Live!

Live!

And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:24‭-‬25 KJV

There is a statement of fact as well as a statement depicting ownership and possession in the first part of today's extract. I note that it says 'they that are Christ's'. It is not about what I claim to be, but what my ownership structure is. I can make all the claims possible; keep up necessary appearances; strive to convince you my drama is genuine, yet none of it matters more than how Christ sees me or what He says about me.

What is then expected of those who have sorted out their ownership structure? Their way of life, pursuits, priorities and mannerisms will all reflect this status. If what excites me are the things that should be crucified; if my heart lusts after dead works; if I pursue after the things that have no eternal value, maybe I am yet to fully understand what my ownership structure actually demands from me. 

Crucifying the flesh must be something already settled, part of my past. The flesh, with its affections and lusts, can NEVER work with Christ. The two are extreme positions; parallel lines that can never meet because they come from two different sources, promote different agendas and have different eternal realities. Anyone who still struggles with the flesh and its lusts needs to sort out the ownership structure. You can't play both sides or sit on the fence. You are either all in or all out. 

I can convince myself that God knows I am human and weak, but would God really accept total surrender to the flesh? Would he allow me get away with sin, simply because I am human? Why then did He give his Son, and testify that the reason why the Son was manifested was to destroy the works of the devil. Why did He give up His son and pay such a high price, if I would still plead 'being human' as the excuse for sin? 

So, I have a decision to make: the choice of living. Where and How I live define where and how I walk. There is a life pattern for all who will walk in line with the Spirit. The Spirit defines what is acceptable, and I can choose to align or defy. It can't be both at the same time, and it can't be neither. I note that the living is to be IN the Spirit. This shows residence and consistency. You don't flow in and out of the Spirit as you please or at your convenience. It has to be a continuous and consistent lifestyle, testified by the Spirit of God as genuine. 

So, what's it going to be for you? I ask myself also: how am I living at the moment? The NOW is the preparation for the eternal. I must get the life right down here, if I will enjoy the benefits and blessings of the eternal life with God. His time of favour is here.