Mind & Devotion— Rebuilding fellowship with Christ (Colossians 1:28).
Well, Happy Friday!
Help me, To live a holy life so I can see Your face; I want to see Your face. As I press toward the path of that narrow road, Until I am conformed to Christ. -Esther Serwaa Akoto
Not just a scene…
Recently, I joined my co-worker to watch a Netflix series. And within the first 15 minutes of the show there was a sexually explicit scene, as though we opted to watch blatant pornography!
So, I frantically grabbed the remote and in trying to forward the scene I increased the volume (CLOWN!). Then, my co-worker, also panicking, took the remote from my hand and successfully forwarded the scene after a few glitches.
Soon our nerves calmed down and we continued to watch the show, because we CLEARLY did not learn our lesson!
Later that night, I made various attempts to pray, but my memory kept projecting glimpses of that scene into my mind. So, I asked the Lord to purify my mind and heart for they’ve had been defiled by that scene. However, I still did not have peace within me.
Then, I asked myself, “Why was your initial response to forward the scene and not to turn off the show? In fact, why did you continue to watch the show?”
Additionally, I told myself, “Esther you compromised on this one. And at what cost? You know it is never "just" a scene, but a seed, discreetly sown in your heart. Lustful thoughts and desires do not randomly happen. AND YOU KNOW THAT! Was the rest of the show even worth it?"
You be the judge, am I obsessively critical of myself?
Or perhaps I’m merely working out my salvation…
Continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ]. — Philippians 2:12, AMP
The instruction to “work out your salvation” has become a casual saying among believers. We all recite it but most of us were not quite taught how to accomplish it.
Besides, how do you know when you are actively “working out” your salvation?
I don’t have all the answers, but the Amplified Bible translation (AMP) underscores a key term that I believe is essential for us to “work out” our salvation —which is critical self-evaluation.
Let me explain…
Jesus completed the ultimate work of salvation on the cross. Our job now is to draw on the spiritual resources we’ve acquired through Christ to live a godly life.
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. —2 Peter 1:3, NIV
However, though our spirit is equipped with everything we need for a godly life, we also understand through the scriptures that the desire of our flesh contends against the desire of the Spirit.
For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. —Galatians 5:17, NIV
Therefore, due to the ongoing and DAILY conflict between the desires of our flesh and the Spirit, we must proactively ensure that the desires of our flesh are constantly being truncated (overpowered) by the desires of the Spirit.
And that is where critical self-evaluation is most relevant.
There is how it looks…
The scriptures detail the works of the flesh by stating:
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. —Galatians 5:19-21, ESV.
With this knowledge in mind, is it worth developing a culture of evaluating your thoughts, decisions, and actions at the end of each day, to assess whether you directly or indirectly aided the work of the flesh.
Now direct offenses are obvious, and we usually know to repent once we have committed the sin.
But indirect offenses require the most self-evaluation.
You may not have committed the act of sexual immorality, but how well did you guard your eye and hear gates from content that promotes sexual immorality?
You may not have bowed down to worship a statue but you thought about that crush of yours a bit too much today. And if you don't set the appropriate boundaries, you will soon idolize them.
Likewise, you may not have been the cause of division and dissension among our friends or family members, but the counsel you gave was biased and did not foster peace.
Conclusion of the matter…
We cannot intentionally work out our salvation without keeping a record of the areas of our lives that need the exercise.
A quick thanksgiving note…
Lest I forget, I am fully aware that the month of November, especially the last week, is set aside for expressing gratitude.
Personally, I am grateful for the work the Lord began in my heart this year and the people He permitted into my life.
Above all, despite our propensity for pain and ingratitude, I pray the Lord will enlarge our capacity for joy and gratitude.
Happy Thanksgiving to my friends in the West!
Related Post:
To my worship lovers: This song has lived rent-free in my mind all week!
Verse of the Week: Test and evaluate yourselves to see whether you are in the faith and living your lives as [committed] believers. Examine yourselves [not me]! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves [by an ongoing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test and are rejected as counterfeit? —2 Corinthians 13:5, AMP
Free Advice: At the end of each day evaluate yourself to see whether you are still in faith.
— See you next Friday !
