What Controls You – Earthly Desires or Heavenly Ones?

By

Image result for Jesus Christ and AngelsWhat Controls You – Earthly Desires or Heavenly Ones?

“The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.” (Romans 5:20) 
We must be careful about what we desire. Desiring only earthly things, with no thought of the eternal implications, is a formula for disaster. 
“For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:18–20). 
It is critical that the resurrection power of Christ be at work in our life. As this power grows in the heart of the believer, the spiritual desires to invest our time, talent, and treasure in the Kingdom will overcome desires of a perishable nature. 
We can navigate successfully through this world only when we are controlled by the Holy Spirit:
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:12–13). 
When we submit to God, the Holy Spirit trumps the temporary, perishable desires that seek to control how we think, feel, and act. The best offense against a negative addiction is to have a positive addiction that is greater. Our home is heaven, and we live life seeking our Lord’s approval above all else. 
Today, ask yourself:
Do I increasingly desire to invest my 3 Ts—time, talent, and treasure—in the kingdom of God?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Don’t Water it Down!

By
Image
  And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature… (2 Peter 1:4) Don’t Water it Down All of us have dreams we’re believing for, but too often we get discouraged and quit believing for the fullness of what’s in our heart. It’s easy to water down what God promised us. “I don’t like this job, but it’s good enough.” “I was believing for a house, but this apartment is okay.” “I was hoping to get well, but I’ve learned to live with this sickness.” If you’re going to become all you were created to be, you have to keep a fire in your spirit that says, “I refuse to settle for less than what God promised.” You’re not going to be talked out of it, you’re not going to water it down, and you’re not going to let good enough be good enough. It may be more difficult and taking longer than you thought, but what God promised you is still on the way—not a watered-down version, not a make-do promotion,
Read more

Experience SON POWER!

By
Image
                    Experience SON POWER I love to watch the clouds in the sky during the day and in the brightness of the moon at night. Watching those clouds move is an illustration to me of how God is always on the move. He is continually working to change our circumstances and is always available to intervene in the affairs of mankind. Sometimes the clouds appear to be still, but if I watch long enough, I see their changing shapes, I notice them moving ever so slightly and silently. I would not even be aware of that movement if I was not focused intently on them. God is like this so much of the time. He is on the move in our circumstances.  The landscape of our lives is constantly changing, and God is there, directing and guiding, even when we are unaware.  The book of Psalms says it well, “Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there!” (Psalm 77:19). When I coined the word  Kingdom of God  I was at the beginning of my own j
Read more

The Roots of Hope!

By
Image
  The Roots of Hope Scripture: Habakkuk 3:17–19 “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments. ”  From a circumstantial standpoint, the prophet Habakkuk lived in a terrible time. The land was soon to be invaded and, because of the disobedience of the people to God over time, prosperity was no more. Even though the circumstances were bad, Habakkuk gives us the formula for not only surviving but also thriving in such a period. The above passage shows us that Habakkuk did not allow circumstances to steal his joy. It is an example for us that our joy and happiness have to be based on more than just having go
Read more