally healthful food. You get it. The point I'm trying to make is that without disciplines in our lives, none of us would accomplish anything worthwhile.

Athletes train. They discipline themselves. It's hard. They might grumble about the schedule, or missing out on some other things, but they like to win. Would they win without the training? Without the discipline? No, they wouldn't. Do they always like the rigor of discipline? No, they do not.

No one does. Hebrews 12:10b-11 tells us, But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. Discipline and training bring peace...while au naturale can equal chaos.

But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. (Jude 1:17-19 NIV). Look around... This Scripture alone should convince us of the time we live in.

Galatians 5 clearly defines the differences between living our own lives and being disciplined by the Holy Spirit. So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants... When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.  So much for 'if it feels good, do it...'

It goes on to say, But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

2nd Corinthians 3:17 declares, For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Let us be disciplined, trained, led by the Holy Spirit so we may truly live free.

Prayer:

Father,
           Help us to see the Truth of Your Word, Your Will and Your Way. Help us to align our hearts and our lives with Your discipline. Teach us, Father, to be truly free by embracing Your disciplines. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen