On the Altar
How willing are you to become new?
A few nights ago, I had a brief but very intense dream. After waking up and taking a few moments to process, I received a deeper understanding of how resistant our flesh is to the will of God. I also felt a deeper sense of gratitude for Jesus’ sacrifice because He experienced the same resistance yet without sin. He walked through the anguish and fear of death on a cross and laid down His life anyway.
As followers of Christ, we are called to follow His example. We must be willing to lay our lives down for His sake. A half-surrendered heart is not enough. Living a life of compromise will not suffice. If we’re not willing to lay down our entire lives, can we truly say we’ve died and been born again?
Are we falling victim to “God knows my heart,” and “only God can judge me,” to remain lukewarm? Are we using our resistant flesh as an excuse to indulge the desires of the flesh? Yes, our flesh is corrupted and afflicted, and it always will be on this side of eternity. But until we receive our new immortal bodies in Heaven, we must give our flesh the fight it’s asking for. (1 Cor. 10:13, 2 Cor. 5:1-10)
Although we’re not exempt from experiencing the weaknesses and temptations of our flesh, we’re not alone! Jesus knows firsthand what we’re going through and He’s interceding on our behalf at the right hand of the Father.
Will you surrender your will for His will? Will you lay down your dreams, relationships, career, and any and everything else? Will you say no to a life of compromise and yes to total surrender?
The God we serve is the same today as He was thousands of years ago. A blemished sacrifice does not please Him. Are we taking advantage of the free gift of grace to live in compromise? As the saying goes, “when the cat’s away, the mice will play.” Are we playing when we should be readying ourselves for Christ’s return?
The altar isn’t pretty or pleasant, but once sin entered the world, something had to die: first animals and then Jesus, and now it’s our turn.
Reflection: Romans 6, 7, & 8
Introducing MacNuggets!
Are you enjoying this nugget of wisdom? I’m so excited to introduce MacNuggets as a new addition to Mac At It Again. You can learn more by reading the announcement post below.
