Not Always Perfect

Good Friday evening! Yes, it's me again. Back for the Christian devotional on a Friday evening when folks are just looking to go home for the weekend. Unfortunately, I can remember all too well the times when I looked forward to a Friday evening for several other reasons, none of which are listed among the fruits of the Spirit. In Christ, we do not pretend that we lived a perfect moral life up to our moment of salvation. In truth, the sanctification process goes on for the remainder of our earthly life. At times, we may even be indistinguishable from your run-of-the-mill sinner. The difference comes in that we no longer want to be seen as a sinner, and more importantly, we don't want to sin any more. Some Christians may have large changes in their lives right away. A former drug user who suddenly feels no desire to take his former poison for example. The former adulterer who makes a pact with his eyes to look at only his wife from the point of his conversion and does it. The occult dabbler who turns to her church and only worships God after years of evil activities. We all may know Christians who have this experience in Christ. On the other hand, most of us will feel the same temptations that we fell for as sinners for the rest of our lives.

The Devil stalks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. If the temptation worked on us back in the day, the Devil may see no need to change tactics. Our victory over sin in some area may take years or decades, and then come back to trouble us during a difficult time. The enemy is certainly not above piling on the temptations when we are at our weakest due to some crisis in life. However, let us not give the adversary too much credit, "for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4b) The Holy Spirit of God works in us constantly to refine us for God's good purpose. When we give in to Jesus, his Spirit will produce that fruit of the Spirit we have come to desire through His cleansing blood.

Enjoy the weekend!
Bucky