Once and For All

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20 NLT

Accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and LORD is way more than just showing up to a church service every week. There are things we have to choose to lay down. There are lifestyle changes that need to take place. No more lying. No more cheating. No more hating anyone or anything, except sin. And it keeps trying to raise its ugly head. Kill it. Once and for all.

Once we accept Christ as our Savior and LORD, we have to learn to give as He gave Himself for us. I'm not just talking about tithes and offerings. No more withholding ourselves from another Christian in need. No more "I don't feel like it. I don't want to. Why can't they just leave me alone?"

Sometimes - and I think this is more dangerous for someone who has been a Christian for a long time - sometimes I hear, "I'm tired of doing that. I've paid my dues. I've done my time." or "I've been doing this for years and now they're just taking advantage of me."

What do we do with Christ's words in Scripture that instruct us that if they ask for our coat, we are to give them our cloak also? He was - and IS - always about giving more than what was asked.

First and foremost, you're not giving in order to get. If you are freely giving for the joy of giving, then they are receiving. NO one is taking advantage of you. That's the old selfish ways creeping back in... thinking that someone is going to take advantage of you or take something from you that you're not willing to give.

Are you looking at the signs of the times we live in? Can we afford to allow the old sinful nature to rise up within us again - to steal from us? To destroy our testimony? To kill us?

Hebrews 10:10 assures us,... we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL.

Let's live like it. Once and for all.

Prayer:

Father,
            Give us Your eyes. Give us Your heart. Live large in us, so that others may see You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen