I am going to stay with the subject of what motivated the Proverbs 31 woman for a bit longer, but the motivation from this point forward is not for women alone, but is applicable to both men and women and to husbands and wives specifically:
"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh..." (Ephesians 5:13a)
"The acts of the flesh are obvious:
- sexual immorality;
-impurity and debauchery;
-idolatry and witchcraft;
-hatred;
-discord;
-jealousy;
-fits of rage;
[Note concerning hatred, discord and fits of rage:
There are Christians, I have witnessed, who lose their temper and then give in completely to using the foulest of language that should not even be found in the depths of a Christ-follower. Where does such language come from? Where do any "curse" words come from? How is it possible for Christians to hurl such words towards their brother or sister, or husband or wife, or children, or parents, or neighbors? How dishonoring to others! How grievous to the Holy Spirit of God! If this is us, then we are nothing more than white-washed tombs because our hearts have not changed as they need to! We are not yet fully submitted to the Spirit of God, for He would speak no such words! The flesh with all of its pride and need for control is still alive. We need true repentance (turning away from such things) or we are nothing more than the people that John describes in 1 John 1:3-11 - "Whoever says, 'I know Him,' but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person...anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness....they do not know where they are going, because darkness has blinded them." Foul language, I believe, is simply a symptom of an unchanged heart; for in the heat of an argument, when one lets loose with all that is in them in their anger, is most clearly seen what is within.]
-selfish ambition;
-dissensions;
-factions and envy;
-drunkenness;
-orgies;
-and the like.
I warn you as I did before that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Ephesians 5:19-21)
"....rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." (Ephesians 5:13b-15)
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a)
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:22-25)
"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whosoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:7-9)
All of the above passages are nothing to pass over lightly...therefore, I will leave this posting up for the next few days to allow us each to give it our fullest possible attention.
Have you died to every one of your desires, rights, privileges, [are you truly dead on the cross with Christ, Very God, who gave up every single right and privilege He had for your sake?] and have you only then begun to walk in the Spirit of God?
Or is your flesh merely putting on a good show: pretending to be dead, while still very much alive and in control? Here again, I speak to husbands and wives both! We are none of us guiltless!
Death to her flesh and love of God is what motivated the Proverbs 31 woman; the woman who had crucified her flesh with its passions and desires, died with Christ on the cross, and then walked in the Spirit of God alone, walking in His grace that saved her from sin's penalties, and in His resurrection power that kept her persevering in the well-doing that she did, not for hope of reward from husband or children, but out of her love for God who first loved her!
"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh..." (Ephesians 5:13a)
"The acts of the flesh are obvious:
- sexual immorality;
-impurity and debauchery;
-idolatry and witchcraft;
-hatred;
-discord;
-jealousy;
-fits of rage;
[Note concerning hatred, discord and fits of rage:
There are Christians, I have witnessed, who lose their temper and then give in completely to using the foulest of language that should not even be found in the depths of a Christ-follower. Where does such language come from? Where do any "curse" words come from? How is it possible for Christians to hurl such words towards their brother or sister, or husband or wife, or children, or parents, or neighbors? How dishonoring to others! How grievous to the Holy Spirit of God! If this is us, then we are nothing more than white-washed tombs because our hearts have not changed as they need to! We are not yet fully submitted to the Spirit of God, for He would speak no such words! The flesh with all of its pride and need for control is still alive. We need true repentance (turning away from such things) or we are nothing more than the people that John describes in 1 John 1:3-11 - "Whoever says, 'I know Him,' but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person...anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness....they do not know where they are going, because darkness has blinded them." Foul language, I believe, is simply a symptom of an unchanged heart; for in the heat of an argument, when one lets loose with all that is in them in their anger, is most clearly seen what is within.]
-selfish ambition;
-dissensions;
-factions and envy;
-drunkenness;
-orgies;
-and the like.
I warn you as I did before that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Ephesians 5:19-21)
"....rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." (Ephesians 5:13b-15)
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a)
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:22-25)
"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whosoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:7-9)
All of the above passages are nothing to pass over lightly...therefore, I will leave this posting up for the next few days to allow us each to give it our fullest possible attention.
Have you died to every one of your desires, rights, privileges, [are you truly dead on the cross with Christ, Very God, who gave up every single right and privilege He had for your sake?] and have you only then begun to walk in the Spirit of God?
Or is your flesh merely putting on a good show: pretending to be dead, while still very much alive and in control? Here again, I speak to husbands and wives both! We are none of us guiltless!
Death to her flesh and love of God is what motivated the Proverbs 31 woman; the woman who had crucified her flesh with its passions and desires, died with Christ on the cross, and then walked in the Spirit of God alone, walking in His grace that saved her from sin's penalties, and in His resurrection power that kept her persevering in the well-doing that she did, not for hope of reward from husband or children, but out of her love for God who first loved her!
No comments:
Post a Comment