Habits can be profitable, so long as
they point us to Christ! After our salvation experience, our “born again” event
that happened somewhere along life’s pilgrimage, the rules for us have changed and
we have been instructed to now “put on the mind of Christ”, therefore if we do
something that will help us “put on the mind of Christ” it will benefit us as
well as those around me. With all this “load shedding” and the darkness that surrounds
the space that we normally have well lit, it certainly throws our routine. However
if someone walks into that dark room with a light in their hands, it will have
the same effect as the person who puts on the mind of Christ; it will
illuminate the area and darkness will flee!
These are good practices; we must look
for them and nurture them. How are these good habits kept in toe? Obviously
without a shadow of a doubt by the grace of God, it’s the goodness of God that
leads a man to repentance and when we put on the mind of Christ that often
requires repentance. It is God’s goodness that leads us there! Within the
recesses of my own heart I have noticed that these positive habits, like waking
up in the early hours of the morning, can at times be very destructive as it
rears its head and turns what is positive
into something very negative, How so? Pride is a very wicked thing and must be
kept at bay, this was Satan’s downfall! He took all the glory for himself; he
forgot that it was God who had created him with all his beauty and wisdom!
Whatever we are in Christ, may we
never forget that we are who we are by the grace of God. If we have more
resolve than our brother in certain areas of our lives it is only because of
the grace of God. If we cross that valley and begin to think more highly than
we ort to think, our fall is just around the corner. Take heed: “Therefore
let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1Corinthians 10:12) - Our dependency is in the unseen, it is what our faith is built upon, and
it feeds our hope which in turn stirs up love for others.
Here is an interesting reminder of the mind of Christ; “One gives freely, yet
grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers
want. Whoever brings blessings will be enriched, and one who waters will
himself be watered.” (Proverbs 11:24-25)
Having
said that there is another trap as effective that also deceives and it is this;
we look to excuse our sin as if we are incapable of shedding our old natures.
Even a snake has the ability to shed its skin! We must beseech God by His
mercies to overcome all our Achilles heals that throw us violently off course.
It is up to the individual to wrestle looking for grace to find victory. I
understand that we will not always receive deliverance; it is often through the
trial that our faith is tested. This was Paul’s testimony; “So to keep me from
becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a
thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me
from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that
it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace
is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power
of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with
weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am
weak, then I am strong.” (2Corinthians 12:7-10)
Warning!
I have often unwittingly used this verse to excuse sin in my life. This is not
what the verse implies! When we suffer wrong for doing what is right and we
take it patiently, this is when the grace of God is made perfect in our
weakness. This is Paul’s point; “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and
calamities. For when I am weak,
then I am strong.” Not weak due to my sin but weak with my rights that
I am entitled to as an individual living in a democracy. This then is a good
example of how we put on the mind of Christ!
Anything
we can place in our daily lives that will help us put on the mind of Christ;
can only ever benefit our cause so long as we remember to seek out our sister’s
helps through it all and her name is Humility! As soon as arrogance and pride
becomes our stance in life, we will certainly come tumbling down! God help us
to learn this lesson well!
Signing
off
Tyrone
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